Chapter 5 Toward Independence

Preview No, the school is not going make you pay. DO NOT SPREAD THIS!! Based on your reactions to the “fees”, answer questions 1 & 3 on your paper

5.2 – Before 1763 The British government mostly left the colonists alone to solve their own problems. Americans had the freedom to run their own affairs – more than those who lived in Europe Conflict in the Ohio Valley A dispute between the French and British over land caused a militia (including a 22-year-old named George Washington) to be called to fight.

The French and Indian War This conflict was fought between the British/Colonists/Indians and the French/Indians. Britain won the war and gained Canada and the land west of the Appalachian mountains. Britain taxed the colonists to repay their war debt. And now, some pictures!

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktkw7iSITkc

5.3 – Early British Actions The Proclamation of 1763 The Proclamation of 1763 created an invisible line down the Appalachian Mountains to divide colonists(east) and Native Americans(west) to prevent conflict. Colonists argued the land east of the Appalachians was already settled and farmers could find new land west of the mountains. To protest the Proclamation of 1763 colonists continued to settle the land west of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Stamp Act - 1765 The Stamp Act required colonists to buy a stamp for every piece of paper they used. The Stamp Act was opposed because colonists had no representation in Parliament to vote on such taxes, it was seen as a violation of their rights as British subjects. Colonists refused to buy stamps, attacked tax collector’s homes and used violence to protest.

The Quartering Act - 1765 The Quartering Act required colonists to provide British troops with housing and supplies. The Colonists opposed the Quartering Act because it cost money to house and supply the troops. Colonial assemblies decided to not fund the troops. Colonists protested the costs by refusing to house the soldiers.

The Sugar Act - 1765 The Sugar Act placed a three cent tax on foreign sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo and wine. This act was opposed because it caused economic hardships throughout the colonies by restricting trade with foreign countries. They smuggled foreign sugar, bribed customs officials, and arranged a boycott of British goods.

5.4 – The Townshend Acts The Townshend Acts - 1767 The Townshend Acts placed a tax on items such as glass, paint, paper, and tea. Colonists opposed the Townshend Acts because they had not voted to pass the new taxes. The colonists wrote letters of protest, and boycotted British imports, and bought only American made goods. Britain repealed the act because of the boycott.

5.5 – The Boston Massacre Was it self-defense or brutal murder?

Trouble in Boston before the incident Name-calling: “lobsterbacks” Sam Adams training his dog to pester them Soldiers forbidden from retaliation How much can a human take?

The truth A mob threw snow, ice balls, and rocks at soldiers Who yelled “Fire!”? Troops panicked and opened fire 5 were dead, 10 were injured Patriot John Adams, a lawyer and cousin of Samuel Adams, DEFENDED the British soldiers and WON THE CASE!

5.6 – The Boston Tea Party

4 media examples on the next 4 slides: The Tea Act - 1773 The Tea Act lowered the cost of tea in the colonies and gave the British East India Co. a monopoly on tea trade. Colonists saw the Tea Act as another attempt by Britain to tax the colonies without their consent. Patriots protested the Tea Act by dumping 90,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. This event is known as the Boston Tea Party. 4 media examples on the next 4 slides:

5.7 – The Intolerable Acts 1774 The Intolerable Acts punished colonists for the ruined tea, forcing them into paying by: Closed Boston Harbor Placed Massachusetts under British control limited town meetings Held trials for soldiers in England Sent more troops Some advisors cautioned against this, but King George III was sure it would cause the colonists to submit

The Colonies Begin to Unite Colonists opposed the Intolerable Acts because they viewed the acts as an attack on all of the colonies not just Massachusetts. Colonists refused to pay for the tea, and instead called for a congress, or meeting, of delegates with the intent of finding a PEACEFUL solution to the conflicts with Great Britain.

The First Continental Congress 50 leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia. Some Patriots (Patrick Henry, Sam and John Adams) spoke for independence, but many wanted to stay with Britain. Together, they were united in a love of liberty and hatred of tyranny, so they wrote a letter to the King (George III) and voiced their complaints and threatened to boycotted British goods. If they were ignored, they promised reconvene in May…

The Colonies form Militias To enforce the boycott, militias were created. These volunteers, called “Minutemen” were ready and able to fight in 60 seconds. Across the colonies, British forts were robbed of gunpowder and cannons. Instead of forcing the colonials to submit, the Intolerable Acts only pushed them to the brink of war

5.8 – Lexington and Concord Instead of reading and considering the complaints of the colonists, King George ignored them altogether. The First Blow at Lexington Spies informed on the colonists, and where they were storing a cache of weapons. General Gage sent men to catch them by surprise.

Paul Revere and William Dawes warned the colonists that the British were coming. At Lexington, on the road to Concord, shots were fired starting the Revolutionary War.

The Second Blow at Concord Once in Concord, the British were met with heavy colonial resistance and retreated to Boston. Underestimating the farmers, merchants, workers, and housewives of the colonies would be Britain’s biggest mistake.

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