THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” Spread of Enlightenment Ideas People SHOULD have more Rights, Freedoms, Equality John Locke wrote “Two Treatises of Government” –people can rebel if government does not protect “natural rights” French and Indian War King George III (England) felt colonists should help pay off the debt from the French and Indian War England wants to re-establish control over colonies

EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” Proclamation of 1763 prevented colonists from moving westward keep land for English speculators/traders 1764 Sugar Act (Indirect Tax) 1 st tax on colonists 1764 Committees of Correspondence   est. lines of communication through colonies   encourage united opposition against Britain

EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” 1765 – Stamp Act ( Direct Tax ) Tax on all printed items   legal documents, deeds, marriage licenses, newspapers, bills, almanacs, pamphlets, dice, playing cards, etc… 1765 SONS OF LIBERTY Underground organization in opposition of Stamp Tax Used violence and intimidation against “stamp agents”

EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” 1765 ” Stamp Act Congress ” called Parliament could not make laws for colonists   ”no taxation without representation ” Parliament could not make laws for colonists   ”no taxation without representation ” Called for colonists to Boycott British Goods March 1766 England repealed the Stamp Act March 1766 England repealed the Stamp Act

1766Declaratory Act Parliament “declared” Britain still had right to make laws for Colonies EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” 1765Quartering Act Requiring colonists to house and feed British soldiers

EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” 1767Townshend Acts new series of taxes to pay for governing and protecting the colonies taxes on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea Colonists boycotted goods

BOSTON MASSACRE March 5, 1770 “Redcoats” fired on colonists 3 Americans killed –Crispus Attucks tremendous “propaganda” value for colonists –Paul Revere

EVENTS LEADING TO THE “REVOLUTION” England cancelled the Townshend Acts, except for tax on TEA a 3 cent/ pound import tax on tea was imposed British East India Tea Co was given a tea monopoly and was underselling American tea merchants   IF colonists bought the tea, they would be acknowledging England’s right to tax them

BOSTON TEA PARTY December 16, 1773 Colonists dressed as Mohawk Indians and threw 342 cases of tea into Boston Harbor King George III was outraged!!!!

To punish colonists, Parliament issued the Intolerable Acts Boston Harbor was CLOSED until: 1.Taxes on “dumped” tea was paid 2.British East India Co was reimbursed for the loss of the tea COLONIAL TRADE WAS HURT!!! Increased calls for action INTOLERABLE ACTS

1 ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Sept 5 – Oct 26, 1774 Philadelphia 12 of 13 colonies were represented   Georgia o o prospered under England o o Needed help against Indians declared Colonies have the right to make their laws…NOT the English Parliament or the King “There are no differences between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders. I am not a Virginian, but I am an American.” --Patrick Henry “There are no differences between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders. I am not a Virginian, but I am an American.” --Patrick Henry

THE PLOT THICKENS… England orders increased enforcement of Intolerable Acts and suppress revolts British General Cage orders:   Capture Sam Adams and John Hancock   seize colonial weapons warehouse at Concord

Shot Heard Round the World Lexington – 1 st Battle   start of American Revolutionary War   2 nd battle at Concord April 19, 1775 Paul Revere, William Dawes, Sam Prescott warned colonists   “I if by land, 2 if by sea”   2 lanterns in Boston’s North Church “ Minutemen ” Colonial militia “ Minutemen ” Colonial militia

STRENGTHS ENGLAND 1 )Well equipped 2)Well trained 3)Strong Navy 4)Loyalists 5)Mercenaries Hessians 30% COLONISTS 1)Familiar with terrain 2)Pride

WEAKNESSES ENGLAND 1)English resented paying taxes for the war 2)Many English sympathized with the colonists COLONISTS 1)Poorly disciplined 2)Continental Congress could not force states to give troops, money, supplies

SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS May 1775 Philadelphia Olive Branch Petition last attempt to compromise with England and prevent war England refused Creation of the Continental Army under George Washington Patrick Henry – “ Give me Liberty or give me Death ”

FIGHTING THE WAR June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill  1 st major battle  “ Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes ” Jan 1776 Thomas Paine  wrote “Common Sense”  critical of King George III  attacked allegiance to monarchy  argues for American Independence

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Thomas Jefferson main author Colonies declared independence from England King George III wrote in his diary for the day “…nothing of importance.”

BATTLE OF TRENTON Dec 25, 1776 Washington’s “Crossing the Delaware” surprise attack on the Hessian mercenaries Increased soldier morale Increased public support No American troops died in this attack

AMERICAN FLAG June 14, 1777 Betsy Ross WHITE purity and innocence RED hardiness & valor BLUE vigilance, perseverance & Justice

BATTLE OF SARATOGA October 1777  American victory  Morale booster…British had recently taken Philadelphia  Nearly 6000 Hessians surrendered TURNING POINT OF THE WAR  France joins war on Colonial side

BATTLE OF VINCENNES Winter 1779 George Rogers Clark captured Ft. Sackville –Vincennes, IN prevented British from capturing the Midwest

BATTLE OF YORKTOWN Oct 19, 1781 General Washington defeats General Cornwallis Cornwallis surrenders AMERICA WINS!!!

TREATY OF PARIS September 1783 ended American Revolution Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America