Road to Revolution 1754 - 1776

The French & Indian War (1754-1763) British Goals: Keep the Colonist out of Indian Territory to avoid spending money on protection and increasing the already doubled debt. Conflict with Indians = Military Protection = Increased Spending

How will England Pay its Debts??? ANSWER Tax the American colonists. England believes that since colonies are responsible for debt, they should help pay

King George III King George III became King of England in 1760, determined to re-assert the constitutional power of the monarchy. Issued the Proclamation of 1763 Taxed the colonists after they put Great Britain in debt because of the French & Indian War. The American Revolution concerned him and his followers because they feared that the loss of one group of colonies would lead to the loss of others and the eventual decline of the empire. To prevent this, the Crown maintained an aggressive policy against colonial resistance.

Taxing the Colonies Action Reaction Colonist are ANGRY!!! Sugar Act (1764) – tax placed on sugar and molasses Mercantilist Policy Smugglers would be tried in courts without juries Colonist are ANGRY!!! Taxing them without their consent is wrong Trials without juries are unfair

British Parliament 3,000 miles

Colonists thought of themselves as English citizens with the same rights as those living in Britain. Colonists had no representatives/ members in Parliament to voice their concerns. Taxes were passed by the British Parliament without first consulting the colonists.

Colonists did not think it was fair to be taxed without their consent/ permission. Since the colonists lived so far away from London, it seemed impossible for them to participate in the British Parliament. James Otis, a Massachusetts lawyer came up with the popular phrase “Taxation without representation is tyranny” Tyranny – cruel use of power by gov’t

Patriots Patriots were American Colonists who wanted to be free and independent of British rule. Also called Whigs and Rebels. John Adams Ben Franklin Sam Adams Thomas Paine Alexander Hamilton Paul Revere George Washington

Loyalist Loyalist were colonists who were loyal to the King of Great Britain. Also called Tories, Redcoats or Lobsterbacks.

Action Taxing Continues Reaction Stamp Act (1765) – tax on all printed material (printed publications and official documents) Colonist protest Colonist begin Boycotts (refuse to buy) on British goods Sons of Liberty formed by Sam Adams

Reaction Action Taxing Continues Quartering Act (1765)- Required the colonists to quarter (house and feed) British troops in America. Colonist protest Colonists were upset that they were forced to house British soldiers. Colonists were expected to pay the expenses for British soldiers.

Opposition Grows – Townshend Acts Reaction Boycotts continued Sons of Liberty take action – attack customs officials Action Stamp Act Repealed – officially withdraw Townshend Acts (1767) - tax on lead, glass, paper, paint, and tea Use Writs of Assistance to enforce tax - Writs of assistance were court orders that authorized British customs officers to conduct general (non-specific) searches of premises for illegal imports or exports. Sent more British soldiers to keep order

Colonial Anger Reaches Boiling Point: Boston Massacre, 1770 The group of colonist in Boston taunted the soldiers and threw snowballs. By accident, the soldiers fired, and several protestors were killed. Crispus Attucks, a man of mixed African and Native American Indian ancestry, was the first colonist killed. He is known as the first martyr of the revolution. There were 8 British soldiers, and they killed 5 colonists. Samuel Adams called it the “Boston Massacre”.

Propaganda – information giving only one side of the story in order to influence the audience Samuel Adams referred to the event as the Boston Massacre, despite the fact that only 5 of the 400 colonists present were killed Adams asked Paul Revere to make an engraving of the event. This image was circulated in newspapers all throughout the colonies in order to win public support against the British.

New Trouble – Tea Act Reaction Colonist protest Parliament repeals the Townshend Acts, except for a tax on tea Tea Act (1773) – tax on tea, Reaction Colonist protest Boston Tea Party (1773) – colonist led by Sons of Liberty, dump 45 tons of tea into Boston Harbor

Boston Tea Party Civil Disobedience - The refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest. Throughout the history of the U.S., civil disobedience has played a significant role in many of the social reforms that we all take for granted today. Some of the most well known is: 1) The Boston Tea Party -- citizens of the colony of Massachusetts trespassed on a British ship and threw its cargo (tea from England) overboard, rather than be forced to pay taxes without representation to Britain. This was one of the many acts of civil disobedience leading to the War for Independence, establishing the United States of America as a sovereign state.

England is Outraged !!!!!! Coercive Acts Passed Action Coercive Acts (1774) – called Intolerable Acts by colonists Closed Boston Harbor Quartering Act was back Eliminated elected gov’t council British officials charged with major crimes were to be tried in England Reaction Tension escalates to an all time high First Continental Congress is called

First Continental Congress In September 1774 - 56 leaders from all the colonies but Georgia gathered in Philadelphia to talk things over for 7 weeks. The FCC decided that they would elect their own representatives and make their own laws until Britain removed the Intolerable Acts. The Congress also determined that if one of the colonies was attacked then all the rest of the colonies would join in to defend it. The FCC also decided to ban all trade with England until the acts were repealed.

First Continental Congress The Continental Congress also called on each colony to begin training militias, or armies. During the 7 week meeting colonists began to get along and one colonist said: “The distinctions between New Englanders and Virginians are no more,” declared Patrick Henry. “I am not a Virginian, but an American.” The meeting ended on October 26 pledging to come back in May if things didn’t get better by then…….. They didn’t.