What were the causes of the American Revolution? Essential Question What were the causes of the American Revolution?
The French and Indian War
French Territory
Fort Beausejour
French Territory
Fort Louisbourg
French Territory
Port Royal
Who Fought This War? The French The British The Colonists Indian Groups
French Movement French army moved into western Pennsylvania in 1754 France wanted to use the Ohio River to travel to the Mississippi, then on to New Orleans.
George Washington Virginia governor sent George Washington to western Pennsylvania
Fort Necessity Washington quickly built Fort Necessity French attacked and defeated Washington
Fort Necessity
Fort Necessity
The Albany Conference June 1754 7 colonies sent representatives to discuss an alliance with the Iroquois Indians
Albany Plan of Union Proposed by Benjamin Franklin Idea that colonies unite to form a federal government Rejected
British Victory
Battle of Quebec
Treaty of Paris (1763)
Pontiac’s War Pontiac – chief of the Ottawa United other Indian tribes to attack British forts and settlers along the frontier
Proclamation Act of 1763 Issued by King George No settlers allowed to move west of the Proclamation Line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains
Taxes on the Colonies Needed to pay war debt and cost of British soldiers in America
James Otis Wrote a pamphlet which stated: “No taxation without representation.” Colonists had no representatives in Parliament
The Stamp Act March 1765 Required stamps on all printed materials Newspapers, wills, deeds, dice, playing cards
Quartering Act Forced colonists to house British soldiers
Sons of Liberty Held outdoor meetings and demonstrations Protested British acts
Quote, Sons of Liberty “In the morning a mob assembled and erected a gallows near the town house and the dispers’d, and about ten a clock reassembled and took the effigies of several men and the Stamp Master . . . To said gallows where they were hung up by the neck . . . About dusk they broke every window in his house, frames and all, likewise chairs, tables, pictures and everything they could come across.”
Nonimportation Agreement Merchants pledged not to buy any British goods
Daughters of Liberty Supported the colonists Began weaving homespun – a simple cloth that became a sign of patriotism
Boston Massacre Britain sent 1000 troops to Boston Soldiers harassed by the crowds
Boston Massacre Troops fired into the crowd First victim was Crispus Attucks 5 died in all
Committee of Correspondence March 1773 Thomas Jefferson asked each colony to create a committee to communicate with other colonies Began to unify the colonies
Tea Act (1773) Created to help the British East India Company Company could bypass colonial merchants
Boston Tea Party Dec. 1773 Men dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor
Coercive Acts Boston Tea Party angered King George III Created laws designed to punish Massachusetts
Intolerable Acts Shut down the port of Boston All officials appointed by the royal governor rather than elected Town meetings banned Housing must be provided for British soldiers
Common Sense Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine Attacked King George III as a tyrant Time to claim independence
Thomas Paine “Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘Tis time to part . . . Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted around the globe . . . And England hath given her warning to depart.”
Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 Declared the colonies independent of England The United States of America