2. What led
to the writing of the
Declaration Of
Independence
and the
Revolutionary
War?

3. America before Independence

4. French and Indian War Britain helped colonists defeat French in war
Britain needed money to pay for war expenses
Taxed colonists, restricted settlements and limited self-govt.

5. Sugar Act and Stamp Act
British taxed colonists on many of the goods coming into the colonies from other places
British imposed taxes upon all paper products and stamped the item once the tax had been played.

6. Parliamentary Acts
Currency Act: prohibited American colonist from issuing their own currency
Quartering Act: required the colonist to provide shelter and supplies to British troops
Stamp Act: required stamps to be purchased and placed on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, legal documents, and playing cards
Townshend Act: taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea
Tea act: permitted the British East India Tea Comp. to sell tea at a lower price than colonial tea companies

7. Without Representation!”
“No Taxation
Without Representation!”

8. Boston Tea Party
A protest against the Tea Act of The Tea Act let the British East India Tea Company bypass tea merchants and sell directly to colonist
Colonist dressed as Indians and dumped British tea into Boston harbor

9. March 5, 1770
Encounter between British troops and citizens of Boston
Patriots antagonized British troops, who were quartered in Boston to discourage demonstrations against the Townshend Acts.
British troops fired on the Patriots,killing 5 people
Boston Massacre

10. King George III passes the “Intolerable Acts”
The Royal Navy blockades the Boston Harbor so no colonial goods could be sent out until tea was paid for.
Colonists had to quarter the British soldiers.
The King assigned British General Gage to be Massachusetts governor.

11. Search for Freedom First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
This is the first real attempt at independence

12. First Continental Congress
1774
Discussed problems in Boston, Massachusetts and how to make peace with Britain
Conclusion
Continue to boycott British goods
Britain refused to listen

13. Conflict at Lexington and Concord
Paul Revere and William Dawes make midnight ride to warn Minutemen(militia) of approaching British soldiers
British General Gage learns of hidden weapons in Concord

14. Lexington & Concord First violent encounter of the War
No one knew who fired 1st shot
Colonists - 8 dead, 10 wounded
British marched to Concord but found nothing
Colonists hid everything….knew they were coming
Colonia militia fought them the entire way back to Boston – 200 British killed

15. Second Continental Congress
Representatives brought money to help establish the Continental Army
Also decided to declare independence from Britain.
And to create a document of independence

16. Declaration of Independence
Who:
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin & others
Why:
To declare publicly reasons for independence from England.
What:
All men are equal.
Right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

17. Beginnings of war – Dark Hours
George Washington in command
Had to raise troops
230,000 soldiers in Continental Army
145,000 local militia
African Americans were not allowed to serve in the Continental Army as per Washington’s orders
Britain promised freedom to any slave who fought for Britain – Dunmore's Proclamation

18. Military Strategies The British The Americans
Attrition: inflict heavy casualties on the British.
Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]
Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.
Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.
Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.
“Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

19. Major battles 1775: Battle of New York 1776: Battle of Trenton
1777: Battle of Saratoga
1781: Battle of Yorktown
Major battles

20. Defeat in New York
Washington moved his troops to New York – Long Island
Colonists lost 1,000 men
British lost <400
Defeat in New was a major problem for Colonial army and the British were confident of victory.

21. New York City in Flames (1776)

22. Battle of Trenton, NJ
British General Howe Missed a golden opportunity…Philadelphia!
He had his troops break for the holidays…Christmas, in Trenton
December 25, 1776…Washington and 2400 men crossed Delaware River
British were all sleeping

23. Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

24. A modern-day re-enactment
Battle of Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War?
A modern-day re-enactment

25. Saratoga:
Fall of 1777, the colonists forced the surrender of 6,000 British troops at the Battle of Saratoga.
It was the first major victory for the Continental army.

26. Foreign interest Victory at Saratoga boosted foreign interest
Marquis de Lafayette – French officer-helped colonist with strategy.
Spain – Also jumped in to help
Both hated the British and helped to reduce impact of British navy

27. Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: “The World Turned Upside Down!”

28. Victory at Yorktown
Washington had initially planned to attack New York in 1781 but now he marched south with his French allies
The American-French force began to besiege the town and, unable to get supplies, Cornwallis was forced to surrender
On 19th October, 1781 the British marched out of Yorktown.

29. North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783

30. Treaty of Paris New nation of America is to be established
French, Spanish, Russians all get parts of North America and Caribbean
British North America continues to exist, modern day Canada
Debts should be paid to British