Unit 2: The American Revolutionary Era 1754-1783 Europeans Fight For Land • French explorer, Robert Cavelier de La Salleexplored entire length of Mississippi. – Named area Louisiana • French ex. Antoine Cadillac- founded Fort Detroit (1701) • Population in North America: – 1700: French (15,000); English (250,000) – 1750: French (60,000); English (1,170,000) French & Indian War (1754-1763) • French & Indian allies vs. English & Indian allies – Most colonists fought on English side • Including George Washington – Known as Seven Years War in Europe – First battle- Fort Necessity • Washington surrendered July 4, 1754. – British dominated rest of the war. • Quebec fell in 1759 – Fighting ended 1763 with the Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris (1763) • French loses almost all territory in North America. – Britain gains Canada, Ohio Valley and land east of Mississippi. – Spain gains land west of Mississippi Impact of War • Native Americans lost trade with French – Became aggressive towards colonists – Pontiac’s Rebellion • Proclamation of 1763- prohibited colonists from settling west of Appalachian Mountains • British gained massive debt from war. – Eng. Decide to tax colonists to pay war debt. Sugar Act (1764) • A tax on molasses. – Formally known as Molasses Act 1733. • Expiring in 1763 • Not really enforced • New sugar act, half of molasses tax – Will be enforced • Quartering Act (1765)- required colonists to house and feed British troops when needed. Stamp Act (1765) • All legal documents had to have gov. stamp – Newspapers had to have stamp • The colonists felt it was a direct tax, undermining local Assemblies – No one agree upon the tax • Violators were not allowed trial by jury, judge decided guilty or not. Reaction • Delegates from colonies met, declared Parliament had no right to issue taxes • Patrick Henry- led opposition of Stamp Act. – “Give me liberty or give me death!” • Stamp distributors were attacked by people who opposed the tax. – Samuel Adams led Sons of Liberty on these attacks. Exit Question • “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” • Famous speech by Patrick Henry. Respond to Henry’s speech with opposition of his stance or in favor of his stance. Support your own stance. Results • Protests and boycotting British goods led to the Stamp Act being repealed. • Townshend Acts- passed in 1767 to help pay Governors salaries. – Glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea were taxed. • More protests and boycotts on British goods. – Most Townshend Acts were repealed • Tea was still taxed • Tensions rose in Boston, troops sent to restore order. Boston Massacre • March 5, 1770. • British soldiers fired on a crowd of Boston protestors, 5 killed, 11 injured. – Crispus Attucks- considered first casualty of American Revolution. • African American Results • Parliament ended taxes on tea to help ease tensions in Boston. • 3 years later, Britain needed money to bail out East Indies Tea Company. – Tea Act of 1773 was passed. • Tax on tea again. • Sons of Liberty responded by throwing crates of tea in the Boston Harbor dressed as Mohawk Indians. – Boston Tea Party (Dec. 1773) Results • Parliament passed Intolerable Acts (1774): • British called them Coercive Acts – Closed Boston’s Port, pay back for damaged tea • Boston is a “port” city – Massachusetts's gov. under British control – Royal officials would be given trial in England • Witnesses had to pay for travel to Eng. –Can’t afford it • No witness, trial dismissed. • Colonial Response- First Continental Congress (1774) Exit Question • Imagine you are the head writer of a delegation of colonists. Write a letter to the King of England, King George III, about your disagreement with the recent intolerable acts and other taxes imposed on the colonies. Try to convince the King to change his mind and Parliament’s decision on these acts. – Use historical knowledge as to why they should overturn their decision. The War Begins • Battle of Lexington and Concord- considered the first battle of The American Revolution • British went in search of weapons supposedly stashed in the two towns. – Colonists took up arms to fight back – Lexington: 8 minutemen were killed – Concord: 300 British soldiers killed • First victory for the Colonists – April 1775, The American Revolutionary War begins. Thomas Paine • Wrote pamphlet Common Sense (1775/6) Declaring Independence • Second Continental Congress met in the summer of 1775. – Write up a list of grievances against the King and Parliament. – Declare the colonies independent – Many delegates at first abstained from declaring independence. • Thomas Jefferson- primary author of Declaration of Independence – Congress approved July 4, 1776 • “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” Opposing Sides & Strategies British • British outnumbered Colonists 3 to 1 • World’s strongest Navy • Professional Army • Loyalists- (Tory) colonists that still sided with the British • Native Americans Colonists • Strong leadership under George Washington – Knew British strategy • Fighting a noble cause – Independence • Knew back wood terrain – Fighting on homeland • Patriots- siding for independence British Empire Early Fighting • Washington and Continental Army suffer many defeats – New York and Boston were captured by British – Washington retreats across the Delaware River • Dec. 26, 1776, Washington re-crosses Delaware River in middle of the night to Trenton, NJ – Captures Hessian mercenaries. • British employed thousands of German Hessians to fight in the war. • A week later, Washington defeated a small British regiment at Princeton. Battle of Saratoga • Oct. 17, 1777- First major victory over British army. • Major turning point in history: – French wanted revenge on G. Britain – Am. victory help persuade French to give aid in fight – French will bring fresh supplies and offer their Navy • Not until 1778 though Valley Forge (winter 1777-1778) • Washington stationed the army in Valley Forge – The coldest winter in years • No supplies, clothing, or food – 2500 soldiers die from disease, starvation, or exposure to weather. • Prussian military General Baron von Steuben helped train the Continental Army during the winter French Support • General Marquis de Lafayette- present at Valley Forge, returned to France to gain more soldiers and supplies. – Helped stop British troops in Battle of Yorktown • General Comte de Rochambeau- commanded more troops than George Washington • Admiral’s de Grasse & de Latouche Trevilleblocked British supply ships at the Battle of Yorktown Battle of Yorktown • Lord Cornwallis, leading General of British army, moved to Yorktown, waiting for supplies and reinforcements from G. Britain. • Walked into a trap: – French Navy blocked Chesapeake Bay – Washington & Rochambeau attack Cornwallis • October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrenders – War was coming to an end. Treaty of Paris 1783 • British formally recognized the independence of the United States. • All lands east of Mississippi from Spanish Florida to Great Lakes belonged to US. • British grants fishing rights in Newfoundland • All property of British army in US will stay and now belongs to US. Results • Congress now has to establish a whole new government – Figure a way to govern the states – How to pay off the war debt • France went into massive debt – Leading cause for French Revolution in 1789 Articles of Confederation (1781) • 1st document at starting a new government – Created a national legislature to pass laws – Unanimous support was required to pass major pieces of legislation – National government had no power to levy taxes • Key philosophy- State’s Rights!