Build up to the American Revolution

Enlightenment  Didn’t limit the _______ power  But did get people to _________ his power

French and Indian War

Background  Opposing sides  ________+ Indians (Native Americans) vs. _______  Dispute  ______ River Valley  Valuable, but unsettled land in the interior of North America

Result  ______ surrenders  Britain gains from French  _________  All lands east of the ___________ River  Except _____ _________ BeforeAfter

Significance/Consequences  Changed the balance of power in the New World  Cost King George III a lot of money  Somebody has to pay for it…  King says the war was really fought to protect the colonists

Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes

Navigation Acts  Existed before the French and Indian War  Cotton, tobacco, and sugar could only be exported to England  All ships used to trade goods had to be English  Later, ALL goods traded to other countries had to pass through English ports  Here extra taxes would be added to the goods

Sugar Act 1764  Added tax to sugar imports not from Great Britain  Also wine and coffee  Regulated the exports of lumber and iron  Removed some of the colonies foreign markets  Purpose to make other countries’ goods more expensive  Colonists forced to buy from England  Crushed the colonial economy

The Currency Act 1764  Background: The colonies had no gold or silver mines  Only obtained through trade with Great Britain  Tried to start producing new paper currency  The Currency Act prohibits the use of this currency  Forces colonists to trade more with Britain

Stamp Act 1765  Taxes on paper  All printed materials required a stamp on it  legal documents, magazines, bills, and newspapers  Showed the proper tax had been paid  Transfer costs  Those paying the tax add it to the price of the product, so the consumer really pays the tax

Reasons for Stamp Act  British made no secret about it  “toward defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the British colonies and plantations in America”  Basically saying “You are paying for the French and Indian War since we were protecting YOU”

Quartering Act of 1765  Colonies had to house all the British troops within their borders in barracks.  If no room in the barracks then they must be housed in inns, houses, barns, or whatever is available.  Also supply each soldier with food, candles, vinegar, salt, small beer or cider (not exceeding five pints), or half a pint of rum mixed with a quart of water, for each man each day  All of this paid for by the colonists

Reasons for Quartering Act 1.Wanted to keep a large standing army in America to protect colonists 2.To cut costs by making the colonies pay for their protection 3.To avoid paying French and Indian War veterans by keeping them in America

Colonists Complaints  A standing army was not necessary.  Militiamen (colonists with guns) could be called together when a threat arose  Speculation that the soldiers were there to ensure colonists good behavior and compliance with new controversial acts  The costs. Too expensive!!!  New York refused to pay  Their colonial government was suspended until they did

Townshend Revenue Act 1767  Taxes on glass, tea, iron, oil, and paint imports from England  The money raised went to pay colonial governors and judges  These were paid by the colonial governments, by England paying them it took away their power of influence

Responses to the Taxes

“NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!”  Colonists not angered by the taxes themselves, but because:  These taxes are only applied to the _________  Not ________ _______  Colonists have no representation in ____________  Nobody to reflect their opinions or fight for their rights  Parliament is essentially giving King permission to take away colonists money, while colonists get no say in the matter.

Boston Non-Importation Agreement  Frustrated by the trade restrictions, taxes, and lack of representation  Basically said the colonists in Boston would not ________ any products that England taxed in the Townshend Acts until the act is ___________

Response in Boston  _________ and officials decide to ________ in Boston  Begin removing people from _________ Government that vote or speak against them  England sends waves of troops to Boston as if they were an enemy  Against Bill of Rights to raise an army during times of peace  Took over the colonial government’s meeting hall to use as ___________  Now could not have meetings

The Gunpowder was piling up… …all that was needed was a spark

Boston Massacre

A Little Background  3 days before there was the __________ _________  A fight between some colonists and British soldiers  Disagreements about what started the fight  Soldiers lost and were bitter about it…  Promised to take __________

READ 2 ACCOUNTS OF BOSTON MASSACRE

Where are the boogers! Ring, Ring! Knock Knock!!

Aftermath  __ people injured (5 died)  Most notably _______ _______: A half Native American and half African sailor  First to die  Captain Preston was proved ________ of all charges  Two of his soldiers convicted of _____________  Were branded with a hot iron on their thumbs  Significance: The colonists now had their “______” in which to start their revolution  Still __ years till any fighting happens

Boston Tea Party

Background  ___________ Act repealed  Except for the tax on ___…  ______ _____ ______Company had too much tea  Allowed a tax break: Didn’t have to pay the taxes  Provided _________ tea to the colonists  Drove other tea merchants out of business  Colonists were angered by the new act  Reminded them how they have no ______________

Tea Boycott  All across the colonies, people ___________ tea  They didn’t ____ it; they didn’t ______ it  Many colonies were able to keep East India Company _____ from entering their _________  Turned them back to England  Forced agents of the company to ______  Not in ________…  Governor fully supported agents, and forcefully brought company ships into Boston harbor

Sons of Liberty  A ____-_______ organization of colonists determined to fight for freedom  Led by ________ Adams  Planned a response to the British trade ships carrying tea that made it into Boston…

READ ACCOUNT OF BOSTON TEA PARTY

King’s Response The “Intolerable Acts”

Boston Port Act  Completely _______ the port of Boston  No goods coming in or out  British East India Company had to be ___________ for damages  Punished all of Boston for a few individuals’ actions  Nobody was given a _____  Other colonies sent _____ _________

Massachusetts Government Act  Almost all positions of colonial government were now to be _________ by the _____  Limited to only one town meeting per _____  Other colonies feared that this could happen to their government too I’ll control your government now.

Administration of Justice Act  Accused British officials could be tried in other colonies or England  Colonists couldn’t afford to travel to testify  Officials were more likely to get away with crime  George Washington called it the “______ Act”

Colonists’ Reaction  First __________ __________  ___________ creates its own government  Separate from England  All colonies to _______ British goods  Wrote letter to King explaining their ________ ______  Planned to meet again if things did not change  SPOILER!!!! There will be a Second Continental Congress