The Road to the Revolution: What led to the writing of the Declaration Of Independence and the Revolutionary War?

The Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1696 restricted American trade in the following ways; Only British ships could transport imported and exported goods from the colonies. The only people who were allowed to trade with the colonies had to be British citizens. Commodities such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton wool which were produced in the colonies could be exported only to British ports.

Britain helped colonists to defeat the French in war Britain needed money to pay for war expenses Taxed colonists, restricted settlements and limited self-govt.

Legal documents allowing British officers to search for smuggled goods without warning Established in 1764 Devised to monitor colonial trading to prevent evasion of the Navigation Acts England saw colonies as a source of Revenue (money) Colonists become outraged!!!

Source of incoming money England saw the colonies as a source of incoming money $$$$$

British taxed colonists on many of the goods coming into the colonies from other places British imposed taxes upon all paper products and stamped the item once the tax had been payed.

Stop molasses smuggling between colonies and the French West Indies Lowered taxes on imported molasses Set-up courts where accused smugglers were tried by a British judge and NOT a jury

Placed a tax on almost all printed materials – newspapers, pamphlets, wills, playing cards Taxed colonists directly Passed by Parliament without colonial vote or consent Rally Cry: “No taxation without Representation”

“No Taxation Without Representation!”

Patrick Henry’s speech Sons and Daughters of Liberty Benjamin Franklin’s visit to Parliament Boston Massacre

Vocal patriot advocating colonial rights Believed only the colonists had the right to tax the colonists

Organized in Boston by Samuel Adams Protested by burning effigies Raided and destroyed homes of British officials Spread propaganda Organized boycotts

Colonial women organized groups to support the boycott of British goods Urged Americans to wear homemade clothing and to produce their own goods

EFFIGIES - RAG DOLLS REPRESENTING UNPOPULAR TAX COLLECTORS BOYCOTTS – REFUSAL TO BUY GOODS

To get rid of British merchants rallied for the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766 Americans successfully Boycotted British goods

Replaced the repealed Stamp Act Allowed parliament the right to tax and to make decisions “in all cases whatsoever.”

Created in 1767 Taxed imported goods at the port of entry: glass, paper, tea, lead and other basic goods Enforced by Writs of Assistance – upset colonists

King George III Sent 700 troops to Boston on October 1, 1768 – set up camp on town green Harassed colonists and interfered with their daily lives March 5, 1770, colonists antagonized soldiers by throwing rocks and ice Soldiers fired 7 shots into the crowed – 5 colonists died including Crispus Attucks Depicted by Paul Revere as a massacre Effective propaganda, as colonist depicted as heroes, soldiers as evil villains John Adams successfully defended British soldiers saying acted in self defense

Revived by Samuel Adams in 1772 Used to circulate colonist’s grievances against the Britain

Passed by Parliament to keep the British East India Tea Company in business Allowed the tea company to ship its surplus tea to the colonies without paying taxes Colonists boycotted the tea – rather smuggle colonial tea, and refused to accept British tea at ports.

Lower price on British tea Colonists still pay taxes Boycotted British tea Sons of Liberty dressed in disguise and dumped British tea overboard

December 16, 1773 British governor in Boston ordered the tea from the ships to be unloaded Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded the ships at midnight Threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor Tea valued at $70,000; today over $1,000,000

Official name – Coercive Acts Created to punish Massachusetts Closed the Boston Harbor until colonists paid for damaged tea Prohibited town meetings Forced colonists to quarter the British soldiers. The King assigned British General Gage to be Massachusetts governor.

Purpose: Punish colonists for Tea Party Result: Helped to unify colonists

First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia

Group of prominent colonial leaders Met September 1774 Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Jay, George Washington, Patrick Henry & more Drafted a statement of grievances Called for the repeal of the 13 Acts of Parliament Voted to boycott all British goods and trade Passed a resolution to form a militia Meet again in 7 months Key step in American history as delegates determined to uphold colonial rights

British General Gage learns of hidden weapons in Concord. Also, John Hancock and Samuel Adams in nearby Lexington. Two lanterns hung in church tower to warn the British coming by “sea” (Charles River) Paul Revere and William Dawes make midnight ride to warn Minutemen of approaching British soldiers

First military engagements of the Revolution April 19, 1775 Known as the “shot heard ‘round the world”

Representatives brought money to help establish… the Continental Army (i.e. pay soldiers, buy guns, bullets, food, and uniforms

May 10, 1775 Also present: Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson Congress began to govern the colonies Authorized the printing of money Set up Post Office with Franklin in charge Created committees to communicate with Native Americans Created the Continental Army with Washington in charge Sent the Olive Branch Petition

One last chance to avoid war by protecting the colonists’ rights King refused to read it Sent 30,000 paid Hessian soldiers instead

Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine Using plain language, it urged for complete independence from Great Britain – three points: 1.All men, not just land owners, have right to vote 2.Kings ruling by will of God is ridiculous and all monarchies are corrupt 3.The new nation can survive on its own and not be economically tied to England

the freedom to govern on one’s own. declaration : (n) an official statement

Benjamin Franklin John Adams Robert R. Livingston Roger Sherman Thomas Jefferson

This is a replica of the Graff house where Jefferson wrote the majority of the 1 st draft of the Declaration of Independence. The original building (at this location) was destroyed in 1888.

Who wrote the first draft?

July 4, 1776 Written by Thomas Jefferson Signed 1 st by John Hancock Two major ideas:  Every person has natural and unalienable rights the government cannot take away: life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness  If a government disregards these rights – the people have the right to abolish that government by force if necessary and form a new government Contains 4 major sections  Preamble or introduction  Listed rights colonists should have  Listed grievances against the British  Proclaims the existence of a new country

Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty six men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well death would be the cost if captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.

They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!