The American Revolution and Independence

Beginning in 1607 The English Beginning in 1607 The English colonized North America.colonized North America.

Between 1607 and 1753 the Between 1607 and 1753 the American colonies grew and American colonies grew and prospered. prospered.

They provided the raw materials They provided the raw materials that made the expansion of the that made the expansion of the British empire possible.British empire possible.

Americans took great pride in being Americans took great pride in being English and a part of a great empire.English and a part of a great empire.

England was content to let the England was content to let the colonies run their own affairs with colonies run their own affairs with little interference.little interference.

This lead to Americans developing a This lead to Americans developing a strong sense of independence and strong sense of independence and self confidence.self confidence.

The French also had established The French also had established large and prosperous colonies in large and prosperous colonies in North America.North America.

They and the British both claimed They and the British both claimed the fertile Ohio River Valley.the fertile Ohio River Valley.

In late 1753 George Washington was In late 1753 George Washington was sent to ask the French to leave.sent to ask the French to leave.

They refused and war soon followed.They refused and war soon followed.

The French and Indian WarRoots of Dissent

The British urged the colonists to work The British urged the colonists to work together and ally with the Iroquois together and ally with the Iroquois Indians.Indians.

The Albany conference was called to The Albany conference was called to do this.do this.

At the Conference Ben Franklin At the Conference Ben Franklin proposed the Albany Plan for Union.proposed the Albany Plan for Union.

It was not adopted and the Iroquois It was not adopted and the Iroquois chose not to ally with anyone.chose not to ally with anyone.

The war lasted from 1757 until 1763.The war lasted from 1757 until 1763. It spread to Europe where it was called It spread to Europe where it was called

the Seven Years War.the Seven Years War. The turning point in the colonies came The turning point in the colonies came

when British General James Wolfe when British General James Wolfe captured the French capital at Quebec.captured the French capital at Quebec.

The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the war.war.

France lost all of its colonies in North France lost all of its colonies in North AmericaAmerica

As a result of the war, England gained As a result of the war, England gained vast new territory and incurred an vast new territory and incurred an enormous debt.enormous debt.

In order to better administer the In order to better administer the expanded empire and pay down this expanded empire and pay down this debt Parliament decided to start debt Parliament decided to start cracking down on the colonists and cracking down on the colonists and take more direct control of affairs in take more direct control of affairs in the colonies.the colonies.

The first of these measures was the The first of these measures was the Proclamation of 1763. It limited the colonists Proclamation of 1763. It limited the colonists ability to expand in to new territories. ability to expand in to new territories.

Prime Minister George Grenville pushed Prime Minister George Grenville pushed forward the American Revenue act (also forward the American Revenue act (also known as the sugar act) in 1764.known as the sugar act) in 1764.

Colonists resented this act. They believed Colonists resented this act. They believed that parliament had no right to levy taxes for that parliament had no right to levy taxes for the purpose of raising revenue with out their the purpose of raising revenue with out their consent.consent.

The Sugar act was followed by the Currency The Sugar act was followed by the Currency Act, also in1764.Act, also in1764.

In 1765, Grenville introduced the Stamp act in In 1765, Grenville introduced the Stamp act in order to raise more money for the empire. He order to raise more money for the empire. He also introduced the Quartering Act in order to also introduced the Quartering Act in order to support the troops he sent to America.support the troops he sent to America.

As anger grew among the colonists, leaders like As anger grew among the colonists, leaders like Samuel Adams and Isaac Sears formed the Sons Samuel Adams and Isaac Sears formed the Sons of Liberty to protest the actions of parliament.of Liberty to protest the actions of parliament.

In October of 1765, the colonies sent In October of 1765, the colonies sent representatives to the Stamp Act Congress to representatives to the Stamp Act Congress to decide how to react to Parliament’s actions.decide how to react to Parliament’s actions.

They decided to boycott British goods. Wearing They decided to boycott British goods. Wearing Homespun became a sign of patriotism. Homespun became a sign of patriotism.

In 1766, Parliament succumbed and removed In 1766, Parliament succumbed and removed the hated Stamp Act. It did however pass the hated Stamp Act. It did however pass the Declaratory Act giving Parliament the the Declaratory Act giving Parliament the right to tax the colonists however it saw fit.right to tax the colonists however it saw fit.

In 1767, Charles Townshend, the new In 1767, Charles Townshend, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, drafted a new Chancellor of the Exchequer, drafted a new set of taxes called the Townshend Actsset of taxes called the Townshend Acts

One of these taxes, the revenue act of 1767, One of these taxes, the revenue act of 1767, placed an import tax on common items such placed an import tax on common items such as glass, paint and tea. It also legalized Writs as glass, paint and tea. It also legalized Writs of Assistance. They allowed customs officers of Assistance. They allowed customs officers to search any place they liked for smuggled to search any place they liked for smuggled goods.goods.

As tension grew in the colonies, Parliament As tension grew in the colonies, Parliament sent 1,000 soldiers to Boston in order to keep sent 1,000 soldiers to Boston in order to keep the peace.the peace.

On March 5, 1770 violence erupted between On March 5, 1770 violence erupted between soldiers and a mob. Five colonists were killed soldiers and a mob. Five colonists were killed and the incident earned the name “Boston and the incident earned the name “Boston Massacre”.Massacre”.

Later that year the Townshend Acts were Later that year the Townshend Acts were repealed and peace temporarily returned to repealed and peace temporarily returned to the colonies. The Parliament left only a small the colonies. The Parliament left only a small tax on tea in place to remind the colonies that tax on tea in place to remind the colonies that they could tax them however they chose.they could tax them however they chose.

Conflict again arose during the Gaspee Conflict again arose during the Gaspee affair. Colonist burned a grounded naval affair. Colonist burned a grounded naval vessel in protest of new British policies. vessel in protest of new British policies.

In order to better communications In order to better communications between the colonies Thomas Jefferson between the colonies Thomas Jefferson suggested forming committees of suggested forming committees of Correspondence. Correspondence.

In 1774, the British tried to force the In 1774, the British tried to force the colonists to only by tea from the East India colonists to only by tea from the East India Company. The colonists responded with Company. The colonists responded with the Boston Tea Party. the Boston Tea Party.

The Boston Tea party infuriated the The Boston Tea party infuriated the Parliament and they passed the Coercive Parliament and they passed the Coercive Acts to punish Boston for its actions. Acts to punish Boston for its actions.

The Coercive Acts closed Boston harbor The Coercive Acts closed Boston harbor and tried to force hardship on Boston. It and tried to force hardship on Boston. It suspended the Massachusetts Assembly. suspended the Massachusetts Assembly. Their civilian governor was replaced by Their civilian governor was replaced by a military one: General Thomas Gage.a military one: General Thomas Gage.

Gage was sent to pacify Boston. He Gage was sent to pacify Boston. He failed to do so.failed to do so.

The other colonies called the first The other colonies called the first continental Congress in response to continental Congress in response to these acts. They hoped to find a way these acts. They hoped to find a way to help Boston. to help Boston.

In 1774 they professed loyalty to the In 1774 they professed loyalty to the king but condemned the coercive acts.king but condemned the coercive acts.

They reinstituted the boycott against They reinstituted the boycott against British goods.British goods.

They agreed to call a second congress They agreed to call a second congress in May of 1775 if the crisis had not in May of 1775 if the crisis had not abated.abated.

Things did not get better. Militias Things did not get better. Militias started to drill and prepare for a started to drill and prepare for a coming war.coming war.

A rival government was set up in A rival government was set up in Massachusetts. Massachusetts.

Minute men units were formed. They Minute men units were formed. They were groups of farmers who could at a were groups of farmers who could at a minutes notice arm themselves to minutes notice arm themselves to defend their towns and cities.defend their towns and cities.

Things finally came to a head on April 18, Things finally came to a head on April 18, 1775. General Gage sent seven hundred 1775. General Gage sent seven hundred soldiers to seize the arsenals at Lexington soldiers to seize the arsenals at Lexington and Concord.and Concord.

On the nineteenth these troops encountered On the nineteenth these troops encountered resistance in Lexington and ran into a stiff resistance in Lexington and ran into a stiff running fight at Concord. running fight at Concord.

The soldiers returned to Boston successful The soldiers returned to Boston successful but badly bruised. but badly bruised.

Colonial Militia soon surrounded Boston and Colonial Militia soon surrounded Boston and the Second Continental Congress was called the Second Continental Congress was called to decide the fate of the colonies.to decide the fate of the colonies.