Revolution and Early America

“Give me liberty or give me death!” –Patrick Henry, 1775

French and Indian War The British battled France and the Native Americans for territory To prevent more fighting, the British declared the Proclamation of 1763

Relations with Britain Proclamation of 1763: prohibited colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains into Native American Territory. They also placed 10,000 soldiers in the colonies and on the frontier.

Britain needs money Due to the debt fighting the French and Indian War, Britain was desperate for incoming money They looked at the colonists as a source of income and began to implement taxes and trade laws

Sugar Act 1764, to stop the smuggling between the colonies and the French West Indies Established special courts to hear smuggling cases. British judges, rather than juries, decided whether the accused would be jailed British colonies had enjoyed the right to a jury trial

Stamp Act 1765, placed a tax on all printed material in the colonies-newspapers, pamphlets, wills, playing cards All printed materials had to have a stamp, which was applied by British officials Parliament had interfered: taxing colonies directly and it was passed without consulting the colonial legislatures

The Townshend Acts The Stamp Act was repealed, but trust was never fully restored. Passed a set of laws in 1767, taxes only applied to imported goods at the point of port

The Boston Massacre March 5, 1770, tension finally reached its peak. Townspeople began to yell, throw things, and torment the British soldiers After one of the soldiers were knocked down, a shot was fired Seven shots/killing 5 colonists Crispus Attukus- African American dockworker

The Word Spreads Colonial leaders used the killings as propaganda Samuel Adams put up poster describing the “Boston Massacre” The Boston Massacre led colonists to call for stronger boycotts

The Boston Tea Party Boycotts on British goods December 1773, a group of men threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor

Intolerable Acts After news of Boston Tea Party, King George III realized Britain was “losing control” of the colonists Coercive Acts closed Boston Harbor until the colonists paid for the ruined tea Prevented the arrival of food and other supplies Colonists nicknamed these acts “intolerable”

The Continental Congress men arrive in Philadelphia Delegates from all colonies except Georgia John Adams, John Jay, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, George Washington Form militias-group of citizen soldiers

Declaring Independence April, tensions exploded into war Members of the militia in Lexington and Concord stood up to the British Continental Congress forms Continental Army (all 13 colonies) Selected George Washington to lead Drafted Declaration of Independence documents explained why the colonies believe they must declare independence from Britain John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson

Winning the War Early battles, Washington’s army suffered several defeats Constant shortage of soldiers and supplies Turning point 1777, Battle of Saratoga France agreed to help America 1781, America and French forces trapped a large British army at Yorktown, Virginia

New Constitution Created a Republic: the people elected representatives to make laws and run the government 1781: articles of confederation 1787: agreed on Constitution as the written plan of government

The New Plan of Government Divided into 3 branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Executive: led by President Legislative: led by Congress Judicial: led by Supreme and other federal courts

The Bill of Rights Ten Amendments, or additions Guarantees specific freedoms by placing specific limits on government For example, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press