American Revolution
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Transcript American Revolution
Short Answer
What were the consequences
of the French and Indian War
to Great Britain and her North
American colonies?
The American Revolution
COLONIAL RESISTANCE
AND REBELLION
England’s
Parliament and
Big Ben
The Proclamation of 1763
sought to halt the
westward expansion of
the colonist, thus the
colonist believed the
British government did
not care about their needs
This was one of many
measures passed by the
English Parliament that
would be strenuously
opposed by the American
Colonists
NO TAXATION WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION
Colonists protest
Huge debt from
the French-Indian
War caused the
English Parliament
to impose a series
of taxes on the
colonists
The Sugar Act and
the Stamp Act
were two such
taxes
THE SUGAR ACT
The Sugar Act
(1764) placed duties
(taxes) on certain
imports that had not
been taxed before
More importantly, it
meant colonists
accused of violating
the Act were tried in
Vice-Admiral Courts
rather than Colonial
Courts
THE STAMP ACT
In March of 1765
Parliament passed
the Stamp Act
which imposed a
tax on documents
and printed items
such as wills,
newspapers, and
cards (a stamp
would then be
placed on the item)
RESISTANCE GROWS
In May of 1765
Colonists formed a
secret resistance
group called, Sons
of Liberty to
protest the laws
Merchants agree to
boycott British
goods until the
Acts are repealed
MORE TAXES, MORE PROTESTS
More taxes and
acts soon followed:
Declaratory Act
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts
taxed goods
brought into the
colonies from
Britain – including
lead, paint, glass,
paper and TEA
Colonial Response to the
Townshend Duties
1. 1768
* “Daughters of Liberty”
* spinning bees
2. Riots against customs agents:
* John Hancock’s ship, the
Liberty was stopped and
searched.
* 2000 British troops sent
to Boston.
TENSION MOUNTS IN
MASSACHUSETTS
The atmosphere in
Boston was extremely
tense
The city erupted in
bloody clashes and a
daring tax protest, all
of which pushed the
colonists and England
closer to war
Boston Massacre was
in 1770 when a mob
taunted British
soldiers – 5 colonists
were killed
BOSTON MASSACRE 1770
BY PAUL REVERE
The Gaspee IncidentProvidence, RI coast
Committees
of Correspondence
Purpose warn neighboring colonies
about incidents with Britain.
-look for threats to
American liberties
broaden the resistance
movement and
communication network between
colonies.
BOSTON TEA PARTY 1773
BRITS RESPOND TO TEA
VANDALS
After 18,000 pounds
of tea was dumped
by colonists into
Boston Harbor, King
George III was
infuriated
Parliament responded
by passing the
Intolerable Acts;
which included the
closing of the Harbor,
the Quartering Act,
Martial law in Boston
THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION
Colonists start to
organize and
communicate
First Continental
Congress met in 1774
and drew up rights
Military preparation
began
England reacts by
ordering troops to
seize weapons
FIRST CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS - 1774 PHILLY
ATTENDEES INCLUDED SAMUEL
ADAMS, PATRICK HENRY, AND
GEORGE WASHINGTON
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD
With Paul Revere’s
announcement, the
Colonists and the
British began fighting
in April of 1775
The first battle of the
American Revolution
lasted only 15
minutes, but its
impact has lasted for
over 200 years
SECOND CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS
May 1775, Colonial
leaders met for a
Second Continental
Congress
Some called for
Independence, some
for reconciliation
Finally, the Congress
agreed to appoint
George Washington
as head of the
Continental Army
Patrick Henry
addresses
Congress
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
June 1775
Battle of
Bunker Hill
British General
Thomas Gage decided
on an attack on
Breed’s Hill (near
Boston)
Deadliest battle of
war as over 1,000
redcoats and 450
colonists died
Battle misnamed
Bunker Hill (Breed’s
Hill would have been
more accurate)
OLIVE BRANCH PETITION
By July 1775, the
Second Continental
Congress was
readying for war,
though still hoping for
peace
Most delegates
deeply loyal to King
George III
July 8 – Olive Branch
Petition sent to King
who flatly refused it
INDEPENDENCE MINDED
HUGE BEST SELLER,
“COMMON SENSE” 1776
Public opinion
shifted toward
Independence
Why?
Enlightenment
ideas (John Locke’s
Social Contract,
and Thomas
Paine’s Common
Sense) and Great
Awakening ideas.
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
On July 4, 1776, the
Continental Congress
voted unanimously
that the American
Colonies were free
and they adopted the
Declaration of
Independence
The Colonists had
declared their
independence– they
would now have to
fight for it
JEFFERSON, ADAMS, & FRANKLIN
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE
Colonists divided
between Loyalists
and Patriots
New York City
early site of battles
Colonial troops
retreat, then
surprise British
troops at Saratoga
Will it last?
After Colonist
declared
independence ,
few thought that
the rebellion
would last.
A divided colonial
population vs. a
worldwide
empire.
Strengths and Weaknesses
•
•
•
•
•
United States
• familiarity of
ground
Leadership of George
Washington
Most soldiers were
untrained
Shortages of food and
ammunition
No central gov’t
Inferior navy
Great Britain
• Well trained army
• Strong central govt
with $$
• Support of Loyalists
and Natives
• Large distance
• Weak military
leaders
• Unfamiliar terrain
• Hessians! (German
mercenaries)
Defeat in New York!
Wanted to stop rebellion by isolating New
England, so British sail into New York Harbor
British come in with 32,000 versus Americans
23,000
Ended in late August with an American retreat
because of heavy losses (Quote pg. 114)
By late fall, the British had pushed
Washington’s men across the Delaware River
into Pennsylvania.
Vast majority of men had deserted, been
captured or killed
Less than 8,000 men left!!!
More Battles
Christmas EveWashington led
2400 men across
the ice filled
Delaware River
Marched nine miles
through snow and
reached Trenton,
New Jersey.
Surprise attack left
30 British dead and
918 captured
Saratoga!! And a TURNING
POINT
British General John Burgoyne “Gentleman Johnny”
wanted to meet General Howe in Albany
7,000 soldiers and 30 wagons full of fine clothes
and wine
American General Horatio Gates assembled his
troops and was able to cause high causalities every
time he clashed with Burgoyne
Howe was preoccupied with “Taking” Philadelphia
and never meet up.
American troops surrounded the British and on
10/17/1777 they surrendered.
Changed British military strategy. STAY BY THE
COAST!!
A Secret Alliance
France was still bitter about
losing in the French and
Indian War.
Secretly been sending
Patriots weapons since 1776
Victory at Saratoga boosted
French confidence in America
Signed a treaty with America
in 1778 saying they would
not make peace with Britain
until American independence
was recognized.
A Winter at Valley Forge
While awaiting the French help to
arrive, the British occupied New
York while the Americans
occupied Philadelphia.
Washington and the Continental
Army struggled to stay alive with
the bitter cold and primitive
conditions of Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania.
Amputations were common
because of frostbite.
More than 2,000 of 10,000 died.
(pg. 116)
WINNING THE WAR
With French military leader
Marquis de Lafayette’s help,
Colonial troops became
effective fighters
“to make regular soldiers
out of country bumpkins”
May 1780, British troops
successfully take Charles
Town, S.C. Took 5,500
POWs.
However, it was the last
major victory for the
British as General
Cornwallis finally
surrendered at Yorktown,
Va. on October 18, 1781
The Americans victory
shocked the world
Cornwallis surrenders
The British Surrender at
Yorktown
Goal- Surround General Cornwallis and British
troops.
• 1- French naval force defeated a British fleet
and then blocked Chesapeake Bay
• 2-17,000 French and Americans surrounded
British on the Yorktown Peninsula.
• 3- bombarded them day and nt for three
weeks
• 4- with troops outnumber 2 to 1 and
exhausted by constant shelling, Cornwallis
finally raised white flag to surrender!
TREATY OF PARIS
Peace talks began in
Paris in 1782
American negotiating
team included John
Jay, John Adams, and
Ben Franklin
Treaty signed in
September of 1783
and officially
recognized the
independence of the
United States and set
boundaries (East
Coast to Mississippi
River and Canada to
Florida)
THE NEXT STEP!!!
Possible problems: NO timeline
on when British would evacuate
America, Americans agreed to
pay back debt to the British,
Loyalists could sue for property
lost in war and no mention of
Native American treaties or
land agreements
-Challenge of creating a new
gov’t
1- Who should participate?
2- Represent the people?
3- opposing groups all have a
voice?