BELLWORK• There are no specific bellwork questions

today, but you should spend the first part of class finishing your poster on British laws pre-revolution.

• Remember to address all parts of the worksheet during your presentation.

• We will start in 10-15 minutes!!!

Review• Why did the British monarchy

implement taxes in the colonies?

• What inspired colonists to rebel against these taxes?

• Make a prediction How will the British king respond to colonies’ refusal to pay taxes?

The American Revolution

From boycotts to war!

British Laws Leading to Revolution• Another result of the French-Indian War that affected the poorer

colonists was British limits to colonial land.• The Proclamation of 1763 stated British colonists could not

settle west of the Appalachian mountains. • Rationale:

– Appease the Native Americans– Concentrate the colonists in one single area

• Response/Rationale: – Colonists felt this was a way to control the population– Many had already settled west of this line– Others just failed to comply

Colonial Protests

• Colonists used boycotts and protests to express dissatisfaction with high taxes & lack of political voice

• Analyze the advantages/disadvantages of a boycott.

• Attacked taxes publically: “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!”

• This quote symbolized the American fight for Independence. What does it mean?

• Is a boycott an effective form of protest? Why or why not?

More British Taxes• Sugar Act (1764)• Currency Act (1764)• Stamp Act (1765)• Quartering Act (1765)• Declaratory Act (1766)• Townshend Act (1767)

Unrest in Boston• In order to enforce new laws, Britain sent soldiers to

the new colonies.• Boston became the center of conflict between the

colonists (Patriots/Rebels) and British (Tories/Loyalists)

• Boston Massacre: On March 5, 1770, a squad of British soldiers were harassed by a Boston crowd, eventually leading to gunfire and five deaths.

• Britain responded by implementing the Tea Act (1773)

Why did the colonists refer to this as a “massacre?”

Unrest in Boston• Tea Act (1773)

– Increased the tax on tea– Stated colonists could

only buy tea from British companies (London Company)

– Increased punishment for illegal trade or smuggling tea

• Boston Tea Party: colonists snuck onto tea ships and dumped the chests of tea into the harbor. (5/10/1773)

“The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor” by: Nathan Currier, 1846

British Response to Tea Party• In order to punish the colonists, Parliament passed the Coercive or

“Intolerable” Acts (1774)– Boston Port Act: closed the Boston port until all tea had been

repaid– Massachusetts Government Act: reinstate British control in MA;

King appointed new governors & outlawed town meetings– Administration of Justice Act: allowed governors to move trials of

accused royal officials to Great Britain if he believed the official could not get a fair trial in Massachusetts

– Quartering Act: required colonists to provide housing for British soldiers

– Quebec Act: Extended the boundaries of the British-controlled Quebec, west of the Mississippi River

Colonial Response to Intolerable Acts• First Continental Congress: On September 5,

1774, 56 delegates met in Philadelphia to unite against Britain.

• The Congress argued that they should have the right to make laws in the colonies.

• Called for a halt in trade with Britain• They assembled soldiers and it appeared the

dispute between Great Britain and the colonies would lead to war.

England’s Colonial Government• By 1775 the British Empire in the

colonies – governors, councils, courts – had broken down.

• General Gage, the governor of Massachusetts, received orders from King George: – Arrest the colonists who resist

laws/taxes– Arrest committees that ignored

British laws– Confiscate militia

weapons/ammunition

“The Shot Heard Around the World”• On April 19, 1775, 700 British soldiers marched

towards Concord (outside of Boston.)• At Lexington, they encountered 70 American militia;

leaving 8 dead - the British soldiers continued to Concord

• At Concord, fighting between the two forces broke out. (American militia now 500 men)

• By the time the British soldiers reached Boston, there were 273 British casualties and 88 American casualties.

Paul Revere• He said to his friend, "If the British

march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light,– One if by land, and two if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middle village and farm, For the country folk to be up and to arm."

• Henry Longfellow’s poem “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”

Second Continental Congress• May 10, 1775• Congress tried one final compromise with Britain.• King George refused.• Organized an army under George Washington.• Discussed military strategy.• Began drafting the United States Declaration of

Independence• Congress acted as the first legitimate American

government.

• If Britain tried to compromise, do you think colonists If Britain tried to compromise, do you think colonists could have avoided revolution? Were there any could have avoided revolution? Were there any alternative options or was war imminent? Explain!alternative options or was war imminent? Explain!

"Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Leutze

• "Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

– Benjamin Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence; 1776

“The Declaration of Independence” by: John Trumbull

Robert Livingston is in the center of the Committee of Five presenting the Declaration to the Second Continental Congress. The five prominent figures depicted are, from left to right, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Livingston, Thomas Jefferson & Benjamin Franklin.

Closure• Review the events leading up to the

American Revolution.