The American Revolution-Why We Wanted Our Independence Great Britain needed revenue to pay for the French and Indian War Great Britain’s plan was to tax the colonists to pay for their part of the war debt.

The French and Indian War French empire collided with British empire resulting in a war over territory. The war was very expensive and Great Britain was in debt. British debt = high American taxes.

American Revolution – The birth of a Democratic nation. What events led to the beginning of the revolution? Democracy – Government by the people Revolution – An overthrow of an established government by the people.

17th and 18th Centuries Great Britain followed a policy called Mercantilism. * The theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys. * The result is that the profit made on exports exceeds the cost of importing goods. (makes a country wealthier) Colonists were okay with it as long as they were allowed to handle their own affairs (govt, etc.)

Writs of Assistance – early 1760s Allowed British to search colonists’ homes for smuggled goods without a warrant. Smuggled goods= no taxes for the British

The Sugar Act - 1764 Goods that were taxed: Sugar Textiles Wine Coffee Imposed by the British in 1764 to put a duty (import tax) on several products Included molasses Gave harsh punishments to smugglers Colonists protested the increased taxes. Goods that were taxed: Sugar Textiles Wine Coffee Indigo (dye)

The Stamp Act - 1765 Imposed a tax on all printed materials requiring a stamp Included: 1) Newspapers 2) Wills 3) Licenses 4) Insurance policies 5) Land titles 6) Contracts

Colonial Reaction “No Taxation Without Representation” Colonists felt they should not be taxed because they did not get to elect anyone to the British parliament. Colonists boycotted English goods (boycott = refusal to buy or use) Sons of Liberty was formed. It was a group that opposed English rule and wanted independence.

The Stamp Act passed without even consulting the colonial legislatures “Taxation without representation is tyranny!” -James Otis (Boston lawyer) The Stamp Act passed without even consulting the colonial legislatures

The Quartering Act - 1765 British Action: Colonists had to keep British troops in their homes. Purpose was to keep troops in the colonies and reduce the cost. Colonial Response: Colonists did not get along with the army and did not want them there permanently. Colonists began to form meetings about the Acts they disliked.

March 5th, 1770 The Boston Massacre Came about as the result of a “Tea Tax” that the British refused to get rid of. Wanted to demonstrate that Britain could tax the colonists.

The Boston Massacre…Continued An angry mob surrounded the British soldiers in Boston Colonists threw rocks and snowballs at the soldiers Soldiers fired into the crowd and killed 5 people and wounded 6. Crispus Attucks, African American sailor was among the dead

From Protest to Rebellion A Dispute Over Tea The duty (tax) on tea still remained (colonists were being taxed without their consent every time they drank a cup of tea) A. The Tea Act Passed to help the British East India Company Lowered the price of tea but the East India Company had a “Monopoly” on selling tea to the colonies 3. Monopoly- Total control of a market for a certain product

From Protest to Rebellion…Continued II. The Boston Tea Party - 1773 “Sons of Liberty” organized to stop East India Company from delivering tea in port cities No tea delivered in New York and Philadelphia 1. Tea was unloaded in Boston 2. Governor Hutchinson refused to sign papers so the ships could return to England 3. December 16, 1773, men disguised as Native Americans threw 342 cases of tea into the Boston Harbor (90,000 pounds of tea destroyed) Boston Tea Party WATCH THE VIDEO (right click & open link)

Spring 1774 - The Intolerable Acts-The Last Straw for the Colonists (Designed to punish the colonists for the Tea Party) New Laws (from King) George III) Closed the Boston Port Increased powers of the Royal Governor Abolished Massachusetts Upper House (no more self-government) 4) Strengthened the 1765 Quartering Act

America’s Reaction to the Intolerable Acts Food and supplies were sent from all other colonies into Boston Committee of Correspondence was formed First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in September and October of 1774 Delegates from 12 colonies (except Georgia) attended the Congress Demanded an end to the Intolerable Acts Colonies could begin training militias to stand up to the British if needed Congress voted to boycott all British goods

The Shot Heard Round the World British troops were marching to Concord. When they reached Lexington, 77 minutemen were waiting for the them. The colonists were told to go home but they refused. Someone (no one knows who) fired a shot and it was the first shot fired in the American Revolution. The British opened fire and killed 8 colonists. Eventually, the British were chased back to Boston. Militia – A group of unorganized, untrained citizens who were prepared to fight. Also called Minutemen

…And the Fight for Freedom Begins The Second Continental Congress 1) Many colonists did not favor independence from Great Britain 2) Congress came together in Philadelphia in 1775 a) New England colonies wanted independence b) Middle Colonies wanted less drastic action c) Wrote the Declaration of Independence 3) George Washington became the leader of the Continental Army a) Congress printed its own money to pay for the army

The Fight for Freedom…Continued Patriots Against Loyalists 1) Patriots-Colonists who wanted independence and who were willing to fight. 2) Loyalists-Colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain and the King. a) included merchants and large landowners b) feared change in government would = loss of property 3) African Americans sided with the British in hopes of getting their freedom from slavery

A Nation Declares Independence Declaration of Independence Was built on ideas of the Enlightenment period. Influenced by Enlightenment thinker John Locke and his ideas about “Natural Rights” 1) “We hold these truths to be self evident” 2) “Everyone is endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights” WATCH THE VIDEO (right click & open link) American Revolution

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Another Revolution-Why the French Fought for Independence Seven Years War in France had devastated the economy Growing dissent among the people aimed at Louis XVI who would not have a ruling Parliament Louis XVI unwilling to change his rule to allow for people to flourish (The Enlightenment) People resisted notion that monarchs had divine rule and that all citizens could have “Natural Rights”

Mistakes by Louis XVI that Led to his Downfall HUGE Tax Increase Louis XVI built the Palace of Versailles (7-10% of the National Treasury was spent) 2) High taxes were paid by the French peasants 3) Corruption of Province officials (they could collect and raise taxes for no reason)

The French Revolution Began in 1793 after Louis XVI was executed Reign of Terror (17,000 people executed by the French Revolutionaries) Federalists in the United States opposed the violence in France Thomas Jefferson argued that this was to be expected when people were fighting for their freedom France and Great Britain were at war in 1793 (United Stated under George Washington, remained neutral)

The French and American Revolution's (What Did They Have in Common?) The American Side The French Side The colonists did not trust King George III to act in their best interests Wrote the Declaration of Independence Most Americas supported the French Revolution Colonists were fighting against a monarch King George III wanted to unfairly tax the colonists British had a large debt from the French and Indian War The French people did not trust Louis XVI and his advisors Wrote the Declaration of Rights of the Man and Citizen French supported the American Revolution (anything to make the British look bad) French people fighting against a monarch Louis XVI wanted to unfairly tax the French peasants French had a huge debt to pay from the Seven Years War