The Road to RevolutionThe Road to Revolution

Unit II: Revolutionary War

Between 1763 and 1783, the British attempts to exert control over the colonies led to a violent,

organized, and ultimately successful revolution.

Who’s to blame???

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763

Revenue Act (1762)Revenue Act (1762)

Currency Act (1764)Currency Act (1764)

The Sugar Act (1764)The Sugar Act (1764)

Stamp Act 1765Stamp Act 1765

Colonists felt that they a right to Colonists felt that they a right to that land because they helped that land because they helped defeat the French.defeat the French.

Colonists will suffer from loss of Colonists will suffer from loss of French trade. (Brit army in French trade. (Brit army in colonies)colonies)Colonists have difficulty paying Colonists have difficulty paying in gold/silver.in gold/silver.

Colonists begin to grumble about Colonists begin to grumble about taxes needing to “originate with taxes needing to “originate with the people.” New England the people.” New England smuggling continues.smuggling continues.

Sons of Liberty/Open Sons of Liberty/Open resistanceresistance

Stamp Act Congress (Oct. Stamp Act Congress (Oct. ’65)’65)

Parliament responds!Parliament responds!

Open ChallengeOpen Challenge What is it about the Stamp Act that angers the

colonists??

Meeting of Stamp Act Congress 9 colonies sent delegates to NY in Oct. 1765 to

protest “loss of American rights and liberties” Challenged the constitutionality of the Stamp Act

B. Franklin – seeks actual representation for English colonies.

British response – virtual representation

• Sons of Liberty – less diplomatic/angry mob led by Sam Adams

• Used raw energy and emotion against British tax measures

• Encouraged boycotts, harassed stamp collectors, etc.

Resistance GrowsResistance Grows

• Repealed Stamp Act!

• BUT issued the Declaratory Act —

What message did this send to the

colonists??

Stated Parliament’s “full power and authority to make laws and statutes . . . to bind the colonies and people of America . . . In all cases whatsoever.”

Parliament RespondsParliament Responds

Townshend Act 1767Townshend Act 1767tax on paper, paint, glass—what tax on paper, paint, glass—what was the political purpose of this act??was the political purpose of this act??

Restraining Acts 1767Restraining Acts 1767Parliament threatened to Parliament threatened to disband NY legislature if they did not fund previous disband NY legislature if they did not fund previous Quartering Act (NY backed down)Quartering Act (NY backed down)

committees of correspondencecommittees of correspondence

more non-importation (hitting more non-importation (hitting GB in the pocketbook)GB in the pocketbook)

Daughters of Daughters of Liberty/”homespuns”Liberty/”homespuns”

Britain responds by sending Britain responds by sending more troops to the colonies . . .more troops to the colonies . . .

Tensions EscalateTensions Escalate

The Boston MassacreThe Boston MassacreMarch 1770

Boston Tea Party Boston Tea Party (1773)(1773)

What were colonists reacting to when they dumped that tea in Boston Harbor??

First Continental CongressFirst Continental Congress Met in Philadelphia in 1774Met in Philadelphia in 1774 Led by Patriots Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, Led by Patriots Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, John Adams and George WashingtonJohn Adams and George Washington Issued the Declaration of Rights which, in written Issued the Declaration of Rights which, in written

form, protested the actions of Great Britainform, protested the actions of Great Britain• accepted Britain’s right to control tradeaccepted Britain’s right to control trade• called for the removal of British troopscalled for the removal of British troops• called for the repeal of the Intolerable Actscalled for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts

Also decided to form a militia, impose a colonial-Also decided to form a militia, impose a colonial-wide boycott on British imports & exportswide boycott on British imports & exports

Agreed to meet again in Spring 1775 if grievances Agreed to meet again in Spring 1775 if grievances not addressednot addressed

Parliament’s response: refused to negotiate . . .Parliament’s response: refused to negotiate . . .

Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 1775Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 1775 British ActionBritish Action

700 British troops 700 British troops advanced toward advanced toward Concord to seize the Concord to seize the colonists’ military colonists’ military supplies.supplies.

Colonists’ ReactionColonists’ Reaction In Lexington, about 70 In Lexington, about 70

minutemen fight the minutemen fight the British and in Concord British and in Concord hundreds of colonists hundreds of colonists forced the British troops forced the British troops to withdraw. It is the to withdraw. It is the beginning of the beginning of the Revolutionary War.Revolutionary War.

Ultimately, 73 Brits were killed, 174 wounded, 26 missing. 49 Americans were dead, 39 wounded.

The Shot Heard The Shot Heard ’’Round the WorldRound the World!!

LexingtonLexington & & ConcordConcord – April – April 19,177519,1775

Compromise Fails:Compromise Fails:The Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress

The Situation: - June 1775The Situation: - June 1775• Lexington & ConcordLexington & Concord• Colonial tensions are highColonial tensions are high• Most feel there is no turning back – and Bunker Hill (June) Most feel there is no turning back – and Bunker Hill (June)

strengthens their resolve.strengthens their resolve.

War or Peace?????:War or Peace?????: • General George Washington –General George Washington – chosen to head the chosen to head the

Continental ArmyContinental Army• ““Olive Branch Petition”Olive Branch Petition”• . . . . . . KingKing declares the colonies to be in rebellion! declares the colonies to be in rebellion!

Thomas PaineThomas Paine: : Common SenseCommon Sense

Declaration of Declaration of Independence Independence (1776)(1776)

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the RevolutionRevolution

Phase I (1775-Phase I (1775-1776)1776)::

The Northern The Northern CampaignCampaign• Howe would invade in New

York, take the Hudson River, and isolate NE from the rest of the colonies.

• Washington’s Army would flee to Manhattan, then back across the Delaware just as winter set in in 1776.

• Howe sought to convince GW to surrender . . . Washington evaded Howe & fought a defensive war.

Phase IIPhase II::

NY, NJ & NY, NJ & PAPA

[1776-1778][1776-1778]

•By winter 1776 the Continental Army was desperate—and the British had “relaxed” for the winter.

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the DelawareDelaware

December 1776--Significance??

• Meanwhile, Gen. Burgoyne led a large British force south from Quebec—to converge with forces from the West and South—to capture Albany.

• Howe’s troops never arrived—Burgoyne was surrounded by American troops led by Horatio Gates.

• Why does this matter??

October 1777

Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

Britain thought Loyalists in the South would rise to their aid.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot “conquer” the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

The Battle of Yorktown (1781)The Battle of Yorktown (1781)

The Defeat of the British:The Defeat of the British:Treaty of Paris (1783)Treaty of Paris (1783)

Key reasons for British Defeat:Key reasons for British Defeat:• French assistanceFrench assistance• Became a war of attrition/Became a war of attrition/ lack of lack of

public support from public support from England people England people & Parliament& Parliament

• Patriot commitment to their Patriot commitment to their causecause

Provisions of the Treaty:Provisions of the Treaty:• Americans gained Americans gained independence independence• Americans gained fishing rights around Nova Americans gained fishing rights around Nova

ScotiaScotia• Americans gained the interior continent to the Americans gained the interior continent to the

Mississippi RiverMississippi River

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783