The Coming of Independence and
The American Revolution
“No Taxation without Representation”
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Colonists believed they enjoyed the same
rights as Britons at home
British government believed the American
view was dangerous
Many colonists believed that Britain had
no right to tax them because the colonies
were unrepresented in the British
Parliament
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Virginia’s House of Burgesses approved
four resolutions regarding “No Taxation
without Representation”
Leader is Patrick Henry
Insisted the colonies enjoyed the same
“liberties, privileges, franchises, and
immunities” as residents in Britain
Actual vs. Virtual Representation
Colonies couldn’t be taxed because they
were not represented in Parliament
Stamp Act Congress
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Formed in October 1765
27 delegates from nine states met in New York
and endorsed Virginia’s position
Swore their allegiance to the Crown and their
subordination to Parliament
However, they insisted the right to consent to
taxation was “essential to the freedom of a
people”
**Would boycott British goods until Stamp Act
was repealed.**
**American colonies were now united**
Tea Act (1773)
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Tea drinking was a status of the wealthy
Becomes popular with all classes in England’s
colonies
Trouble with Britain’s East India Company stock
caused the British government to sell and market
Chinese tea in the colonies
East Company is able to sell low priced in the
colonies
Tax from the tea sales helped to defray the costs
of colonial government. This threatened the
assemblies control over finance
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Tax on tea was not new
Colonists believed that paying this tea tax
would acknowledge Britain’s right to tax
the colonies
12/16/1773-Boston Tea Party-300 chests
of tea thrown into Boston Harbor
The Intolerable Acts (1774)
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IA were the British government’s response to the
Boston Tea Party
Port of Boston was closed until the tea was paid
for
Stopped town meetings, authorized governor to
appoint previously elected council members, and
allowed soldiers to live in private homes
United colonists
Seen as a direct threat to their political freedom
Resistance to the Acts
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Boycott
Public Meetings/Debate
Pamphlets
Demonstrations
Homespun
• Homespun clothing
• Daughters of Liberty
Sons of Liberty
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Started in 1765 in response to Stamp Act
Merchants who opposed “any limitation on
trade and tax on it”
Lead the boycott of British goods
Boston Massacre
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March 5, 1770
Fight between snow throwing Bostonians
and the British Army
Armed conflict
5 Bostonians dead
Commanding British officer and eight
soldiers put on trial
Soldiers defended by John Adams
Seven found not guilty/Two convicted of
manslaughter
The Continental Congress
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Started in Response to Intolerable Acts
September 1774, delegates from several
Massachusetts towns pass resolutions
urging Americans to not obey new laws,
withhold taxes, and prepare for war (Suffolk
Resolves)
Later that month, CC convenes in
Philadelphia
Most famous leaders from 12 colonies come
to Philadelphia (Georgia did not send
delegates)
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Convention lasted until the end of October
Endorsed Suffolk Resolves
Adopted Continental Association-an almost
complete halt to trade with Great Britain and
West Indies
Domestic manufacturing
Committee of Safety
COS also began process of transferring political
power from governments appointed by the Crown
to grassroots bodies
CC would meet again in May if demands were not
met
“The Shot Heard Around the World”
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April 19, 1775
British forces marched from Boston to
Concord to seize arms stockpiled there
Paul Revere rides to warn local leaders the
British were coming
Skirmish between both sides also occurs
at Lexington and again at Concord
49 Americans/73 British soldiers killed
Phrase coined by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Second Continental Congress
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May 1775
Authorized raising of army, money to pay
for it, and appointed George Washington
as commander of the forces
In response, Britain
• Declared colonies in a state of rebellion
• Dispatched thousands of troops
• Closed all colonial ports
Olive Branch Petition
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July 1775
Written by the Continental Congress to
King George III
Reaffirmed American loyalty to the crown
Hoped to reconcile with the king
Rejected by the king
British government declares colonies in
rebellion
Thomas Paine
Independence? Whose side are
you on?
Independence? Whose side are you
on?
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Many colonists still uncertain about the idea
Patriots
Largest groups were from Virginia and
Massachusetts
Comprised of local militias
GW never had more than 20,000 troops
under his command at one time
Problems faced by troops included low
supplies, poorly equipped and rarely paid
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Loyalists or Tories
60,000 American Tories
Largest group of Tories were in New York,
New Jersey, and Georgia
After the war, many flee to Canada or
Britain
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Native Americans
Many Native Americans supported the
British
British promised to limit colonial
settlement in the West
African Americans
Initially rejected by Washington to fight on
the Patriots’ side
When Britain promised freedom if AA
fought with them, Patriots changed their
mind
The Battle of New York (1776-1777)
Washington’s Crossing
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Thomas Paine’s The Crisis
December 25, 1776
Nor’easter
Washington’s troop cross the Delaware River into
Trenton, NJ
Troops attack some bands of Hessian troops
stationed at garrisons in Trenton
British troops are in NYC for the winter
No colonial troops died
Victory is a morale booster
Needed support for Washington-both moral and
needed resources from Congress
Retreat at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
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Winter 1777-June 1778
Continental army lost Battle of Philadelphia
NYC and Philadelphia now in British control
Retreat to Valley Forge
Miserable winter
Supplies from Congress are slow to arrive
In June 1778, British leave Philadelphia for New
York
Continental army resumes fighting
Bravery of those who survived
War starts to change in favor of the colonists
Important Battles of the War
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Battle of Saratoga (October 1777)
American forces surround British army
Key victory for Americans
France recognizes US
France and Spain respond with military
assistance
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In January 1781, American forces win key
battles in North and South Carolina
Battle of Yorktown (October 1781)American and French forces control key
land and sea areas at Yorktown, Virginia
After defeat, British General Lord
Cornwallis surrendered
British support for the war at home ends
Peace negotiations begin
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris (1783)
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An important accomplishment under the Articles
of Confederation
Treaty of Paris
• Britain recognized United States as an independent
nation
• Mississippi River-Western boundary of U.S., Great Lakes
as the Northern boundary, Florida-Southern boundary
• Americans would have fishing rights off the coast of
Canada
• Americans would pay debts owed to British merchants
and honor Loyalist claims for property confiscation
during the war
• Allow British troops to leave/Loyalists to stay
• U.S. would have access to Mississippi River