Revolution in Thought 1607 to 1763 Early settlers found they disliked England America was far from England and isolated Weakened England s authority Produced rugged and independent people Colonies had ability to govern themselves to some extent Created a new American culture
King of England. Instrumental in ending French and Indian War Strong supporter of taxing colonies to pay for the debt. He opposed any compromise with colonial government in America.
Pass tax laws and have the Colonists help pay debt. Pass a law restricting Colonists from moving west past the Appalachian Mountains. Keep British troops in North America to stop Indian attacks and protect the Colonies. Stop the smuggling of Colonials by enforcing the Navigation Acts with laws allowing search warrants without little cause.
No taxation without representation
Virtual Representation England said 13 Colonies were represented by virtual representation. The British Parliament promised to represent every person in Britain and the empire Actual Representation Many colonists had direct representation in their own governments Colonists wanted a chanced to discuss taxes before paying them. They wanted to be able to have a representative in the British Parliament = they should be able to elect a representative from their colony to send to Parliament.
Northwest Territory
Tax on legal documents, playing cards, newspapers, etc. Colonists hated the Stamp Tax = taxation without representation British tax collectors were tarred and feathered.. Stamp Act protests led by the Sons of Liberty..
Paul Revere Sons of Liberty was a secret society formed in protest British policies. Samuel Adams They had a large role in the repeal of the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party. 9 original members which included the leaders Samuel Adams and Paul Revere
Tar and Feathering
Boycotts: Colonists refused to trade or buy British goods until Stamp Act was repealed. Boycotting is an Economic Weapon Daughters of Liberty will use boycotts on items such as English clothe and tea. Protests: Led by the Sons of Liberty up and down the colonies from 1765 to 1766. Committees of Correspondence: Colonies kept in contact with one another and described British actions through letters exchanged by carriers on horseback.
Committees of Correspondence Purpose warn neighboring colonies about bad things Great Britain was doing to hurt colonists. increase rebellion throughout the colonies.
Stamp Act Protests: 1765 to 1766
Sons of Liberty force British to repeal Stamp Act Declaratory Act, 1766 says Parliament had the power to tax the colonies, and they had absolute power over the colonies.
vs. Loyalists= were still loyal to England
Townshend Acts, 1767 Tax on glass, lead, paint Response? Colonial anger and boycotts Tea Act: Made to protect the British East India Company- It gave the East India Company a monopoly in the American colonies This is when Americans began drinking other things like coffee
The Boston Massacre (March 5,1770)
1770
1770 1768 1770, British soldiers move to Boston, to keep order and enforce the taxes The people of Boston don t want the British soldiers in Boston. Many of the British soldier were underpaid and took 2 nd jobs Soldiers competed for jobs against the colonists Unemployment increased
March 1770 Fights often broke out between the poor male colonists and low ranking British soldiers The Massacre started over too few jobs on the docks at the ports. The most important outcome? It is used as propaganda to convince many colonists to rebel.
Boston Mass.
The British soldiers were put on trial for murdering innocent people John Adams, a lawyer (future 2 nd President) represented them and helped 6 go free His cousin, Sam Adams, a patriot leader, called the event a "plot to massacre the inhabitants of Boston"
Boston Mass. The 5 Colonists killed at the Boston Massacre became martyrs or symbols of the Colonial cause British soldiers were tried in court and only 2 were found guilty of manslaughter.
Boston Tea Party (1775)
Colonists refused to buy British tea and pay a high tax without having rights in government The British lowered the price to help the East India Company sell their tea Colonists felt the British government said the company was more important than citizens Sons of Liberty dumped it overboard to say: You won t dump the tea on us British felt the Boston Tea Party was Terrorism
Punished Boston Closed the port of Boston Put Massachusetts under martial law until Colonists paid for the tea Colonists called them Intolerable Acts
First Continental Congress (1774) Purpose for Meeting? 55 delegates from 12 colonies How to find a way to end the Coercive Acts and other unfair laws? 1 vote per colony represented.
They decided: They sent a document Declaration of Rights and Grievances in 1774 to King George and Parliament asking for them to treat the colonies more fairly And. Congress also ordered militias to prepare for war just in case Met in Philadelphia Not everyone wants to cause trouble VERY FEW wanted independence Actions?
The British Are Coming... Paul Revere was one of several men that made the midnight ride to warn the militia men Minutemen that British soldiers were coming to take guns and arrest rebels.
British attempt to search and seize stolen weapons. First shots of the Revolution in Action
SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD British searching for stolen weapons search and seizure Stopped at Lexington and encountered 56 Minutemen
Americans 90 dead wounded or captured British 250 dead, wounded, or captured
Came together again after the battles of Lexington and Concord, May 10, 1775. The Colonists were still split. They were worried they started a war they could not win Some wanted to try and make peace? Letter to ask to work things out Olive Branch Petition AND prepare for war they created 1st American army = Continental Army and made George Washington as Commanding General
The Second Continental Congress (1775) Olive Branch Petition
George Why George as our first commanding general? Washington 2 nd Continental Congress based their decision on the following: Political Economic Military Social George Washington was chosen based on his qualifications No Not Quite
First US Army made up of volunteers, militias and Minutemen. George Washington chosen as the first Commanding General. Not an army of professionals but mostly farmers. Lacked the discipline of a professional army at first. Lacked resources: food, guns, bullets Men weren t paid and some quit after the first few battles. 2 nd Continental Congress lacked $$$$ to supply army and they had no way to raise taxes
Thomas Paine: Common Sense
Declaration of Independence (1776)
Independence Hall