By 1776, American colonists were divided into 3 groups Loyalists wanted to remain British colonies Neutrals were undecided about which side to choose Patriots supported separation from Britain (independence)

Quick Review: How did we get to this point?

By 1750, the American colonists were loyal British citizens with autonomous, self-governing colonial assemblies and a thriving trade connection with England Second Continental Congress (1775) Proclamation of 1763 Lexington and Concord (1775) The policy of salutary neglect ended as Britain imposed greater political authority over the colonies, raised new taxes to pay off war debts, and refused to allow colonists representation in Parliament First Continental Congress (1774) Sons of Liberty formed Intolerable Acts (1774) Townshend Acts (1767) Paine’s Common Sense (1776) Boston Tea Party (1773) Turning Point! England defeated France in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) Stamp Act (1765) Boston Massacre (1770) Declaration of Independence (1776) Revolutionary War (1775-1783)               1750   1755 1760 1765 1770 1775 1780 1785

The American Revolution was inspired by the Enlightenment John Locke—all men are born with natural rights & citizens can revolt from tyrannical gov’ts Montesquieu—separation of powers; checks & balances Thomas Paine’s Common Sense urged colonial independence Rousseau believed that citizens have a social contract with their gov’t

By July 1776, how had colonial attitudes towards Great Britain changed?

“The Colonial Response: Events Leading to the American Revolution”

17th century – mid 18th century SALUTARY NEGLECT Britain didn’t pay close attention to the colonies. Colonies governed themselves.

17th and 18th centuries Great Britain followed a policy of MERCANTILISM The theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys Fine as long as they were making money and allowed to handle their own affairs. (Run government, etc.) Favorable balance of trade: Profit made on exports exceeds the costs of imports

1600s American goods must be exported in British ships. British government passed a series of NAVIGATION ACTS The colonies could trade only with the mother country. American goods must be exported in British ships.

WRITS OF ASSISTANCE Early 1760s British customs officials were given the authority to search people’s homes for smuggled goods without a warrant.

The French and Indian War French empire collided w/ British empire British debt = high American Taxes

Treaty of Paris Proclamation of 1763 Britain claimed land east of the Mississippi River Banned all settlement west of Appalachian Mts. Increased Independent Spirit

1764: Sugar Act British Action: Colonial Response: Raised taxes on goods like… Sugar Textiles Wine Coffee Indigo Colonial Response: First time a tax had been passed to raise revenue rather than regulate trade Colonial merchants protested the increased duties

1765: The Stamp Act British Action: Taxed all documents, newspapers, and playing cards by forcing colonists to place a special stamp on the items Direct tax

“No taxation without representation” Colonists felt they should not be taxed because they did not get to elect anyone to Parliament Boycotted English goods Boycott = refusal to buy or use Sons of Liberty was formed -Group that opposed English Rule and advocated independence Colonial Reaction

British response… Parliament repealed the Stamp Act Boycotts so successful not one stamp was ever sold

1765: Quartering Act British Action: Colonial Response: Colonists had to keep British troops in their homes Purpose to keep troops in the colonies and reduce the cost Colonial Response: Colonists did not get along with army and did not want them there permanently They despised the British “occupation” and the soldiers Began to form meetings about the Acts they disliked

March 3, 1770: The Boston Massacre

Children Passing by the Custom House began throwing snowballs at a British sentry A mob formed, throwing stones and sticks group of 60 Boston patriots were together on the street, compared to 10 British soldiers. Someone in the crowd struck the soldiers with sticks and clubs. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five people and wounding six. The fist person to die was Crispus Attucks

1772: Committees of Correspondence formed Started by Samuel Adams Used to pass information between the colonies It was a secret organization

1773: Tea Act Parliament repealed Townshend Acts except for the tax on tea Reduced taxes on tea, but forced colonies to buy tea from a certain company The colonists saw through the trick; how did they react………?

Dec. 16, 1773: Boston Tea Party

Dec. 16, 1773: Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party A group of colonists called the “Sons of Liberty” dumped tea into Boston Harbor in protest They were thinly disguised as Native Americans

Spring 1774: The Intolerable Acts Designed to punish the colonists for Tea Party Closed Boston Harbor Restricted trial by jury Searches without warrants Quartering troops without permission No town meetings allowed in Massachusetts – Boston under military rule Trying to isolate Massachusetts, but only strengthened the colonies unity

What would You do? 26

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author By July 1776, enough Americans were “patriots” that members of the Second Continental Congress formed a 5-man committee to draft a Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author All men are born with “natural rights” of life, liberty, & property Citizens can break their social contract with their gov’t when their gov’t becomes tyrannical It was based on the “enlightened” ideas of John Locke & explained why the colonists were rebelling

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) Committee to draft the Declaration: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, & Roger Sherman

The Declaration of Independence & Influences from the Enlightenment Dec of Ind video from America: Story of Us (4.00) via youtube.com Too Late to Apologize Video (3.22)

Formation of a Continental Army under George Washington The Declaration of Independence was a formal demand for separation, but the Revolutionary War had already begun in 1775 Lexington & Concord Formation of a Continental Army under George Washington Americans were divided among Patriots, Loyalists, & Neutrals

Independence Hall Thompson, Hancock, Read, Dickinson, Rutledge. McKean Wilson Chase & Morris Lee & Adams Walton Hopkins Adams, Sherman, Livingston, Jefferson, Franklin

Quick Class Discussion What was the biggest advantage the American colonists had during the Revolutionary War? What was the biggest advantage that Great Britain had during the Revolutionary War? Based on this chart, who should win the war?

Revolutionary War When the war began, the British had a clear military advantage: 400% larger & more experienced army More money The world’s most dominant navy Manufacturing to make war supplies

Revolutionary War But, the American colonists had: Britain under-estimated the colonial commitment to independence But, the American colonists had: Familiarity with the environment A commitment to win the war Short supply lines to their soldiers A defensive strategy to outlast the British To win, the English had to find & defeat the Continental Army

He had to build a professional army & coordinate the militias As leader of the Continental Army, George Washington was the symbol of the American cause He had to build a professional army & coordinate the militias Encouraged common citizens & volunteer soldiers to support the war even when the British seemed destined to win during the early years of the revolution

American Military: Continental Army, Colonial Militias, & Civilians

Differing Military Strategies The Americans General Washington The British General Gage Divide & Conquer Use Loyalists, seize property, encourage slave revolts Split the Northern & Southern colonies Blockade ports to prevent trade Outlast the British Defend colonial lands & drag out the war Guerilla tactics Make an alliance with France As long as Britain did not defeat the Continental Army, England could not win

The American Revolution began at Lexington & Concord

British victories from 1776-1777 made an American victory look impossible

On Christmas Eve 1776, Washington gave Americans hope by crossing the Delaware River & surprising British troops in Trenton, NJ

Crossing the Delaware in route to a surprise attack at Trenton & Princeton, 1776

From the beginning of the war, American diplomats, led by Benjamin Franklin, tried to form an alliance with the French The French gov’t was willing, but needed to see that the Americans had a chance to win The French agreed to join the American cause after the battle of Saratoga in 1777

The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point because France joined the Americans as an ally

The “turning point” of the Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga, 1777 After Saratoga, French general Lafayette helped train American troops while the French navy helped neutralize the British advantage on the high seas When French troops arrived in the spring 1778, the tide of the war shifted in favor of the Americans Marquis de Lafayette

Near Starvation at Valley Forge, PA in 1778

From 1778-1781, both sides traded victories, but the war finally came to a conclusion at the Battle of Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown By 1781, Washington trapped the army of British General Cornwallis between the Continental Army & the French navy http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/declaration-of-independence#yorktown America the Story of Us video on Yorktown (3.00)

Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down” The Battle of Yorktown General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in 1781, ending the American Revolution Why the Americans won the Revolutionary War: America Story of Us video (3.20) Cornwallis’ surrender was the “day the world turned upside down”

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the American Revolution The treaty gave America: Full independence All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & Florida The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America

North America 1754 North America 1763 North America 1783