1. The American War of Independence

2. Colonies British founded colonies in the 1600 century
1732 they had thirteen:
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire,
Rhode Island,
Connecticut,
New York,
Pennsylvania,
New Jersey,
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Georgia

3. The French and Indian War
1756 to 1763 war fought over the land in America between the English and French.
It was called the Seven Years War in Europe.
Called the French and Indian War because the Indians helped the French in the war against the British. The Indians had nothing to lose. The British were taking their land, the French were not.
The British won, but at a cost a lot of money.

4. Problems War was expensive for Britain Britain was in dept
Colonies should pay war dept – British thought
Colonists were not allowed to produce anything
Colonists had to pay taxes to Britain for everything they imported
The colonists demanded more rights but not independence
British Parliament refused the demand and sent troops to America

5. Taxes
The first tax was the Sugar Act of It placed a tax on sugar imported by the colonies.
Stamp Act of 1765 placed a tax on all printed material, such as newspapers and playing cards.

6. No Taxation without Representation
The colonists claimed “no taxation without representation” because they were taxed but had no vote in Parliament and had no say in how the colonies were governed.
The colonists started a boycott, or a refusal to buy certain goods, from the British.

7. Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty
Samuel Adams led the protests in Boston against the taxes.
He began a secret society called the Sons of Liberty.

8. The Boston Massacre 1770
4000 British soldiers went to Boston, (population 16,000) the centre of protest
Many people threw stones at soldiers
Soldiers defended themselves and shot into the crowd
Five people were killed
The event was called a ‘massacre’ by the colonists

10. The Boston Tea Party 1773.
Only the (British-owned) East India Company was allowed to sell tea to the colonies
Three ships with tea arrived in Boston harbour
60 men dressed up as Indians and went secretly on the ships
They opened the barrels with axes and threw the tea into the sea

12. First Continental Congress
56 Delegates included George Washington, Patrick Henry and Sam Adams, met in Philadelphia in 1774.
Agreed to:
Boycott British goods
Arm themselves and form militias
Appeal to the king
Fifty-six colonial leaders, including George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Sam Adams, decided to figure out what course of action to take after the Intolerable Acts were passed. They met in Philadelphia in 1774 and became known as the First Continental Congress. 12

13. King George III reused to allow American colonists’ representation in Parliament
The king seemed to be too dignified and important to be bothered with trivial demands by the menial colonists. King George III, the leader of Great Britain, continued to be bothered by the rebels in the 13 colonies. He refused to allow for colonist representation in Parliament. He did nothing to pacify the American colonists and continued to disregard their requests.
King George III 13

14. The Battle Of Lexington and Concord 1775.
Angry Americans refused to pay taxes
British went to war with them
The plan of the British was to:
capture Sam Adams and John Hancock (the two major trouble makers) in Lexington and
march to Concord
destroy the Minutemen’s (elite soldiers) supplies

16. British troops left Boston
Colonist Paul Revere saw a lamp in the Boston Church
The lamb signaled the start of the British attack to him
Revere rode to Lexington and Concorde to warn the Minutemen
When the British troops arrived in Lexington, the American troops were ready
The first battle of the Revolutionary War began
342 People died ( 274 British soldiers, 95 American ‘Patriots’)

17. American Advantages Accuracy of the rifle Knowledge of the land
Guerilla warfare tactics
Superb command
The American underdogs weren’t out of the competition. Americans were especially blessed with accuracy in shooting rifles. They had local knowledge of the land and Native American weapons and tactics. From the Native Americans, they had learned how to use the tomahawk and guerilla warfare strategies. Finally, the Americans had a superb military command with General Washington. 17

18. British Advantages Well-equipped Disciplined Strongest navy
It seems like the British had an unfair advantage over the Americans. They had ample experience in world affairs; as previously mentioned, they were well-equipped, highly disciplined, and had the world’s strongest navy. But the Americans proved to be a different opponent than traditional armies worldwide. 18

19. The Declaration of Independence
The United States first needed to declare independence from Great Britain.
Thomas Jefferson, at the young age of 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.
That is why we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th.
This is the day that the United States of America declared their independence from King George and Great Britain.

20. The Declaration of Independence

21. Key Quotes in the Declaration
“We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal”
“That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”
“That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

22. On July 4, 1776, the thirteen States declared their independence
The declaration contained a list of things the colonists disliked and suggestions for these problems

23. The British reaction was to declare war
August 1776: British soldiers occupied New York
December 1776: George Washington stabilized the situation of the colonists because of his victory in the Battle of Trenton
France supported the Americans with weapons

24. Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, one of the most famous men in the world, was sent to France to ask for military aid as well as a loan.
And the war was on!

25. More Significant Battles
Saratoga
Winter at Valley Forge
A host of other significant battles would take place between 1777 and 1781, including those at Saratoga, the winter at Valley Forge and Yorktown. They included both high and low points for the Americans.
Yorktown
Were blend of successes and failures for American Army 25

26. Battle of Saratoga – 1777 The turning point of the war
The biggest American victory at the time
Approximately 5,000 British surrender to Washington
A major turning point of the war occurred as a result of the Battle of Saratoga in October It was the biggest American victory at the time. British General Burgoyne surrendered to American General Horatio Gates. 26

27. Battle of Saratoga – 1777
After the American victory France changed its policies.
Feb France and America formed an alliance
France declared war on Britain the next month
Spain declared war in 1779

28. Battle of Yorktown—1781 French blockade aided this final battle
Escape for the British was impossible
British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size
John Paul Jones
The end was in sight with the Battle of Yorktown. The Americans were aided by a French blockade making British escape impossible. British General Cornwallis faced American forces approximately twice his size and no where to go. 28

29. Yorktown Approximately 8,700 British troops surrendered
Pinned in by American and French Naval fleets
General Benjamin Lincoln accepted the surrender sword
British bands played “The World has Turned Upside Down”
The last campaign of the Revolution took place in the south at Yorktown, Virginia, in About 8,700 British troops surrendered when the Americans and the French naval fleet pinned in the British in a series of brilliant strategic maneuvers. General Benjamin Lincoln accepted the surrender sword from a Cornwallis aide. The British bands played “The World Turned Upside Down.” 29

30. Peace British got supplies-problems
France, the Netherlands and Spain fought for the Americans
The British army surrendered after the siege of Yorktown, Virginia
Paris 1783: The British army accepted the independence of the ex-British colonies in America

31. The Treaty of Paris—1783 Officially ended the American Revolution
Set many geographic borders, including U.S. and Canada
Florida was returned to Spain
British merchants must be paid for lost items
Loyalists must be paid for lost property
The official end to the war came two years after Yorktown at the Treaty of Paris. The British commander, Cornwallis, was so humiliated by the defeat that he refused to meet with Washington for the formal surrender and sent an aide instead. The treaty set many geographic borders including that of the United States and Canada. Canada went to the British, but later the French won part of the country. Florida was returned to Spain. 31