CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: PART 2

INTRODUCTION With the passing of the Sugar, Stamp and Townshend Acts, tensions are at an all time high between the colonies and the British With the passing of the Sugar, Stamp and Townshend Acts, tensions are at an all time high between the colonies and the British Using boycotts and protests, the Colonists wanted to show they were angry and that they expected taxes repealed Using boycotts and protests, the Colonists wanted to show they were angry and that they expected taxes repealed Eventually, with British soldiers coming to American cities to stop these protests, violence will erupt and people will begin questioning whether the colonies should break away from the British Empire Eventually, with British soldiers coming to American cities to stop these protests, violence will erupt and people will begin questioning whether the colonies should break away from the British Empire

Sons of Liberty Sons of Liberty A protest (terrorist?) group that organized protests, boycotts and attacked English tax collectors in Boston A protest (terrorist?) group that organized protests, boycotts and attacked English tax collectors in Boston Believed that the taxes on the colonies were unfair Believed that the taxes on the colonies were unfair Wanted colonial representation in Parliament if they were going to be taxed Wanted colonial representation in Parliament if they were going to be taxed Famous members: Famous members: Paul Revere Paul Revere Samuel Adams Samuel Adams Patrick Henry Patrick Henry “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

With each new tax passed by the British, more colonists begin agreeing with the Sons of Liberty With each new tax passed by the British, more colonists begin agreeing with the Sons of Liberty Newspapers and Pamphlets circulate to motivate colonists to fight against British taxes and soldiers Newspapers and Pamphlets circulate to motivate colonists to fight against British taxes and soldiers Samuel Adams: Samuel Adams: “I look upon British Soldiers as foreign enemies” “I look upon British Soldiers as foreign enemies” “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

BOSTON MASSACRE (1770 BOSTON MASSACRE (1770) Occurred in Boston, MA on March 5, 1770 Occurred in Boston, MA on March 5, 1770 A group of colonists protesting the Townshend Acts gather outside the Old North Church in Boston A group of colonists protesting the Townshend Acts gather outside the Old North Church in Boston During the protest, British soldiers arrive to end the protest, During the protest, British soldiers arrive to end the protest, Colonists begin throwing snowballs and rocks, threaten soldiers with clubs Colonists begin throwing snowballs and rocks, threaten soldiers with clubs

BOSTON MASSACRE Troops fire upon the crowd, killing 5 colonists Troops fire upon the crowd, killing 5 colonists Included is Crispus Attucks, a free African-American protesting Included is Crispus Attucks, a free African-American protesting Colonial newspapers publish reports of massacre, colonists grow concerned about war Colonial newspapers publish reports of massacre, colonists grow concerned about war The soldiers are put on trial in Boston, found not guilty The soldiers are put on trial in Boston, found not guilty Soldiers’ lawyer: John Adams Soldiers’ lawyer: John Adams Significance: First occurrence of violence causes colonists to begin considering independence Significance: First occurrence of violence causes colonists to begin considering independence

BOSTON MASSACRE (1770) Parliament’s Response: Parliament’s Response: Withdraw troops from Boston Withdraw troops from Boston Repeal Townsend Act Repeal Townsend Act Leave the tax on tea Leave the tax on tea

TEA ACT AND THE BOSTON TEA PARTY Tea Act: Small tax on British tea sold in the colonies Tea Act: Small tax on British tea sold in the colonies The Sons of Liberty plan a protest, we call it the Boston Tea Party The Sons of Liberty plan a protest, we call it the Boston Tea Party Meant to be a visible sign of Colonial anger over taxes Meant to be a visible sign of Colonial anger over taxes Cost the British 10,000 pounds Cost the British 10,000 pounds Parliament Response: Parliament Response: Pass the Intolerable Acts to punish Massachusetts for its rebellious actions Pass the Intolerable Acts to punish Massachusetts for its rebellious actions

INTOLERABLE ACTS Definition: Laws passed by the British to punish the colonists in Massachusetts Definition: Laws passed by the British to punish the colonists in Massachusetts Four Parts of the Intolerable Acts Four Parts of the Intolerable Acts Closed Boston Harbor Closed Boston Harbor Colonists accused of crimes sent to Britain for trial Colonists accused of crimes sent to Britain for trial British General Thomas Gage becomes Governor of Massachusetts British General Thomas Gage becomes Governor of Massachusetts Quartering Act: Colonists forced to house/suppport British Soldiers Quartering Act: Colonists forced to house/suppport British Soldiers

INTOLERABLE ACTS Colonial Response: Delegates from the colonies are sent to Philadelphia to form First Continental Congress Colonial Response: Delegates from the colonies are sent to Philadelphia to form First Continental Congress Decide to build militias in case of war Decide to build militias in case of war Send letter of peace to King, who ignores it Send letter of peace to King, who ignores it

COMMON SENSE Definition: A pamphlet authored by Thomas Paine making the case that America should not tolerate the British abuse of power Definition: A pamphlet authored by Thomas Paine making the case that America should not tolerate the British abuse of power Convinced common people to support the Revolution movement Convinced common people to support the Revolution movement Top selling book in the colonies (500,000 copies) Top selling book in the colonies (500,000 copies) “Paine wrote as a common person speaking to common people” “Paine wrote as a common person speaking to common people”