1. The American Revolution

2. Views Traditionalist ~ American Revolution was fought for liberties that Americans believed they already possessed as British citizens. Radical~ transfer of power from a distant British elite to a homegrown American power class that wanted to consolidate its hold over the wealth of the continent.

3. Early Problems Great Britain’s government had 2 MAJOR problems 1.Sheer Cost => couldn’t pay it on their own; their debt rose, so they raised taxes on the colonies 2.Sheer Size=> Vast expansion of new territory made it hard to control.

4. What Do Sugar & Stamps Have To Do With Revolutions Sugar Act~ George Grenville---> placed taxes on sugar, coffee, wines, etc Produced more revenue from imports into colonies by a collection of LOWER taxes.

5. What Do Sugar & Stamps Have To Do With Revolutions Stamp Act~ tax on all printed material including newspapers, playing cards, & legal documents. 1766=> repealed Stamp Act BUT created the Declatatory Act

6. Famous Words “No Taxation Without Representation” James Otis (Mass.) Stated that it was unfair to be heavily taxed if the citizens of the colonies could not be represented in government.

7. Was It Really a Massacre? *Sent troops in to protect officials who administered the Townsend Acts. *Troops = competiton for jobs & angry encounters. *March 5th ~ 5 citizens died….total = the Boston Massacre

8. Boston Tea Party *1773~Parliament granted legal monopoly tea shipment to America. * December 16, 1773~ 150 men from all layers of the economy, blackened their faces with burnt cork, dressed as Mohawk Indians & boarded three ships.

9. After Math Passed the Intolerable Acts 1. Closed the port of Boston 2. Reorganized the government of Mass. 3. Allowed quartering of soldiers 4. Removed trials of royal customs

10. Continental Congress September 5th to October 26, 1774 1st Continental Congress~ Formed in response to intolerable acts. ~ Hoped to persuade Parliament to restore self- government in colonies & abandon direct supervision. ~Made up of 2 delegates from every colony except Georgia

11. Continental Congress May 1775 = Second Continental Congress Adopted Deceleration of Independence

12. “Shot Heard Round the World” ~ April 1775 ~ Battle of Lexington & Concord ~ Minute Men