The Road to Revolution

Unit II: Revolutionary War Between 1763 and 1783, the British attempts to exert control over the colonies led to a violent, organized, and ultimately successful revolution. Who’s to blame???

Proclamation of 1763  Revenue Act (1762)  Currency Act (1764)  The Sugar Act (1764)  Stamp Act 1765  Colonists felt that they a right to that land because they helped defeat the French. Colonists will suffer from loss of French trade. (Brit army in colonies) Colonists have difficulty paying in gold/silver. Colonists begin to grumble about taxes needing to “originate with the people.” New England smuggling continues. Sons of Liberty/Open resistance Stamp Act Congress (Oct. ’65)  Parliament responds!

Open Challenge   What is it about the Stamp Act that angers the colonists??   Meeting of Stamp Act Congress 9 colonies sent delegates to NY in Oct to protest “loss of American rights and liberties” Challenged the constitutionality of the Stamp Act   B. Franklin – seeks actual representation for English colonies.   British response – virtual representation

Sons of Liberty – less diplomatic/angry mob led by Sam Adams Used raw energy and emotion against British tax measures Encouraged boycotts, harassed stamp collectors, etc. Resistance Grows

Repealed Stamp Act! BUT issued the Declaratory Act — What message did this send to the colonists??  Stated Parliament’s “full power and authority to make laws and statutes... to bind the colonies and people of America... In all cases whatsoever.” Parliament Responds

Townshend Act 1767  tax on paper, paint, glass—what was the political purpose of this act?? Restraining Acts 1767  Parliament threatened to disband NY legislature if they did not fund previous Quartering Act (NY backed down)  committees of correspondence  more non-importation (hitting GB in the pocketbook)  Daughters of Liberty/”homespuns” Britain responds by sending more troops to the colonies... Tensions Escalate

The Boston Massacre March 1770

Boston Tea Party (1773) What were colonists reacting to when they dumped that tea in Boston Harbor??

First Continental Congress  Met in Philadelphia in 1774  Led by Patriots Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, John Adams and George Washington John Adams and George Washington  Issued the Declaration of Rights which, in written form, protested the actions of Great Britain accepted Britain’s right to control tradeaccepted Britain’s right to control trade called for the removal of British troopscalled for the removal of British troops called for the repeal of the Intolerable Actscalled for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts  Also decided to form a militia, impose a colonial- wide boycott on British imports & exports  Agreed to meet again in Spring 1775 if grievances not addressed Parliament’s response: refused to negotiate...

Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 1775  British Action 700 British troops advanced toward Concord to seize the colonists’ military supplies. 700 British troops advanced toward Concord to seize the colonists’ military supplies.  Colonists’ Reaction In Lexington, about 70 minutemen fight the British and in Concord hundreds of colonists forced the British troops to withdraw. It is the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Ultimately, 73 Brits were killed, 174 wounded, 26 missing. 49 Americans were dead, 39 wounded.

The Shot Heard ’Round the World! Lexington & Concord – April 19,1775

Compromise Fails: The Second Continental Congress  The Situation: - June 1775 Lexington & ConcordLexington & Concord Colonial tensions are highColonial tensions are high Most feel there is no turning back – and Bunker Hill (June) strengthens their resolve.Most feel there is no turning back – and Bunker Hill (June) strengthens their resolve.  War or Peace?????: General George Washington – chosen to head the Continental ArmyGeneral George Washington – chosen to head the Continental Army “Olive Branch Petition”“Olive Branch Petition”... King declares the colonies to be in rebellion!... King declares the colonies to be in rebellion!

Thomas Paine: Common Sense

Declaration of Independence (1776)

On the Eve of the Revolution

Phase I ( ): The Northern Campaign Howe would invade in New York, take the Hudson River, and isolate NE from the rest of the colonies. Washington’s Army would flee to Manhattan, then back across the Delaware just as winter set in in Howe sought to convince GW to surrender... Washington evaded Howe & fought a defensive war.

Phase II: NY, NJ & PA [ ] By winter 1776 the Continental Army was desperate—and the British had “relaxed” for the winter.

Washington Crossing the Delaware December Significance??

Meanwhile, Gen. Burgoyne led a large British force south from Quebec—to converge with forces from the West and South—to capture Albany. Howe’s troops never arrived—Burgoyne was surrounded by American troops led by Horatio Gates. Why does this matter?? October 1777

Phase III: The Southern Strategy [ ] Britain thought Loyalists in the South would rise to their aid. The British win a number of small victories, but cannot “conquer” the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

The Battle of Yorktown (1781)

The Defeat of the British: Treaty of Paris (1783)  Key reasons for British Defeat: French assistanceFrench assistance Became a war of attrition/ lack of public support from England people & ParliamentBecame a war of attrition/ lack of public support from England people & Parliament Patriot commitment to their causePatriot commitment to their cause  Provisions of the Treaty: Americans gained independenceAmericans gained independence Americans gained fishing rights around Nova ScotiaAmericans gained fishing rights around Nova Scotia Americans gained the interior continent to the Mississippi RiverAmericans gained the interior continent to the Mississippi River

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783