1. Unit 3: The Revolutionary War and American Republic (1763-1791)
The American Revolution ( )

2. British Economic Policy Toward the Colonies
Mercantilism – the belief a nation’s prosperity is linked to a strong economy. This was accomplished by a favorable balance of trade (more exports than imports), amassing gold and silver, and maintaining colonies (markets for mother country’s products + sources of raw materials.
– England’s policy was salutary neglect toward the colonies. Navigation Acts were not really enforced.
This means leaving the colonies to basically govern themselves to ensure prosperity for both sides.
This policy was ended after the French and Indian War. Do you remember why???
The Triangle Trade
& Middle Passage

3. Why the British Took Action? Colonial Reaction
British Action
Why the British Took Action?
Colonial Reaction
Proclamation of 1763
To save $$$ and keep colonists from moving west out of Kings control & fighting costly wars against Indians
Angry at loss of freedom and access to new lands; they basically ignored it
Sugar Act of 1764
Taxed sugar, coffee, but reduced tax on all molasses; to raise $$$ to pay war debt
Angry at the principle because this law was to be enforced; hated taxes; “no taxation without representation”
Quartering Act of 1765
Standing British Army in colonies; legislatures had to pay to house the soldiers
Angry!; colonial legislatures refused to obey it
Stamp Act of 1765
1st direct tax to raise $$$ on colonists; documents & printed paper items
Angry protests & Stamp Act Congress; boycott of British goods began
Townshend Acts of 1767
Import taxes on tea, lead, paint, paper, & glass; $$$ to pay soldiers kept here & Royal governors salaries
Angry; protest pamphlets and the boycott continued & trade with Britain was cut in half
1770 Boston Massacre
Citizens taunted 9 British soldiers; soldiers killed 5 civilians
Captain Preston & 8 soldiers arrested; talk of independence for 1st time
Tea Act of 1773
To save British East India Company and keep tax on tea
Boston Tea Party; shipment of tea dumped into harbor by Sons of Liberty
Intolerable Acts of 1774
To punish MA & close Boston Harbor; Expanded Quartering Act to private homes
First Continental Congress called to renew boycotts; Olive Branch Petition to King to list complaints; calls for militia to be prepared to fight
Lexington and Concord 1775
700 British marched to Concord, MA to seize weapons stored there
130 colonists refused to give up weapons; 1st shots of the Revolution

4. The 1st Battle: Lexington-Concord (April 19, 1775) “The Shot Heard Round the World”
247 dead Redcoats and 93 Patriot casualties. The British retreated from Concord, MA.
May the Second Continental Congress (which would serve as the wartime government of the colonies) met in Philadelphia and chose George Washington to lead the Continental Army.
November 1775 – the Olive Branch Petition (sent in July) was denied by King George III who said the colonies were in open rebellion.
The 13 Colonies were united and at war with Great Britain; there would be no turning back!
How could the Colonies defeat the world’s superpower, Great Britain?

5. The Colonies and Britain Compared
Advantages of the Colonies
Advantages of the British
We had a cause!
We were on the defensive!
We were rugged outdoorsmen!
Guerilla Warfare!
George Washington’s leadership!
France: The deciding factor!
Arguably the best-trained & equipped Army in the world!
The most powerful Navy in the world!
Greater population!
More $$$ and resources!
Experience: Britain had been busting heads around Europe for a long , long time!

6. The Colonies and Britain Compared
Disadvantages of the Colonies
Disadvantages of the British
No real government! (i.e. Continental Congress)
No real money! (i.e. Continental Currency was unstable and mistrusted)
Militias were poorly fed, trained, & equipped!
No Navy!
Desertions were common!
Only 1/3 of Colonists actually favored the cause!
Poor Leadership: Prime Minister Lord North was weak and indecisive.
Many in Parliament (the Whigs) didn’t support the war!
Distance!
The colonies had no real center. France has Paris; Britain has London.
The soldiers really didn’t want to be here!

7. The Declaration of Independence
Common Sense – Jan a huge hit; encouraged colonists to consider cause of independence.
June 7, 1776 – R.H. Lee (VA) introduced a resolution to the 2nd Continental Congress calling for a declaration.
Committee of 5 chosen to prepare a statement explaining why to King George III (Franklin, J. Adams, Jefferson, Sherman, & Livingston).
July 2, 1776 – Congress resolves to declare independence.
July 4, 1776 – Congress approves the Declaration of Independence as written.
It is a cornerstone of American literature and one of the truest examples of the principles of Democracy upon which America is founded.
Thomas Jefferson was heavily influenced by the Enlightenment, and particularly English philosopher, John Locke, author of the Natural Rights philosophy.
Morgan Freeman-Reading of
the Declaration of Independence

8. Winning the War ( )
Fall 1776 – NYC in British hands & Washington retreated to NJ.
In spite of victories at Trenton & Princeton in late 1776, the army is tired and winters at Valley Forge.
The British occupied Philadelphia in the fall of 1777.

9. Turning Point: Battle of Saratoga
October 1777 – Generals Arnold and Gates win a huge victory & capture 6000 British and 5 Generals.
This victory convinces France to join the colonists.
The French Navy, Army, money, and equipment prove to be the difference.

10. The End: The Battle of Yorktown
October 19, 1781 – Washington and Lafayette trapped General Cornwallis & 8000 British and Hessian soldiers at Yorktown, VA. The British surrendered!
Treaty of Paris (1783) – gave U.S. all land between Appalachian Mts. & Mississippi River
Most importantly, we had won our freedom from Great Britain!

11. Exit Slip: American Revolution
This nation aided the colonies in the war against Britain?
a. Italy b. France c. The Netherlands
This battle fought in upstate NY in October 1777 was the turning point of the Revolution?
a. Saratoga b. Ft. Ticonderoga c. White Plains
This representative body served as the government for the colonies during the Revolution?
a. Stamp Act Congress b. Continental Congress c. Senate
This was great American victory in VA in Oct ultimately led Great Britain to surrender to the colonies?
a. Lexington-Concord b. Bunker Hill c. Yorktown

12. Bell Ringer: The Path to Divorce!
1. The Proclamation of 1763 banned the colonists from a. trading with foreign nations. b. trading furs with Native Americans. c. settling lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. 2. The Sugar Act and the Stamp Act were passed to a. help the economies of the 13 colonies. b. lower the amount of taxes paid by the 13 colonies. c. provide Britain with money to pay off its war debt. 3. This act was passed to save the struggling British East India Company? a. Tea Act b. Townshend Tax c. Quartering Act 4. The Intolerable or Coercive Acts were passed in response to a. The Boston Massacre. b. The Boston Tea Party. c. the Sons of Liberty. Tar and Feathers from John Adams