The American Revolution

Causes of the American Revolution Proclamation of 1763 Sugar Act Stamp Act Townshend Act Boston Massacre Tea Act Intolerable Acts

Proclamation of 1763 Prohibited settlement west of the Appalachian Mts. Anyone already in the area had to move back east of the mountains Many colonists angered as they believed it was their right to settle the area

Sugar Act Passed to help pay the debt from the French and Indian War, and for expenses of running the colonies Placed duties on imported sugar, textiles, coffee, indigo(dye), etc.

Stamp Act 1764 1st direct tax on the colonies Placed tax on all printed materials: * newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs Colonists react by creating Stamp Act Congress and boycotting these items

Townshend Act Placed taxes on imports like paper, tea, glass, lead, and paint Established a colonial board of customs in Boston Colonists react with more boycotts

Boston Massacre After being harassed by a group of colonists, British troops fire into the crowd killing three and injuring six others Even though it was not an actual massacre, the colonists used it as means to spread propaganda to portray the British government as unjust and harsh

Tea Act British govt. repealed all the taxes except the taxes on tea Kept to show that the British govt. still had the right to tax the colonies Colonists reaction: Boston Tea Party ~December 16, 1773 colonists boarded three British ships and dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor

Intolerable Acts Series of laws passed as result of the Boston Tea Party Boston Port Act: closed the Boston Port until the money from the lost tea was made Quartering Act: troops housed in colonists’ homes Quebec Act: Catholics in Quebec granted religious freedoms Massachusetts Regulating Act: officers appointed by royal govt. and town hall meetings were banned Impartial Administration of Justice Act: royal governors could move trials to another colony or England if they believed the jury would not judge the case fairly

Write a summary paragraph explaining why the colonists rebelled against English rule. *4-5 complete sentences

The American Revolution Begins After the passage of the Intolerable Acts colonists are ready for independence from (what they considered) an abusive British government July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence approved and signed George Washington chosen as the commander of the Continental Army

Major Battles of the American Revolution Bunker Hill Inexperienced colonial army vs. well trained British army British win the battle, but colonial army held off two major attacks and caused many British casualties Lexington and Concord 1st battle of Am. Rev. British troops sent to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams Paul Revere’s midnight ride warning of the British attack in Lexington After fighting at Lexington, British troops learn Hancock and Adams escaped so they march to Concord British and colonial minutemen battle at Concord’s North Bridge where British retreated “the shot heard around the world”

Major Battles of the American Revolution Cont….. Battles of Saratoga 2 battles: Sept. 19 and Oct. 7 1777 Sept. 19th battle was a successful, but costly victory for the British Army Oct. 7th battle: Continental Army successfully forces the British to retreat winning the battle Major turning point in the American Revolution Am. victory convinced France to aid the colonists in their fight Winter at Valley Forge After suffering many defeats during 1777 George Washington moved his troops to Valley Forge for the winter Washington’s troops suffered from the cold, hunger, poor clothing, and sickness Troops underwent training to improve their military skills Gaining confidence after learning that France was now an ally Washington’s troops retook the city of Philadelphia

Major Battles of the American Revolution Cont…. Battle of Yorktown Washington and French allies besiege British General Cornwallis’s army at Yorktown October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrenders ending the Am. Revolution Colonies gain independence Last battle of Am. Revolution

Treaty of Paris 1783 Officially ended the Am. Revolution England recognized the independence of the colonies England gave up its territory in North America; except for Canada