1. The American Revolution
1763 – 1783
Section 1

2. Section 1 Moving Toward Revolution
The Writs of Assistance:
Blank search warrants issued by the English gov’t to look for smuggled goods any time/place.
“This writ is a/g the fundamental principle of English Law…A man is as secure in his house as a prince is in his castle.”
James Otis

3. Problems of Empire England now controlled land populated by Indians.
An Ottawa warrior, Pontiac, forged an alliance of tribes to drive out the English.
England responded with the Proclamation of 1763, which said that all land west of the Appalachian Mt. was Indian land.

4. The Stamp Act Turmoil
In order to pay for the French & Indian War England created the Stamp Act in 1765.
Every legal document, playing cards, diplomas, deeds, advertisements, licenses, newspapers, etc… had to possess an official stamp.
You had to pay a tax to receive this stamp.
This was England’s 1st attempt at taxing the colonists directly.

5. The Son’s of Liberty The Sons of Liberty grew out of protest.
A secret society.
Members tarred & feathered tax collectors.
Influenced England to repeal the Declaratory Act

6. Action & Reaction In 1767 England passed the Townshend Acts.
Taxes on glass, paper, paint, lead, & tea.
In Boston Samuel Adams encouraged colonists to boycott English goods.
The Sons/Daughters of Liberty encouraged people to buy American made products.

7. More Reaction & Revolts
The Liberty, a colonial ship was seized by the English navy.
The colonists began beating up customs officials.
The English responded passing the Quartering Act.
Any colonists may have to house an English soldier.

8. The Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 street youths pelted English soldiers w/ snowballs; the soldiers responded w/ gunfire.
Five colonists were killed including Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave.
Paul Revere created an engraving of the incident and used it as propaganda for revolt.

9. Boston Massacre Reactions
John Adams, Samuel’s cousin, defended the English. They were found innocent.
In 1772 Samuel Adams organized the Committee of Correspondence which helped communication amongst the local towns.

10. The Boston Tea Party In 1773 England passed a Tea Tax.
December 16, 1773 Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

11. The Intolerable Acts Closed the port of Boston.
Gave the governor absolute power.
Placed more English Soldiers in the colonies.
Other colonies began to rally around Boston.

12. First Continental Congress
Sept. 1774, 56 colonial delegates met in Philadelphia to determine the future of the colonies.
The delegates created a unified boycott.
As a result the Minutemen began practicing war tactics in secret.
War may be inevitable!