American RevolutionBy M. Alcorn

Causes of Revolution Boston Tea Party – protest against British

taxes. French and Indian War – A conflict between

Great Britain and France with Native American Allies.

Intolerable Acts – laws that punished the colonists for Boston Tea Party (closing harbor)

Proclamation of 1763 – outlawed settlement west of Appalachian Mtns.

Stamp Act – law taxing printed paper. Townshend Act – Taxes on imported goods. Quartering Act – law ordering colonists to

house soldiers. Boston Massacre – 5 people killed and 6

wounded.

Vocabulary Parliament – British government Repeal – take back or cancel Traitor – disloyal to your country Militia – small army of ordinary citizens Bayonet – blade on end of rifle Guerilla tactics – hit and run, hiding, etc. Allies – people or countries who fight on

your side. Lobsterback – a British soldier Liberty - freedom

Who are you?Loyalist – loyal to

Britain; also known as Tory

Patriot – want freedom and independence

Neutralist – not taking sides

People Benedict Arnold – traitor Ben Franklin – inventor of lightning rod Deborah Sampson – dressed like a man to fight in

war George Washington – Continental Army leader John Hancock – known for his signature King George III – ruler of Britain Mary Ludwig Hays – nicknamed Molly Pitcher Paul Revere – the British are coming! Sam Adams – member of Sons of Liberty Thomas Paine – wrote Common Sense Thomas Jefferson – wrote Declaration of

Independence

It Begins By 1775 every able-bodied man in

every colonial town was required to join the militia. They were mostly farmers, crafts workers, business owners, and wealthy men.

There were rumors that the British were going to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock then march to Concord to capture weapons.

Midnight Ride On April 18th, a silversmith named Paul

Revere learned that the British were leaving Boston and heading for Concord.

He rode to Lexington to warn Adams and Hancock. “The British are Coming!”

He was joined by William Dawes, a shoemaker, and Samuel Prescott, a doctor.

The patrol took Revere’s horse, but Dawes escaped into the woods. Prescott was the only one to reach Concord.

Lexington John Parker, the militia

captain, said, “Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have war, let it begin here.”

Someone fired. 8 militia were killed, 10

were wounded. 1 British soldier was

hurt. Known as “The Shot

Heard Round the World.”

Concord

•The British only destroyed a cannon and a small amount of ammunition because the women of Concord hid them under straw in barns and in freshly plowed fields.

•On a bridge near Concord the militia forced the British to retreat.

•They hid behind trees and buildings and shot at the retreating British.

•More than 90 British soldiers were killed and 174 were wounded.

Fort Ticonderoga

This fort on Lake Champlain was one of the main supply posts for the British army.

The Green Mountain boys from Kentucky were under the leadership of Ethan Allen.

On May 10, 1775, the Green Mountain boys crept past the fort’s light defenses.

Allen shouted, “Come out of there, you old rat!”

Without any bloodshed, the Americans captured the fort.

Bunker Hill

Whoever controlled the hills surrounding Charlestown would be able to fire cannons on Boston.

The colonists worked through the night digging a fort.

British ships fired cannons at the exhausted men.

Colonial General Putnam ordered, “Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes.”

Colonists fought off 2 charges but had to retreat to nearby Bunker Hill on the 3rd due to lack of ammunition.

British Colonel Pitcairn leaped upon a wall to declare victory and Peter Salem, a former slave, shot him.

British lost 1,000 soldiers, colonists lost 400. WHAT A VICTORY?!??!?!

Colonists proved their willingness to fight.

Declaration of Independence Purpose – To explain

to the world why the colonists had to separate from Britain.

Approved on July 4, 1776.

Unalienable rights are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson wrote first draft.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington knew the British would not attack until the spring, so he planned a surprise attack.

On December 25th Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River to Trenton, New Jersey.

1,400 Hessians were successfully captured.

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/gw/el_gw.htm

http://www.americanrevolution.org/delxone.html

Valley Forge Supplies were dangerously low. Troops ate firecakes, a thin

bread of flour and water cooked over an open fire.

Many soldiers went home. At least 2,500 died of disease. Martha Washington helped

comfort and nurse the sick. 1/3 of the soldiers did not have

shoes. Washington said, “you might have tracked the army…by the blood of their feet.”

Friedrich von Steuben trained soldiers.

Yorktown British general Cornwallis

asked his servant James Armistead to spy on the Americans, but he was already spying for the Americans. He gave false information to Cornwallis.

Washington was able to trick Cornwallis and surround him at Yorktown.

The French blocked the harbor.

On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered.

British and Colonists British1. Large and

professional2. Well trained and

experienced3. Well-supplied4. Mercenaries, Native

Americans, and loyalists

5. Must capture cities - offense

6. Fought face-to-face7. Hard to get supplies8. Didn’t know land9. Little local support

Colonists1. Hit and run tactics2. Fighting defensively3. Home field advantage4. Motivated – defending

home and rights5. Allies (France and

Spain)6. Little money to pay

soldiers or buy supplies7. Little knowledge or

experience8. Small navy9. George Washington

Who won? The Colonists won! The Treaty of Paris

was signed in November of 1783 giving America it’s independence and land.

The flag to the right was first used in 1777.

Yankee Doodle This song was first sung by the British to make fun of

the Colonists, but the Colonists liked it so much they started singing it too!

The song's origins were in a pre-Revolutionary War song originally sung by British military officers to mock the messy, unorganized colonial "Yankees" with whom they served in the French and Indian War. At the time, the most common meaning of the word doodle had the meaning of "simpleton" or "fool". From Wikipedia.comYankee Doodle went to town, A-Riding on a pony; He stuck a feather in his hat, And called it macaroni. Yankee Doodle, keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy; Mind the music and the step, And with the girls be handy!