from protest to rebellion, the war begins · --from proclamation of lord dunmore, ... king george...
TRANSCRIPT
From Protest to Rebellion, the War Begins
Chapter 5.3-5.4
• To help British East India Co.
Hurt by colonial boycott
• Lowers $ of tea
EIC can ship directly to colonies w/out going thru GB
• Gives EIC a monopoly on selling British tea in colonies
monopoly = total control of a market for a certain product
• Hurts colonial merchants who sale Dutch tea, smuggling into colonies, & can’t compete with lower priced EIC tea.
• Tea Tax is STILL in effect!!!
12.16.1773Sons of Liberty
Prevent tea from being unloaded
Governor Thomas Hutchinson“Get that TEA unloaded!”
Large group disguised as Nativesthrow 342 cases of tea into harbor
90,000 lbs. of tea destroyed Thousands of $$$ lost!
• British response to Boston Tea Party
• Consists of 4 laws
1. Close Boston port until tea paid for
2. Increase Powers of Royal govt.
Abolish “upper house” of MA legislature
Cut power of town meetings
3. Anyone who murders British official will be tried in GB – not in colonies w/jury of peers
4. Quartering Act strengthened
•Establish govt. for the territory taken from France
•Claim land b/w Ohio R. & Missouri R. are part of Canada •Takes away western lands claimed by several
colonies•Block colonists from moving west
56 delegates (representatives) meet in Philadelphia
Samuel & John Adams; Patrick Henry; George Washington
Patrick Henry says no way to avoid a fight
September 5, 1774 – October 26, 1774
General Thomas Gage (new governor of MA) knows Minutemen are storing arms in Concord (20mi. From Boston)
Sends 700 troops to seize arms and capture important colonial leaders
Patriot warning signal goes off in steeple of Boston’s Old North Church
Paul Revere and William Dawes ride through the night to warn the minutemen!
77 Minutemen waiting when British troops arrive in Lexington
British commander orders Minutemen to go home – NO!
SHOT FIRED! - By who? Not a clue!
1st shot of American Revolution – War will gain world’s attention
British open fire – killing 8
400 Minutemen fight British, killing 3
British retreat towards Boston
4,000 Americans fire at them
300 British soldiers killed/wounded
Textbook Pages 154-155
Included: Thomas Jefferson (young Virginia lawyer); John Hancock (Boston Merchant); Benjamin Franklin (Philadelphia)
New England delegates – Let’s Declare Independence
Middle Colonies – Don’t be so drastic NE
Agree to form an Continental ARMY – George Washington to command
Loyalists are minority - Patriots gain control of governments
Leading merchants/land owners = Loyalists
Fear losing property if govt. changes
Gov’t officials = Loyalist
African American slaves side w/GB
Hope to gain freedom
Natives side w/GB
Afraid of losing land to colonists
“I do require every person capable of bearing arms to resort to His Majesty’s standard, or be looked upon as traitors to His Majesty’s Crown and government, and [be subject to] penalty… such as [loss] of life, confiscation of lands, etc. And I do hereby further declare all indentured servants, negroes, or others [in service to rebels] free that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining His Majesty’s troops as soon as may be…”
--from Proclamation of Lord Dunmore, Nov. 1775
Declaration of the Causes & Necessities of Taking Up Arms
Written after King George denied the Olive Branch Petition
Partially written by Thomas Jefferson
Declared colonists were prepared:
“to die freemen rather than to live as slaves”
King George doesn’t even respond to Olive Branch Petition.
Declares colonies “in open…rebellion”
Parliament votes to send 20,000 soldiers to end revolt in colonies
Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
May 10, 1775 – New York
Colonists make surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga (ti kahn duh ROH guh)
Fort protected water route to Canada
Ethan Allen (blacksmith) led the “Green Mountain Boys” in the attack
83 Patriots defeat 42 British troops
Significance
1. Fort controlled main route to Canada & Hudson River valley.
2. Fort held valuable weapons, especially cannons.
WINNER = PATRIOTS
Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
British General William Howe attacks Breed’s Hill.
American soldiers have little ammo – leader Israel Putnam
Americans wait till British are 150ft. away and then FIRE!
Hundreds of GB soldiers dead/wounded
Eventually, Americans start running out of ammo & retreat
GB wins battle – HUGE COSTS
More than 1,000 killed/wounded
Americans only 400 killed/wounded
Americans prove they can fight major world power of GB
Washington Takes BOSTON
Boston surrounded by American forces
Washington takes over army in July 1775
Cannons from Fort Ticonderoga brought to Boston
Drag on sleds across mts/forests 300mi. – took 3 months
Washington Takes BOSTON
Washington puts cannons on high ground over Boston
GB can’t defend city – they leave Boston!
British Advantages• Most powerful NAVY in world
• Blockading American ports
• Mercenaries – soldiers who serve another country for $$$