The Colonies Move Toward Independence The Causes of The Revolutionary War 1763-1775 Versus

Situation in 1763: Britain in huge debt from French & Indian War British believe Americans should help pay costs “Pontiac’s Conspiracy”: (1763-1765) Indian tribes allied with French went on warpath British send 10,000 troops to protect Colonies Proclamation Line (1763): Prohibited colonists from settling west of Appalachian Mountains Colonists immediately protest

North America 1763

British Attempt to Raise Money Sugar Act (1764) Taxed sugar, coffee, wine imported (shipped into) the colonies Unlike Navigation Acts, British intended to enforce new laws *Stamp Act (1765) Forced colonists to buy a stamp on all printed material: newspapers, legal papers, playing cards, etc. Angered Americans because it taxed goods made in the colonies, and they were not represented in Parliament “No Taxation Without Representation!!”

American Reaction Protests in all 13 Colonies Secret Society called “Sons of Liberty” formed in New England to terrorize British Merchants in Boston, NY, and Philadelphia boycott (refuse to buy) British goods *Stamp Act Congress: 9 colonies sent delegates to NYC to protest First real cooperation of colonies against British British sales to colonies fell 15%

Protesting the Stamp Act: 1765

British repeal (take back) the Stamp Act in 1766, but do not back down Declaratory Act (1766) “Declares” that Parliament has all power to make laws for colonies *Townshend Acts (1767) Taxed many imported items including glass, paper, paint, and tea Colonists violating tax laws denied trial by jury Colonists again boycotted British goods British sales to America fell 40% Acts repealed in 1770 except tax on tea

Boston Massacre To stop boycotts and protests, British send thousands of troops to Boston Demonstrators often clashed with troops March 5, 1770: Troops fired on a hostile, but unarmed, group of colonists killing 5 Samuel Adams advertised the event as a “massacre” where troops slaughtered innocent Americans

Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre

Resistance Continues Committees of Correspondence (1772): Groups formed in several colonies to share information and consult about violations of rights Boston Tea Party (1773): Tea became a symbol of British tyranny Dec. 1773: Sons of Liberty throw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor

“Intolerable Acts” (1774) Passed to punish Boston for “Tea Party” Closed Boston Harbor until Boston paid for tea Quartering Act: Required colonists to house soldiers Drastically changed self-government in Mass. These acts solidified colonial support for Massachusetts Connecticut and RI send supplies to Boston

*First Continental Congress (1774) Delegates of 12 colonies meet in Philadelphia Write a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” to King George III Pass Boycott agreements for all colonies Patrick Henry of VA gives famous speech: “Give me Liberty or Give me DEATH!!” *Colonies begin training Militia (civilian armies) and storing military supplies

First Continental Congress 1774 Patrick Henry of Virginia

Battles of Lexington and Concord: April, 1775 First Battles of Revolutionary War British troops march from Boston to Concord: To confiscate weapons stored by Patriots To capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock Paul Revere and William Dawes ride from Boston to warn Concord

Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

Minutemen: Massachusetts Militia (civilian soldiers) ready to fight at minute’s notice 70 Minutemen met 700 British troops at Lexington; 8 killed Thousands of Americans then met the British at Concord British suffered 300 casualties, Americans 100