French and Indian War The French and their Native American allies fought against England Spain joined the war siding with the French England still won the war in the colonies and overseas

The Proclamation of 1763 The Proclamation was a law that no more settlers were to come on the Indian's land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The King drew a line on a map along the middle of the Appalachian Mountains, from New York  to Georgia. This proclamation also said that the settlers who were already living there had to move east.

Georgia Changes Shape The western border of GA changed from California to the Mississippi River The southern border changed to the St. Mary’s River Treaty of Augusta with the Creek tripled GA’s size

Cost of the French and Indian War

Stamp Act Enacted by Parliament All legal and commercial documents had to have the “official” stamp Georgia delegates did NOT attend the Stamp Act Congress Georgia was the only colony where the stamp was purchased

The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party Law that made Britain’s East India company the only company that could sell imported tea in the colonies. I had a “monopoly” on tea. The Boston Tea Party: The most famous protest. Colonists (Sons of Liberty) disguised as Indians boarded the tea ships and dumped the tea into the water. (Worth $1 million in today’s money. )

The Intolerable Acts 1774 Boston Harbor is closed until the dumped tea has been paid for Revolutionary groups such as the Sons of Liberty are outlawed and town meetings can only be held once a year Quartering Act is passed – House and feed British soldiers

Georgia’s Response to the Acts Georgia decided NOT to send any delegates to the First Continental Congress (meeting in Philadelphia in response to the Intolerable Acts----1774) A group of 30 men met twice at Peter Tondee’s Tavern in Savannah about the Acts Georgia felt it needed to keep good relations with the British military Lyman Hall wanted to go to the Congress but he didn’t get the support he needed

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere April 18, 1775 Paul Revere and two other riders were sent to warn the Patriots (defenders of colonial government) that the British Army was on its way to Lexington. The British army wanted the Patriots’ store of weapons. The resulting confrontation was the first battle of the American Revolution.

The Shot Heard Round the World Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War--Massachusetts (May 1775) Colonists had to decide whether they were Loyalists (loyal to Britain) or Patriots (rebelled against Britain) Loyalists were also called Tories and Patriots were also called Whigs

Loyalists and Patriots in GA Loyalists (Tories) understood how much Britain was doing to help them, such as government officials, Anglican ministers, Indian traders, and some of the planters and small farmers that were doing well under British rule. Patriots (Whigs) hated the taxes imposed on them Patriots believed that British policies were taking away rights that had been guaranteed them as British citizens. Patriot groups included the Scots around Darien, the Jews in Savannah, and the New England Congregationalists Loyalists included the Quakers and the Germans at Ebenezer

Why Had Georgia Been Slower to Rebel? Georgia was younger. Many of Georgia’s older settlers had come directly from Great Britain and still had close ties. Georgia had many exposed frontiers that could be attacked by Indians and the British government had maintained mostly friendly relations with the Indians. If relations with Indians became less friendly, the British soldiers were needed for defense. Most Georgians genuinely like their royal governor, James Wright. He had helped Georgia prosper.

Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, summarized the colonists’ reasons for separating from Great Britain. The document explained their natural rights that came from “the Creator,” not the King. The document made clear that the colonies were free and independent states united in a common cause. Three Georgians pledged their lives by signing the document: Dr. Lyman Hall, George Walton, and Button Gwinnett.