Road to Revolution

British Action RationaleColonial Reaction Rationale Repeal of Stamp Act and passage of Declaratory Act rejoicing over repeal; ignoring Declaratory Act Stamp Actpetitions, boycott, violence Currency Actsmoldering resentment Sugar ActBoston experimented with boycotts Proclamation of 1763 resentment and failure to comply

PROCLAMATION LINE OF 1763 Continued hostilities between Native Americans and British made newly acquired land too dangerous Would have required too much money and too many resources to control British prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains Colonists settled there anyway!!! Back

Sugar Act 1764 Duty placed on imported sugar Intention was to actually enforce Money would be used to pay for cost of maintaining 10,000 men army in colonies.

Currency Act Restricted the use of paper money by the colonies PROBLEM – too much paper money was issued -> currency depreciated This inflation was harmful to merchants in Great Britain, who were forced to accept the depreciated currency from colonists for payment of debts

Stamp Act Required special embossed paper Revenue measure Must be paid for in hard money (silver and gold) Newspapers Legal documents Licenses Ship’s papers Playing cards back

Repeal of Stamp Act/Passage of Declaratory Act Nonimportation movement – boycott of English products Pressure from English merchants 1766 repeal of Stamp Act reduction of duty of Sugar Act Declaratory Act passed = PARLIAMENT HAS FULL AUTHORITY TO MAKE LAWS IN COLONIES back

1.Sugar Act of Stamp Act 3.Declaratory Act of Townshend Acts 5.Tea Act of Coercive Acts

British Actions: Why did they do this? Colonists Reactions: Why did this make them angry?

Timeline of Events Conflict at Lexington and Concord First Continental Congress Second Continental Congress Common Sense Written Battle at Bunker Hill Olive Branch Petition Declaration of Independence Adopted British surrender at Yorktown Treaty of Paris formally ends war

First Continental Congress Intolerable Acts – closed Boston Harbor, imposed martial law on Boston September, 1774 – 56 delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss colonial rights Some colonists stepped up military preparations.

Conflict at Lexington and Concord British learn of hidden weapons in Concord – march to get them In Lexington, 70 colonists try to stop them “SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD” British march on to Concord – 4000 colonists meet them and best them

Second Continental Congress Met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 Not to govern nor to rebel but to join forces on common policies Urged colonies to mobilize its militias Named George Washington the Commander in Chief of new army

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL June 1775 Fought for control of Boston Harbor 1st major battle of war Gave the colonists great confidence Deadliest battle of war as over 1,000 redcoats and 450 colonists died Battle misnamed Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill would have been more accurate) June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill

OLIVE BRANCH PETITION July 1775, the Second Continental Congress was readying for war, though still hoping for peace Most delegates deeply loyal to King George III July 8 – Olive Branch Petition sent to King – asked for King to secure peace and protect their rights King refuses to read it – declares colonies in rebellion

Common Sense Pamphlet – published in 1776 Challenged the authority of British Rule Paine used plain language which spoke to the common man Arguments Ridiculous for an island to rule a continent European wars cause American colonies economies to collapse

Declaration of Independence June, 1776 = Second Continental Congress created a committee to prepare a statement with the reasons for their separation with Britain 1.Thomas Jefferson 2.John Adams 3.Benjamin Franklin 4.Robert Livingston 5.Roger Sherman

Declaration of Independence Main Arguments People have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness If government does not protect these rights then people can form new government. Purpose To explain the political ideas of the colonists To list the grievances of the revolutionists To formally declare their separation from Great Britain.

A. Preamble – Intro. – describes the document as an explanation of why they are becoming independent B. Declaration of Rights – natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) have to be protected by a government or else C. Complaints – reasons why king stinks (he hasn’t treated the colonists as he treated the British in Britain) D. Resolution – establishes independent states after they tried to make things work and were denied Declaration of Independence

Who would win? BritishAmericans British government strongest in worldAmerican government did not yet exist lots of moneyno money army strongest in the world American army made up of citizen- soldiers who were badly trained many officersfew officers with any experience British navy ruled the seasno navy fighting 3000 miles away from home - had to ship men and supplies fighting at home - English might lose because couldn't get soldiers over quickly British army had trouble getting soldiers because many people had family members and friends in America. France helped by sending money and trained officers