1. The Colonies Move Toward Independence
The Causes of The Revolutionary War
Versus

2. Situation in 1763: Britain in huge debt from French & Indian War
British believe Americans should help pay costs
“Pontiac’s Conspiracy”: ( )
Indian tribes allied with French went on warpath
British send 10,000 troops to protect Colonies
Proclamation Line (1763):
Prohibited colonists from settling west of Appalachian Mountains
Colonists immediately protest

3. North America 1763

4. British Attempt to Raise Money
Sugar Act (1764)
Taxed sugar, coffee, wine imported (shipped into) the colonies
Unlike Navigation Acts, British intended to enforce new laws
*Stamp Act (1765)
Forced colonists to buy a stamp on all printed material: newspapers, legal papers, playing cards, etc.
Angered Americans because it taxed goods made in the colonies, and they were not represented in Parliament
“No Taxation Without Representation!!”

5. American Reaction Protests in all 13 Colonies
Secret Society called “Sons of Liberty” formed in New England to terrorize British
Merchants in Boston, NY, and Philadelphia boycott (refuse to buy) British goods
*Stamp Act Congress: 9 colonies sent delegates to NYC to protest
First real cooperation of colonies against British
British sales to colonies fell 15%

6. Protesting the Stamp Act: 1765

7. British repeal (take back) the Stamp Act in 1766, but do not back down
Declaratory Act (1766)
“Declares” that Parliament has all power to make laws for colonies
*Townshend Acts (1767)
Taxed many imported items including glass, paper, paint, and tea
Colonists violating tax laws denied trial by jury
Colonists again boycotted British goods
British sales to America fell 40%
Acts repealed in 1770 except tax on tea

8. Boston Massacre
To stop boycotts and protests, British send thousands of troops to Boston
Demonstrators often clashed with troops
March 5, 1770: Troops fired on a hostile, but unarmed, group of colonists killing 5
Samuel Adams advertised the event as a “massacre” where troops slaughtered innocent Americans

9. Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre

10. Resistance Continues Committees of Correspondence (1772):
Groups formed in several colonies to share information and consult about violations of rights
Boston Tea Party (1773):
Tea became a symbol of British tyranny
Dec. 1773: Sons of Liberty throw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor

11. “Intolerable Acts” (1774) Passed to punish Boston for “Tea Party”
Closed Boston Harbor until Boston paid for tea
Quartering Act: Required colonists to house soldiers
Drastically changed self-government in Mass.
These acts solidified colonial support for Massachusetts
Connecticut and RI send supplies to Boston

12. *First Continental Congress (1774)
Delegates of 12 colonies meet in Philadelphia
Write a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” to King George III
Pass Boycott agreements for all colonies
Patrick Henry of VA gives famous speech: “Give me Liberty or Give me DEATH!!”
*Colonies begin training Militia (civilian armies) and storing military supplies

13. First Continental Congress 1774 Patrick Henry of Virginia

14. Battles of Lexington and Concord: April, 1775
First Battles of Revolutionary War
British troops march from Boston to Concord:
To confiscate weapons stored by Patriots
To capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock
Paul Revere and William Dawes ride from Boston to warn Concord

15. Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

16. Minutemen: Massachusetts Militia (civilian soldiers) ready to fight at minute’s notice
70 Minutemen met 700 British troops at Lexington; 8 killed
Thousands of Americans then met the British at Concord
British suffered 300 casualties, Americans 100