C A U S E S O F T H E A M E R I C A N R E V O L U T I O N

4-1 Bellringer
 http://www.history.com/topics/americanrevolution/american-revolutionhistory/videos/really-arevolution?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&fr ee=false
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What is your definition of Revolution? What does the word revolution mean to you?

The Colonists Political Heritage
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Colonists like the set up of British Government
Due Process, trial by jury, freedom of Press
Right to pay no tax unless passed by their reps

British Government is a Model
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Had 3 Branches
Executive Branch (Monarch)
Legislative Branch ( Parliament-2 houses)
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Colonies, expect Pennsylvania, had a 2 house legislature
Colonial Governors appointed by King
British govt far from democratic

Differences in Colonial Governments
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British Constitution-not a formal document
Colonies wrote out documents of Rights
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Royal Charters of Maryland and South Carolina
Mayflower Compact
2/3 of Colonial men owned property; less ¼ of
European men owned property

New Taxes Upset Colonists
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Parliament decides colonist should help pay debt from The French & Indian War ( 7 Years War)
Sugar Act
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1764
Quartering Act
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1765
Colonist house and provide resources for British Troops
Stamp Act
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1765
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Tax on printed materials (newspaper, books, documents, contracts, land deeds

Taxation Without Representation
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Colonists protested Stamp Act
It threated prosperity and liberty
Colonial Leaders question Parliaments right to tax because colonists had no representation in
Parliament
Parliament did not agree with colonists views on taxes
“No Taxation without Representation-slogan used by colonists to describe their feelings on taxes

Colonists Protest Intensify
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3 ways of protest
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Intellectual
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Economic Boycotts
Violent Intimidations
Enlightenment Ideas
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Locke and Montesquieu- natural rights (life, liberty, property)
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Patrick Henry-Virginia representative, argues that only colony has power to tax colonists

Patriot Leaders Emerge
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Patriots-those who opposed British Taxes
Sons of Liberty- groups formed to protests
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Samuel Adams-famous leader
Boycotts-leaders urged colonists not to buy British goods
Women played huge role in boycott; they begin to weave cloth for clothes

New Taxes lead to New Protest
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Townshend's Acts-tax on glass, lead, paint, and tea
Colonists refused to pay this as well

Violence in Boston
 Boston Massacre
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March 1770
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CAUSE
Colonists throw snow balls and rocks at soldier's guarding customs house
Soldier’s nervous and fire on colonist’s-Kill 5
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Crispus Attucks (sailor who was an escaped slave is killed)
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RESPONSE
Committees of Correspondence formed-Parliament backs down and removes troops from Boston but keeps tax on Tea

Boston Tea Party
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Tea Boycott was hurting British East India Company
Law Passed to encourage colonist to pay tax
Could buy tea directly from company (Cheaper)
December 16,1773
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Boston Patriots dressed as Indians boarded 3 British Ships
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Threw Tea into the Harbor
Known as Boston Tea party

Colonists Unite Against Harsh Measures
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Parliament is angry about events in Boston. Send troops to Boston, close the port
Troops were to be housed and feed by colonists
Quebec Act-extended land of Canada cutting of land claimed by Colonies
Colonists called these actions the Intolerable Acts

The Colonists Take Action
 Fall of 1774
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Delegates from all the colonies expect GA sent to Philadelphia
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Meeting Called 1 st Continental Congress
Patrick Henry-”Give Me Liberty or Give me Death”
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Theme of meeting was to pursue parliament and the King to withdraw the taxes and intolerable Acts
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Most colonists did not blame king and expected him to side with them against parliament