1. The American Revolution
Betsy Ross Flag
Symbol of revolution
But never adopted by
congress
Continental Congress Flag
Stripes are taken from East
India Company
East India Company

2. The American Revolution
Imperialism and Colonialism
British Domination
Documentation
The American Revolution
Who
What
When
Where
Causes
Consequences

4. Thirteen Colonies
Seven Years War was a financial disaster for France and Britain
Britain 14 million pounds in debt
300,000 pounds per year to defend BNA (France is gone but Spanish in Louisiana)
Attempts to cover this amount and how to administer Quebec leads to unrest in the Thirteen Colonies

5. “No Taxation without representation”
The Intolerable Acts
Navigation Act
series of laws from the 1660s controlling trade in the Empire
Goods must pass on British ships between British colonies
Enforced in the 1770s because of colonists smuggling with the French during the war
Called for trial by captain of the ship NOT trial by jury of peers
Significance: economic and political rights
Stamp Act
1765
taxation on documents
Repealed in 1766
Significance: purely revenue-raising
Quartering Act
Required colonists to provide room and board for British soldiers
Significance: political frustrations
Townshend Act
1767
taxes on tea, glass, paints imported from Britain
Boycott urged
All but tea tax repealed, Boston Tea Party
Britain introduced new Quartering Act. Why so?
Quebec Act 1774
Blocked westward expansion of America into Ohio valley
Protection offered to Roman Catholicism
Failed to provide elected Assembly
Significance: final straw
“No Taxation without representation”

7. American Revolution
Continental Congress – 1774 Invites Quebec delegates
1775 The Continental Congress decides to invade Quebec to seize its ports and eliminate the region as a staging ground to attack New York and New England
Two American armies invade in 1775

8. Washington’s Letter to Quebec
Washington and the Continental Congress hoped to soften Canadiens reaction to the invasion by publishing a “Letter to the Inhabitants of Canada” in the summer of 1775.
Read the letter and identify the ways in which the Americans tried to convince Canadiens to assist the “liberation.”

9. Outcome of the American Invasion
Carleton defeated the Americans at Quebec and drove the survivors out of the colony
A 1777 British invasion of New York launched from Quebec ended in disaster at Saratoga
Quebec was not attacked again during the war (or again until 1812)

10. Perception vs. Reality Mythology:
gives legitimacy to the ground on which the states is founded.
basis for national pride.
inspiration which motivates.

11. Perception vs. Reality Mass, collective, unified effort
1/3 for, 1/3 against, 1/3 neutral.
King George a tyrant who sought to seriously erode the established liberties
Very limited power in England, of German origin. Portrayed (erroneously?) as Mad King George.
Britain calculating and interfering
Very little new legislation, often enforcement of existing legislation % approved by JCPC
Colonies paid no direct tax, not even for defense.

12. American Revolutionaries
Terrorists or Freedom fighters?