“I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old- fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.”

ROAD TO REVOLUTION

Why did the American colonists break with Britain? Economic Reasons 1)Mercantilism – a.Gold makes a nation strong b.A favorable balance of trade = more gold comes in than goes out c.Sell more than it buys d.Colonies exist for the trade benefits of the mother country

Why did the American colonists break with Britain? 2. Trade Restrictions Navigation Acts (shipping laws) – A. Only British ships could transport goods from the colonies B. The colonists could only buy from England C. Colonists could only export commodities (resources) to British ports

King George’s War ( ) Britain vs. France Started in Europe and in the sea by India War spills over to North America (Canada) 4000 New Englanders attack the French fortress at Louisbourg 250 cannons, 30 ft high stone walls, 7 weeks 167 Americans died, fort captured, 1500 prisoners Treaty of Aix La Chapelle – Britain traded the fortress back to France for a British outpost in India

Proclamation of 1763 Problem: Colonists on Indian lands, Indian War Solution: Colonists not allowed to move west of the Appalachian Mts. Why unfair? Can’t move to the Ohio Valley Have to pay for soldiers to keep them out Reaction: Americans ignored the law

Taxes Problem: Britain in debt after the war Solution: Sugar Act 1764– tax on sugar and molasses and stricter punishment on smugglers Stamp Act 1765– tax on paper Why unfair? No taxation without representation (you have to let us have a say in the taxes) These taxes were repealed because of the protests (boycott)

More Taxes Problem: Townshend is accused of being scared of the Americans Solution: Townshend Acts 1767 – he taxes lead, paint, tea, paper, and glass Why unfair? No representation Writs of assistance let officers search your house and ship if they wanted to. Americans did the nonimportation agreements = they boycotted bringing in those items.

Boston Massacre March 5, 1770 Problem: Colonists threw snowballs at the soldiers Solution: Soldiers shot and killed 5 Boston citizens Why unfair? Soldiers given a fair trial and found innocent of murder Officer not punished, soldiers branded on hand and sent back to England Reaction: Committees of Correspondence – wrote letters/pamphlets, Sons of Liberty groups in other colonies formed.

Tea Act 1773 Problem: British East India Company going out of business Solution: Sell BEIC’s tea directly to America at lower cost Why unfair? Cut American tea merchants out of the deal Tricking Americans into paying the unfair tax Reaction: Boston Tea Party!

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) Problem: Boston destroyed 273 chests of tea Solution: Punish Boston 1) closed the ports 2) limited town meetings 3) Murder Act – try British officials in England 4) New Quartering Act – soldiers put in people’s homes Why unfair? Hurting trade, right to assemble, fair trial, privacy Reaction: First Continental Congress – send supplies to Boston, organize colonial militias, boycott