Do Now What can you tell me about: The countries that came to North America? And/or the reasons why different peoples came to North America? And/or why Columbus is considered such a controversial figure And/or describe the New England, Middle, Southern Colonies

Eve of the American Revolution

French and Indian War French and English both claim land in North America Colliding empires French intention in North America  exploit the natural resources Made alliances with the Natives English Intention in North America  settle and gain more land Both had interest in the Ohio River valley French built a fort there Government of Virginia already granted some of that land to planters Virginia government sent the militia to remove the French War War broke out  French and Indian War

French and Indian War Continued Initially, British kept losing, but eventually won Native Americans and British/Colonists continued to clash To avoid further conflict  Proclamation of 1763: Forbade colonists from going west past the Appalachians Colonists ignored proclamation continued to settle west into Native lands Eager to expand west

Colonists Begin to Resist the Crown Proclamation of 1763 angered colonists felt that British gov’t ignored their needs of wanting to settle west British gov’t was in debt after war  led to taxes on colonists Sugar Act Stamp Act Townshend Act Led to resentment of the crown  boycott of British goods Taxed without representation Hostilities rose

Colonists Show Their Anger Boston Massacre mob of colonists gathered in front of the Boston Customs house confronted British soldiers Violence broke out Tea Act – Tax on Tea Helped the British East India company get out of debt by allowing the company to sell tea to colonists without having to pay a tax  the colonists had to pay that tax! Tax hurt Colonial merchants Angered all colonists Another tax without representation Boston Tea Party On December 16, 1773 a group of Boston rebels dumped the tea sold by the British East India company into Boston Harbor

Britain Reacts to Defiance An angry British king passed the Intolerable Acts Shut down Boston harbor Allowed soldiers to be housed in private homes Boston placed under martial law (military rule) Colonists reacted to the Intolerable Acts by meeting in the First Continental Congress and drafted a declaration of colonial rights  in the declaration colonists were clear that they would use force back Resolved, N. C. D. 1. That they are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and they have never ceded to any sovereign power whatever a right to dispose of either without their consent. Resolved, N.C.D. 2. That our ancestors, who first settled these colonies, were at the time of their emigration from the mother country, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural- born subjects, within the realm of England.

Road to Revolution Colonists prepared militarily  minutemen Makeshift militia British troops were sent to shut colonist activity down When British invade Lexington/Concord, they found themselves facing the minutemen Minutemen were ordered to put down weapons Someone fired Both sides started shooting British soldiers retreated back to Boston

Independence Declared Continental Congress tried to make amends between the colonies and Britain  Olive Branch Petition The King rejected it Congress urged each colony to form it’s own government Richard Henry Lee said that the colonies should be free and independent states Congress pushed for a formal Declaration of Independence