Causes of the American Revolution The Road to Independence

Proclamation Line of 1763 - Bellringer 1) The Colonists were still fighting ______. 2) King George III of England states the colonists can not pass the ______ Mountains. 3) ______ were given the _____ River Valley. 4) The Colonists felt ______ about the Proclamation. 5) How would you feel if someone gave your property away?

“Taxation without Representation” This was a slogan by James Otis used in the 13 colonies from 1763 – 1775 The colonists complained that taxes were forced on them without any colonial representation in Parliament This violated the rights given to them in the Magna Carta (1215)

Reasons for Taxes Britain owed a large debt from the French and Indian War Keeping troops in the colonies would raise that debt even higher Wanted colonies to pay for part of that debt and to help with the cost of defense in the colonies

Loyalists vs. Patriots Loyalists A strong unified British Empire is good for all Colonists are British subjects and should obey British law Taxes are due to French & Indian War which was fought to protect colonies American colonies would be weak without Britain Patriots People have rights government can’t take away, like property Colonists don’t have voice in Parliament, so they can’t tax colonies Many colonists fought in the French & Indian War (we’ve done our part) British personnel are causing violence, riots, and death

Causes of the American Revolution Sugar Act, 1764 Quartering Act, 1765 To enforce the Proclamation Line 10,000 English soldiers stayed in the colonies To save the King money the colonists had to house the soldiers in their homes or pay for them to be housed To get the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War they used taxation Tariffs on sugar, molasses and other products shipped to the colonies “Taxation without Representation is Tyranny” – James Otis

Causes of the American Revolution Stamp Act, 1765 Every documents had to have a paid royal stamp Colonists had to pay in silver coins (hard to come by) All Contracts All Diplomas All Wills All Newspapers All Legal Documents

Colonies Responded by… Boycotting - Protesting - Resisting - Publishing - Secret Societies - refused to buy English goods “No Taxation Without Representation” bought goods from smugglers (like John Hancock) political cartoons, letters, pamphlets, poems groups like the Sons of Liberty

What are they doing? Tar and Feathering Forcing Tea down tax collectors throat Caning (hitting with stick) Who are they? Who do you think created this cartoon?

Sons of Liberty Sam Adams - Leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty Many members were lawyers, merchants, and craftspeople – the colonists most affected by the Stamp Act They staged many protests Not all were peaceful

Causes of the American Revolution Response from the Colonists Townshend Acts, 1767 Boston Massacre, 1770 1,000 soldiers came to Boston because of the riots Townsmen and soldiers yelled insults to each other A fight broke out Soldiers started shooting into the fight 5 townsmen died, including Crispus Attucks, first African American to die Suspended the New York Assembly Tariffs on: Glass Paper Paint Lead Tea

Boston Massacre, 1770 Colonists started the fight British soldiers were defending themselves Samuel Adams (leader of The Sons of Liberty) named it the Boston Massacre Soldiers were put on trial for murder of the colonists John Adams (cousin) defended the soldiers and they were set free – Why did he defend them?

Boston Massacre, 1770 Identify purpose: Identify Emotion: The cartoon portrays the redcoats as the aggressors and the colonists as innocent unarmed victims Identify Emotion: The cartoon portrays the redcoats as violent murderers who do not care about the lives of the colonists Think Critically: The cartoon does not show what caused the redcoats to begin firing or the actions of the colonists before the firing began

Paul Revere’s PROPOGANDA

What is a boycott? Boycott – The act of not buying a product in order to protest some action of the seller http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1247.html

Writs of Assistance Money raised from the Townshend Acts was intended to pay the British governors and other officials in the colonies. To enforce the Acts, British officers used Writs of assistance, or search warrants, to enter homes or businesses to search for smuggled goods. King George III

Committees of Correspondence Sam Adams urged the colonists to create these committees in 1772 Purpose – to stay informed of British actions abroad and continue to spread the seeds of rebellion These groups exchanged letters on colonial affairs These groups led to the creation of the 1st Continental Congress

Causes of the American Revolution Response from the Colonists Tea Act, 1773 Boston Tea Party, 1773 Townshend Acts repealed in 1770 except… Kept the tea tax to prove England still had the right to tax the colonists 1773 - Parliament then formerly gave the British East India Company control of all tea trade in America Protests fueled by the Committees of Correspondence Sons of Liberty in Boston was most famous Dressed as Natives they threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor British officials wanted the men to be arrested

Boston Tea Party

War is Close After Boston Tea Party the Intolerable Acts are passed to punish the Massachusetts Colony Closed the Boston Port Banned Committees of Correspondence Allowed troops to be housed anywhere they wanted Appointed General Gage as governor of Massachusetts All other colonies offered help to them First Continental Congress is held in Philadelphia, PN (1774) Banned all trade with England Intolerable Acts repealed in the colonies Each colony began training Minutemen, those who are ready at a minutes notice

The Shot Heard Around the World Paul Revere road all night to warn Patriots that the British were coming At Lexington, MA, British soldiers are stopped by militiamen 8 militiamen are killed and British soldiers move on to Concord to destroy military supplies 4,000 minutemen and militiamen arrive first battle of the Revolutionary War Could either the Colonists or British soldiers have stopped the war at this point? How or Why?