Colonization Issues Behind the Revolution

Founding of the Colonies Jamestown First Colony- established for money Tobacco / House of Burgesses/ 1st representative democracy Plymouth –Puritains searching for Religous freedom Mayflower Compact-Direct Democracy

French Indian War SALUTORY NEGLECT French Indian war/ Britain sent troops to protect colonies Very costly

Changing British Policy After the French Indian War/ expensive A. Proclamation of 1763 1. Area west of Appalachian Mnts. is closed to colonial settlement 2. Colonists continue to move west into forbidden territory B. Britain’s Financial Problems C. Sugar & Quartering Acts 1. Sugar Act (1764): raises money for Britain 2. Quartering Act (1765) colonists must house British troops

II. Stamp Act Crisis A. Stamp Act (1765) 1. Tax is placed on printed materials in colonies 2. Colonies protest the tax B. Stamp Act Congress 1. Colonial delegates meet & discuss the Stamp Act 2. Declaration of Rights & Grievances

C. Sons of Liberty 1. Colonists boycott British goods 2. Boycott and protests lead to repeal of the Stamp Act

III. Rising Tensions in the Colonies A. Declaratory Act (1766) Parliament asserts its authority B. Townshend Act (1767) 1. Duties imposed on imported glass and tea 2. Colonists protest; boycotts declared C. Boston Massacre (1770) 1. British soldiers fire into crowd of colonists 2. Coordinated resistance against British throughout colonies

D. Boston Tea Party (1773) 1. Tea Act threatens livelihood of American tea merchants 2. Colonists dump East India Company tea into Boston harbor E. Intolerable Acts(1774) Punish Boston & MA

2. George III resists appeal F. First Continental Congress 1. Declaration and Resolves appeals to the king to resolve crisis 2. George III resists appeal http://www.thisnation.com/library/1774declaration.html

IV. Fighting at Lexington and Concord A. Massachusetts Patriots Form Militias B. Revolutionary War Begins

Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776 Written by Thomas Jefferson TJ took his ideas from philosopher John Locke 3 parts 1st stated a gov’t should protect its citizens 2nd listed grievances against England 3rd America is claiming independence Thomas Payne’s book “Common Sense” Persuaded colonists to support independence

The American Revolution The Battle of Bunker Hill showed British perseverance sending line after line into the American lines on the high ground until the American forces had to with draw b/c of an ammunition shortage. The 1st year of the war 1776 Americans were desperate for a victory for the largely untrained, disorganized troops led by Gen. Washington. Washington’s army retreated to New Jersey.

British soldiers hired Hessian mercenaries who helped the take over of Boston, New York and Philadelphia (the American capital). On Christmas night, 1776 Washington launched a surprised attack on Trenton, N.J.

The Hessians defenders fled giving Washington his first major victory The Hessians defenders fled giving Washington his first major victory. Battle of Trenton. This was welcomed news as Washington’s men lacked food and clothing at Valley Forge in the severe winter of 1777-1778

A turning point in the war was a decisive American victory at the Battle of Saratoga, N.Y. in October 1777. Americans showed enough strength in this battle to convince France to send military and naval assistance.

The last years of the war were fought in the south The last years of the war were fought in the south. ( the Patriot movie) In 1781 aided by the French navy Washington forced the British commander General Lord Cornwallis, to surrender his troops at Yorktown Virginia. Battle of Yorktown