Causes of the Revolution

Proclamation Line of 1763 Proclamation of 1763: line through the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists could not settle west of the line. Britain claims this is to protect them from the Native American Indians Colonists hate this rule; it was really made to keep the colonists close to the British Army (to keep an eye on them!)

Can you find the Proclamation line? What if you already lived in a homestead on the other side of the line?

British Taxes vs. Colonial Protests The war was expensive, put Britain in debt George III decides to raise taxes on the colonists Sugar Act (1764): tax on sugar, molasses, wine, indigo and coffee hurts Georgia, imported sugar from West Indies Reaction: minor protest, illegal trade Stamp Act (1765): tax on all paper products hurts business, industry (worse in the North) Reaction: protest, burning effigy, Stamp Act Congress

The stamp meant you paid your tax

Colonial Outrage Colonists hate these new taxes, angry with Britain “No taxation without representation” Sons of Liberty: a protest group formed by Samuel Adams (Boston) In 1765 Liberty Boys: a protest group formed in Savannah, GA Patrick Henry protests the Stamp Act Britain drops the tax Georgia is the only colony to sell any stamps with this tax

More Taxes….More Outrage Townshend Act (1767): taxes on paper, glass, tea, paint, many daily items More colonial outrage, hurts Northern colonies the most Reaction: Colonists boycott British goods & cloth, stop drinking tea, stop painting Boycotts hurt Britain’s economy Protest groups like Sons of Liberty grow in membership

Boston Massacre (1770) Colonists harass British soldiers in Boston. The British soldiers open fire on the un-armed crowd, kill 5 colonists. Afterward, Great Britain is embarrassed, they repeal the tax acts, except on tea Relative peace for a few years

Tea Act (1773) Tea Act: to help save the East India Trading Company, forced the colonists to only trade/buy tea from them (monopoly) Reaction: Colonists smuggle tea from other countries Boston Tea Party (1773)

Participants in the Boston Tea Party destroyed 340 chests of tea on the night of December 16, 1773.  This amounted to more than 46 tons of tea leaves. Such an amount could have brewed 18,523,000 cups of tea! The East India Company reported losses of £9,659 after the Boston Tea Party. It is estimated that this would amount to nearly two million dollars in today’s money!

Intolerable Acts (1774) (remember these when you read the Declaration of Independence!) Intolerable Acts: to punish the colonists for the tea party, Parliament passed a group of laws: Closed the port of Boston until colonists repaid for tea No local government/town meetings No British official could be tried in the colonies Colonists have to house British soldiers at their own expense! Reaction: Total outrage, more boycotts First Continental Congress: 12 colonies sent representatives to defend rights and decide upon boycotts and military support against Britain (GA did not send a rep! WHY?)

Revolution!!! Colonists now begin to speak of independence Georgia continued to have divided loyalties Second Continental Congress: Georgia not very supportive, but send Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, George Walton to represent them (more one these reps later…..) Declaration of Independence is approved July 4, 1776

Review Long term and immediate causes of the American Revolution. French and Indian War debt Proclamation of 1763 Sugar Act Stamp Act Townsend Act Tea Act Intolerable Acts Georgia’s involvement was small because of divided loyalties and Governor Wright’s loyalty to the King