1. Chapter 8
The Road to War

2. Britain Taxes the Colonies
Britain decides to tax the new colonies
Britain needs money to help pay for defending the colonies
First tax was the Stamp Act
The law placed a tax on printed materials in the colonies, such as legal documents, newspapers, and even playing cards
When items were purchased, people had to place a stamp on the material to show they paid the tax.

3. Colonists Protest
Patrick Henry was first colonist to speak out against the Stamp Act
He spoke to the House of Burgesses
Because of these taxes, colonists began to boycott British goods and formed a group called The Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty were groups that led protests against the new tax

4. Colonist Protests continued…
Daughters of Liberty
Women began making their own tea out of berries and herbs
Began weaving cloth instead of using British wool
Because of these taxes, colonists started to unite as Americans

5. Committees of Correspondence
Samuel Adams felt it took too long for news to travel from one colony to the next.
He formed the Committee of Correspondence in Boston
This committee soon was forming in towns all over the colonies
These committees used fast horses to deliver news of local events to different colonies.

6. Boston Tea Party and the Tea Act
After the Townshend Acts were repealed, Britain realized the only tax they would have was the tea tax.
This was to show the colonists that Britain still had a right to tax them
The tea act stated only one British company would be able to sell tea to the colonies.
Two goals for the Tea Act
1- help the struggling East India Company
2- get colonists to pay taxes to Britain

7. Boston Tea Party and Tea Act continued…
Colonists were not happy with the new tax
They decided that ships bringing British tea would not be allowed to unload in any colonial port
One night, members of the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawks and secretly boarded British ships. They chopped open the barrels of tea and dumped them in the Boston harbor.
Britain was furious about this action and felt that Boston needed to be punished.

8. Britain punishes Boston
Because of the Boston Tea Party, Britain punishes Boston by:
Colonists were forced to feed and house British soldiers
Massachusetts was put under control of British general named Thomas Gage
The port of Boston was closed. No ships could come or go until they paid for the tea they destroyed.
The colonists called these new laws Intolerable Acts

9. British punishment/Intolerable Acts continued…
The Intolerable Acts also had another effect
It forced many colonists to take sides in the conflict between Britain and Boston
Patriots were people who opposed British rule
Loyalists were people who remained loyal, or supported British rule

10. No Taxation…
“No Taxation without representation” was a protest cry by the colonists
The colonists had been self governed for years. Since the colonists did not vote in Britain, they had no representation there. The colonists believed that the British had no right to tax them.

11. Continental Congress
George Washington was ready to lead men into battle to relieve Boston
He fought for Britain in the French/Indian War and now was ready to fight against them
This congress met to vote on what actions the colonists would take against Britain until the Intolerable Acts were repealed
Agreed to stop all trade with Britain
Agreed that each colony should begin training a militia, volunteer armies
Agreed to meet in one year if situation has not improved

12. The Revolution Begins
British soldiers begin their march toward Concord
Patriots militias stored weapons in Concord
British wanted their march to be secret
Paul Revere had learned of their secret plans, and he rode on his horse shouting the news that the British are coming

13. Shot Heard Around the World
The first battle was in Lexington
Lexington minutemen gathered to “stand up” against the British
British soldiers marched into Lexington and surrounded the Lexington minutemen
When surrounded, someone fired a shot (no one is sure who) and British soldiers opened fire killing eight minutemen
Because of this, the battle was known as “the shot heard around the world”

14. Battle of Concord
Militia from nearby towns began pouring into Concord to help
Suddenly the Patriots had an advantage over the British
British began a long retreat back to Boston

15. Battle of Bunker Hill
William Prescott led 1200 men up the hills of Charleston
If the Patriots control Bunker and Breed Hill, they could bring up their cannons and fire on British in Boston.
Their goal was to force the British to leave Boston
It did not work
British won the Battle of Bunker Hill, but more then 1,000 soldiers were killed or wounded