Transcript The Conflict Begins

The Conflict Begins
King George & Parliament
vs.
The Colonies
The Debt
• Parliament will begin to pay for the debt
from the war with the Sugar Act.
• This was a tax on molasses and sugar.
These were everyday items.
• Colonist were angered by the tax because
they had no voice in the Parliament back
in England.
• The slogan “No taxation without
representation” is born.
Boycotts begin
• Boycott – This a
refusal to buy or
support specific
goods.
• The aim of the
boycotts was to hurt
the British economy
and draw attention to
the colonists
frustration.
Stamp Act 1765
• This act required
colonists to pay for an
official stamp, or seal,
when they bought paper
items.
• This was a direct tax on
the people.
• Protests began
immediately.
• The Sons of Liberty are
born in Boston.
• Colonists began saying
that this was a violation of
their rights and liberties.
Mr. Duvall
THE BIG MISTAKE
• Parliament repealed the Stamp Act under pressure from
London merchants that were suffering the boycotts.
• This was the Parliaments biggest mistake.
• By repealing the Stamp Act, they gave the colonists a
sense of empowerment or control over themselves.
• Parliament would never get their full authority back
again.
• Parliament realized this because they immediately
passed the Declaratory Acts.
• The Declaratory Acts basically said Parliament had the
right to make laws for the colonies.
The Townshend Acts 1767
• This is another tax on the colonists that
gives raise to the Daughters of Liberty.
• It further angers the colonies.
The Boston Massacre
• This event is important because of its uses
by the Sons of Liberty as a piece of
propaganda.
• Propaganda – The spreading of ideas,
information, or rumor for the purpose of
helping or injuring a cause.
• Paul Revere picture ignites the colonists
against the British (England)
The Boston Tea Party
• This event is caused by the Tea Act. (1773)
• This allowed the British East India Company
to sell tea directly to the colonists. This gave
them an unfair advantage over colony
merchants.
• The Sons of Liberty will dump 340 chests of
tea into Boston Harbor (December 1773) in
protest.
• This leads to the Intolerable Acts.
Intolerable Acts
• They closed Boston Harbor
• Massachusetts's legislature is limited
(Government)
• Royal officials guaranteed friendly judge
and jury.
• Quartering Act is imposed (House
soldiers)
• Colony of Quebec received large piece of
land.
First Continental Congress
• This was a gathering of colonial leaders
who were troubled with the relationship
between the colonies and Great Britain
(England).
• They will send King George III of England
a Declaration of Rights.
• They did not want to separate from
England at this time.
“Patriot”
• In time, individuals like Patrick Henry,
would begin to refer to themselves as
Patriots.
• Patriot – A colonist who chooses to fight
for independence from Great Britain.
Lexington and Concord
April 1775
• “The Shot heard round the World”
• Paul Revere and others set out to warn
the rebels that the British Army was on the
move.
• Minutemen will meet the army just outside
the town of Lexington. Shots were fired!
• The Redcoats (British soldiers) marched
on to Concord to find no guns or
ammunitions.
“Common Sense
• This was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine.
• He argued that citizens should make the laws
not kings and queens. (This is crazy talk at this
time in history.)
• He also made an argument about the benefits of
staying a colony with England. The question he
poised was there any benefit to stay with
England.
• He supported economic freedom.
Declaration of Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• The document was broken into four parts.
• The first part discusses that people have unalienable
rights. (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness)
• The second part discusses the grievances against the
king. (What he did wrong)
• The third part covers the right of people to break away
from governments that suppress its people.
• Finally, it states that we are a free people and
formally break away from England.
Second Continental Congress
• They meet again in May of 1775.
• They form the Continental Army (An army
to fight the British).
• They named George Washington as its
leader of the army.
The Battle Bunker Hill
• This fight took place outside of Boston on Breed’s Hill.
• The Continental Army was low on supplies and
ammunition. The rebel commander would give the order
“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”
• It would take three attempts by the British to take the hill
before success. (700 men dead)
• ** Bunker Hill was a moral victory for the Continental
Army. It gave them the idea that they could fight
with the British Army and with the proper equipment
even beat them.**
Battle of New York
• General Howe of the British Army
destroyed the Patriot Army led by
Washington at New York sending the
Continental Army fleeing. (1776)
Battle of Trenton (1776)
• General Washington of
the Continental Army was
in need of a victory for his
army. It was in danger of
falling apart.
• He decided to attack a
portion of the British Army
that was lead by
Hessians the day after
Christmas.
• He crossed the Delaware
River at night and
surprised the sleeping
army in the morning.
Battle of Princeton (1777)
• General Cornwallis of
the British Army was
angry with Washington’s
tactics rushed to catch
Washington after Trenton.
• Washington tricked
Cornwallis and defeated
him at Princeton.
• These two victories gave
the needed boost of
energy the Continental
Army needed.
Battle of Saratoga
• This battle is considered the turning point in
the war.
• It was the turning point for several reasons.
• First: One of the largest armies in the north
surrendered to the Continental Army.
• Second: King Louis XVI of France signed a
treaty with the colonists. He agreed to send
troops and a navy. (Spain also joins the
colonists side.)
• Third: Morale soars and leads to the army
increasing in size.
Valley Forge
• Washington camped here for the winter of
1777.
• Valley Forge was a winter of suffering for
the Continental Army. Over 2000 soldiers
would die that winter (starvation and
sickness).
• It symbolized the colonist’s resolve for
freedom.
War in the South
• General Cornwallis of the British Army made a major
mistake after several battles with General Nathanael
Green of the Continental Army.
• He moved his army to Yorktown for supplies and to make
contact with the British Navy.
• General George Washington took the opportunity and
moved several armies to surround Cornwallis at
Yorktown.
• Cornwallis hoped to escape by sea but the French Navy
trapped his army and cut off the sea.
• He was forced to surrender the largest army in
America to General Washington.
The Treaty of Paris
• Great Britain had to recognize the
independence of the United States.
• Establish the border to the United
States ending at the Mississippi River.
• Spain got Florida back from England.