The Road to Independence

Unit two: Chapter Four

A graphic illustration of how tensions b/c England and its American colonies intensified from 1619 to 1763.

Great Migration

Elected Assemblies

Navigation Acts

Appointed Governors

French and Indian War

Cost of French and Indian War

Procla-mation of 1763

EnglandStationsPerma-nentArmy

F & I war ends:

• Strained Colonial Relations:• British felt that Colonists didn’t pull their

weight.

• Americans were shocked at how bad the British military tactics were.

• Americans strong beliefs:• Loss of respect of the British military.• Did not believe the British shared the same values as

the Americans and did not treat them with the respect they deserved as British subjects.

Salutary Neglect Ends

• Mercantilism • Government’s

policy to be richer, stronger, and larger than any other nation through trade and commerce.

• Colonies important in this:• Supplied raw

materials• Had few

industries of their own

• What does this mean for GB?

• Ready market for GB goods

Trade and taxes• Colonies were part

of the Triangular Trade Route• Took rum from the

colonies from Africa, slaves from Africa to West Indies, & molasses from West Indies to America.

• 2 types of taxes GB imposed on America:• Direct

• Tax levied directly on individuals by the gov’t

• Indirect• Tax hidden in price

of item

Why did GB tax the Colonies so much???

• 1 - GB had huge war debt.

• 2 - Many in GB felt colonists should be responsible for much of the debt b/c the war was fought to protect them.

Reasons why, cont.

• 3 - GB felt they needed to exercise stricter control over the “upstart” colonies.

• 4 - GB wanted to insure own market, while ending competition in the colonies from other European nations.

So how else can we show them we are boss?

• Tax the heck out of them!!!!

How might the new policies upset the colonists?

Are taxes the only thing that are bothering the colonists???

Taxes and Tensions: Mercantile LawsProvisions Results

• Restricted colonial export of a certain manufactured good.

• Banned immigration of skilled GB workers to colonies.

• None since they were not really enforced

Taxes and Tensions: Navigation ActsProvisions Results

• Began list of enumerated commodities (made in Amer, shipped only to GB)• Tobacco, cotton,

indigo & sugar

• Goods had to be carried on GB or colonial built ships

• Rarely enforced

• GB attempted to create monopoly• no competition

from colonists or other countries.

Taxes and Tensions: Molasses ActProvisions Results• Heavy tax on

sugar to colonies from anywhere except British West Indies• Needed molasses

for rum production!

• Rarely enforced• Some smuggled

in from France

Taxes and Tensions: Proclamation of 1763 Provisions Results• Ended all

settlement west of Appalachian Mts.

• Sent troops to enforce.

• Protests• “We” fought for

the land.

• Indians attack encroaching colonists

Issues behind the RevolutionT h e R o ad to R evo lu tion

1775R e vo lu tio na ry W a r be g ins w ith b a tle s a t

L e xin g to n a n d C on co rd .

1774B rit ish p ass In to le ra b le A c ts to pu n ish B os to n ia n s.

C o lo n ia l lea d ers m ee t a t F irtst C on tin en ta l Co n gre ss.C o lo n ia l m ilit ia s be g in s to ring w e ap o n s.

1773B rit ish p ass Te a A c t, p la c ing n ew tax o n te a .

In p ro tes t, B o s to n T e a P arty he ld .

1770In B o sto n M a ssa cre , B rit ish so ld ie rs

fire o n A m erica n p ro tes te rs, k illing f ive

1766 - 1767B rit ish re pe a l S ta m p A ct

B rit ish p a ss T ow n she n d A c t, a n ewse ries o f ta xes o n im po rts.

1765B rit ish P a ss th e S ta m p A ct

C o lo n is ts p ro tes t, b oyco tt B ritish g oo d s.

Issues Behind the Revolution• British Pass Proclamation of 1763

• protest the closure of lands, some ignore, send troops to patrol lands

• British Pass Sugar Act 1764• written protests, occasional boycotts, repealed in 1766, “No Taxation

Without Representation”

• British pass Stamp Act 1765• protests turn violent, Stamp Act Congress, boycott all British goods, sons

of liberty, nonimportation

• British pass Quartering Act 1765• colonial legislatures refused to provide for troops• New York Assembly suspended for refusal

More Issues:

• Declaratory Act 1766• colonists continued to protest taxation w/o rep.

• Townshend Acts 1767• “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania” by John Dickinson,

boycott British goods cutting trade in Half, repealed in 1770• British Gov’t removes governors and courts from colonial

control, Committee of Correspondence• Burning of the Gaspee• Boston Massacre

• Tea Act 1773• Boston Tea Party , Things get rough

And More Issues…• Coercive Acts 1774 (Intolerable Acts)• Following the “destruction of the tea”

• The Port Bill• closed port of Boston until Tea is paid for

• Massachusetts Government Act• British take over all government function• not allowed to hold town meetings w/o permission

• Quartering Act (New)• no more camps, redcoats living in homes

• Administration of Justice Act• British customs officials and officers could not be tried in the

colonies, General Gage appointed Gov.

Effects of the Intolerables• Boycotts organized

• EX: Homespun clothes, not GB wools

• Non-importation agreements:• Won’t buy GB goods!

• Songs and Daughters of Liberty• Protest with organized

resistance

• Effigies• Dummies hung from

“liberty trees”

Tar and Feather

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWZ925zK0A

Stamp Act Congress

• Oct. 1765• 9/13 colonial legislatures sent

delegates to NY• Drew up resolutions• Organized boycott

Boston Massacre: March 5, 1770

• Crowd – 50 or 60• Threw:

• Sticks, snowballs, rocks at Redcoats outside Customs House.

• Soldiers opened first• Killed 5• Including Crispus

Attucks - slave

First Continental Congress

• Sep. 1774 – Philly• 56 Delegates, 12

Colonies

• Wrote to King George demanding:• 1. Repeal of

Coercive/Intolerable Acts

• 2. Rights to life, liberty and property

• 3. Rights for colonial legislatures

• Agreed to:

• Support each other

• Carry on/increase boycotts

• Est. militias & stockpile weapons!

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World!

• April 19, 1775 …. It starts!• 700 GB soldiers sent to Concord to

destroy weapons• Led by: Gage

• Sons of Liberty sent Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott & Dawes (40 others) to warn of GB approach.

The shot heard round the world!

• Lexington and Concord• British reached Lexington – met by 70

minutemen• 8 colonists killed, 10 wounded, 1 GB soldier

wounded. • Colonists disperse.

• March on Concord • Find little gunpowder• On way to Boston, attacked by minutemen.

− 250 GB and 100 Amer killed

Second Continental Congress• Olive Branch

Petition – Ben Franklin

• Set up a United Defense

• Continental Army

• Approved Washington as Commander

“Fighting For Independence”• British Strengths:

• Well equipped and disciplined army.

• Strong navy.• Help from ____________.• Loyalists

British Weaknesses:

• Unpopular war.• Unknown and hostile

land.• Unfamiliar fighting

tactics.

• American Strengths:• Home field

advantage.• Determination• Guerrilla warfare.

American Weaknesses:

• Inexperienced and disorganized military.

• Needs help from abroad.

Progression of the Revolution

Major Battles and their significance

Fort Ticonderoga, Bunker HillNY

• May 1775• Green Mtn. Boys

from Vermont attacked and captured fort full of British supplies.

• June 1775• Americans occupied hill

in Boston• 3 GB attacks up hill led

by Thomas Gage• “Gentleman’s war”

• Amer lost on 3rd attack, but still moral victory• GB 40% casualties

December 1775…

• George III hires Hessians• Colonists are divided:

• Patriots, Loyalists, Neutral

But it’s not just about physical war…

• Common Sense• Book by Thomas

Paine

• Spread the idea of breaking away from England

• It is common sense that we should rule ourselves… instead of being ruled by a small Kingdom one whole ocean away!

Who else is influencing the colonists?

• John Locke• “natural rights”• Gov’t is for the

good of the people• “Social

contract”

• Baron de Montesquieu• Ditto to Locke• 3 branches of

gov’t

The Declaration of Independence

1. People have a NATURAL RIGHT to life, liberty and property (pursuit of happiness). John Locke

2. If a government does not respect people’s natural

rights, the people have the right to form a new government.

3. The British government has repeatedly violated the

American colonists’ natural rights. 4. The American colonies are free and independent

states, no longer ruled by the British government.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg

More…

• August 1776: NYC• 32,000 GB soldiers take and hold NYC

for next 7 years• GB offers pardons to American army• Washington refuses and retreats

Dec. 1776 – Trenton, NJ• Christmas night• Washington crosses

Delaware River and attacks 1300 Hessians• Surprise attack!

Kill/capture 1,000• Victory boosts Patriots!• Doctors found note on

Johan Rall (Hessian leader) warning of attack – not even opened!

American problems…

• Congress couldn’t tax• Wealthy merchants loaned $$

• Lack of soldiers• Planting season• Fighting in area only

• Lack of supplies• Needed aid from French• Ben Franklin went to smooze

Sep/Oct 1777 Oct 1777Brandywine & Saratoga, NYGermantown, PA

• GB victories that led to capture of Philly

• 2nd Continental Congress fled

• GB later evacuated city to concentrate on NYC

• Important American victory

• GB attempted to split colonies in half

• Turning point!!!• Led to French alliance

• Patriots began to believe they could win

Winter 1777/8 Sep 1780Valley Forge, PA Capture of Benedict Arnold• Winter encampment

of American Army• 10,000 soldiers

• ¼ died from:• Lack of food, cold,

frozen feet amputated, lack of shoes, smallpox

• Washington used time to train• Unbeatable!

• Trusted general served under GW

• Wounded at Saratoga• Milit Gov of Philly

• Tried to give GB fort at West Point

• Notes intercepted• Escaped, fled on the

Vulture• Joined GB, moved back

Oct 1780 Oct 1781Fighting in South Yorktown, VA

• Gen Cornwallis switched tactics and decided to attack from the south thru S and NC

• Support of loyalists• Planned to march to

VA and meet up with GB, to split USA in half.

• French ships jeopardized GB blockade of Amer ports

• Kept GB from arriving on coast

• GW attacked Cornwallis with help of French led by Marquis de LaFayette

• GB surrenders!!!

Section #5: Winning Independence• American Hardships:

• Financing the War.• Disruptions in Trade.

• Blockade• Profiteering• Inflation

• Treaty of Paris (1783)• British recognize U.S.A. as an independent nation• Land borders• Return Florida to Spain

Causes and Effects of the American Revolution

• Causes• Proclamation of

1763 stops colonists from moving west.

• Parliament taxes colonies to pay British war debts.

• Intolerable Acts set up harsh rule in Massachusetts.

• Effects• Colonies declare

independence.• British surrender

at Yorktown.• British recognize

American independence.

• U.S. borders extend to Florida and Mississippi River.

• United States Constitution is adopted.

E ffe cts o f th e A m e rican R e vo lu tion

T h e id e a o f lib e rtyin sp ire s s tru gg le s fo rfre ed om aro un d the

w o rld .

T ra d it io n a l id ea s ab o u tw o m e n 's ro le s in

so c ie ty a rech a lle n ge d.

Id ea s o f fre ed om a ndn a tu jra l rig h ts in sp ireso m e p e op le to b eg in

o p p os in g s lave ry.

The Am erican Revolution N a tive A m e rican s a rep u she d fa rthe r w e sta n d fa ce in cre sa seda tta cks from se tt le rs.

B rita in re cog n ize s theU n ite d S ta te s as anin de pe n de n t na tio n .