Revolutionary War
Ch 1.2
Thursday February 2, 2012
• Daily goal: Understand how the Battle of Saratoga
was a turning point, the significance of the Battle
of Yorktown and what type of warfare the
Colonial Army used against the British.
• Think about it…
• To what extent do you agree or disagree with the
statement below…
• “If you don’t know history it is as if you were born
yesterday.” –Howard Zinn
Friday February 3, 2012
• Daily goal: Understand John Locke’s
contribution to the Revolution, how taxes
strained the relationship between Americans
and the British.
• Think about it…
• How would you feel if your taxes were raised
significantly and there was no one in the gov’t
representing you to stop it?
The French and Indian War(1754-63)
a.k.a. The 7 Years War
•
•
By 1754 British American Colonists began to
push past the Appalachian Mountains
–
Problem: France and many different Native American
tribes claimed and already occupied this territory
–
over 3 million Colonist + British Troops vs. many Native
tribes + 15,000 French Troops
–
Goal: build forts to protect and expand British territory
west of Appalachian mtns.
Britain goes to war against France + Spain
(1756-63) to fight for control over territories
around the world
–
•
including India, Philippines, Montreal, Ohio Valley,
West Indies, etc.
The portion of the 7 Years War fought in
North America is know as the French and
Indian War
Why call it French and Indian War?
• Natives played a key
role in the war
– they chose sides that
benefited them
– goal was to prevent
European settlements
on native lands
• Vicious fighting on
both sides:
– scalping was common
on both sides
– $ for scalps
– British sent blankets w/
smallpox on it to the
Natives
John Locke
• People have natural rights to life,
liberty, and property
• Social contract:
– people collectively choose to obey
a government, only when that
government protects the natural
rights of the citizens
• If the government breaks that
contract by violating the peoples
rights
– people have the right to overthrow
that government
John Locke
• Argued that people were born with Natural
Rights (life, liberty and property) from their
Creator, that could no be taken away.
• Governments were formed to protect these
rights and if they did not, the people had a
right to rebel against their government.
• These ideas greatly influenced the Declaration
of Independence.
How will Britain pay
its war debts?
•
Parliament passed new tax laws:
– Stamp Act (1765) taxed most printed
documents including: wills, newspapers,
deeds, college diplomas and other printed
materials.
• 1st tax on goods within colonies
• Colonist felt there union was w/ king not
Parliament- therefore unlawful tax
• Trial by admiralty court is violation of the English
Bill of Rights – made Amer. colonist 2nd class
citizens
•
read: Stamp Act primary doc
•
How will the colonist respond? Why?
TAX STAMP USED ON ALL PRINTED MATERIALS
How will the colonist respond?
• Protesting and boycotting of British
Goods
• Impact:
• British merchants sold less, thus
earned less $
 employers laid off workers
 British public angry at
Parliament
• Result: Stamp Act repealed in 1766
What else can Parliament do to raise $ to pay its debt?
- Townsend Act (1767) Taxed all imported and exported goods (double tax)
- created a board to go after smugglers
Tea Act (1773)
• Tax on tea to raise $
• Create a monopoly for the East India Tea Company
• How would the colonist respond?
Boston Tea Party
(1773)
• A group of Bostonians raided a ship full of tea,
and dumped the tea into the water.
Taxes
• Stamp Act- first direct tax on the colonies on
most legal documents and printed materials.
• Townsend Acts- taxes placed on glass, lead,
paper, paint and tea.
• Tea Act- taxed Tea in the colonies.
• “No taxation without representation!”
became the colonial catch phrase, because
they did not have a rep in Parliament.
Declaration of
Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Influenced by Locke’s ideas about
government and natural rights
• Unalienable rights
– life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• People had the right to abolish the
government if their rights are violated
• Compare: Jefferson’s version vs. Final
draft Dec. of Ind.
THE CONGRESS MET
AGAIN IN JUNE 1776 AND
COMMISSIONED THOMAS
JEFFERSON TO DRAFT A
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE. THE
DOCUMENT HAD THREE
PARTS: THE PURPOSE OF A
GOVERNMENT, 27
REASONS FOR
SEPARATION, AND THE
OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
15
56 MEN SIGNED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OVER SEVERAL
MONTHS, WITH THE ADOPTION ON JULY 2, 1776
16
Declaration of Independence
• Thomas Jefferson drafted the document which
proclaimed the colonies an independent
country and broke all ties with Britain.
1st Continental Congress (1774)
•
Members from 12 colonies
–
Georgia did not attend
•
Meet to discuss reaction to Intolerable
Acts.
•
Another Boycott of British goods
•
Drafted a Declaration of Rights and
Grievances – sent to King George
•
Why the king?
How did the King Respond?
•
•
•
Ignored petition
Sent more troops
Royal Governor of MA ordered:
– the arrest of Samuel Adams + John Hancock
– Confiscation of militia arms and ammunition in Lexington
and Concord
JOHN HANCOCK
SAMUEL ADAMS
Paul Revere: “The redcoats are coming”
Lexington and Concord April 1775
• Gunshots were exchanged between British soldiers and Boston
Militiamen in Lexington and Concord
• Read Lexington primary document
How will the British
respond?
Bunker Hill (June 1775)
- unofficial beginning of the
American Revolution
How do the colonist respond?
• 2nd Continental Congress (1775)
• Appoints George Washington as General of revolutionary army
• Drafts Declaration of Independence (1776)
Continental Army
• The Colonists had depended on militia units
like the minutemen- who were trained to fight
at a minute’s notice.
• The 2nd Continental Congress voted to create
the Continental Army led by General George
Washington.
The Big Battles
• Battle of Saratoga- stunning American victory
that convinced the French to join the
American cause.
• Battle of Yorktown- The last major battle of
the War that convinced the British to begin
peace negotiations.
Peace
• The British and Americans signed the Treaty
of Paris officially ending the war and giving
America independence.