Before 1763
By 1750, the American colonies were bursting with growth. In
just a century, the population of the colonies had grown from 50,000 to
more than a million people. What brought about this rapid growth?
Cheap land? Religious tolerance? Economic opportunities? All of these
were important in attracting people to the colonies. But there was another
reason.
For more than a century, the British government had mostly left
Why were the colonists angry toward the British?
the colonies alone to solve their own problems. During this time,
Americans had learned to govern themselves. Each colony elected its
own assembly. Like the British Parliament (congress), the assemblies had
the power to pass laws & create taxes. Each assembly also decided how
the colony's tax money should be spent.
Americans had more freedom to run their own affairs than ordinary
people in any country in Europe.
•Have your parents ever made a rule that you hated because
you thought it was completely unfair?
•Have your parents ever made a rule you hated so much that
you complained about it over and over again to try and make
them change it or take it back?
•Have your parents ever made a rule that you hated so much
that you broke it, even though it may have been meant for you
own good?
How did you feel towards your parents?
Why do people pay taxes?
What is the money used for?
What is “taxation without representation”?
Why were the colonists so angry about “taxation without
representation”?
Why did England increase taxes on the colonies?
The Steps
to the
Revolutionary
War
Proclamation of 1763
Cause:
Colonists
could not
move west
past the
Appalachian
Mountains,
placed
10,000
soldiers in
the Colonies
to enforce
the law.
Effect:
Colonists
were afraid
of the
troops, and
angry
because it
limited their
freedom
(tyranny 
unjust use of
govt.
power).
The Sugar Act of 1764
Cause: A
tax on
sugar,
wine, and
coffee
Effect:
Alarmed the
Colonists who
complained it
was “taxation
without
representation”
Taxation without Representation (1765)
What is the Taxation without
Representation (1765)?
How did the colonists react? What
actions did they take?
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
(Who said this quote? What does it
mean?)
Taxation without Representation (1765)
Cause: being taxed by people you did not elect
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
Patrick Henry
Effect: Colonists
complained it was unfair.
Stamp Act (1765)
Cause: a tax on all printed materials (newspapers, cards,
marriage licenses, diplomas, land deeds).
Effect: Colonists organized protests, boycotts and the
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty (1765)
Cause: A patriot group that took action against the
British policies.
Effect:
organized
protests, stole
stamps, beat
up stamp
masters, said
only
Americans
can tax
Americans.
Quartering Acts (1765)
Cause: Provide British troops with housing, “candles,
bedding, cooking utensils, beer, cider etc…”
Effect: Colonists refused! Angered Colonists and British
Townshend Acts (1767)
Cause: a tariff (import tax) on glass, paint, lead, tea & paper
Effect: Colonists organized boycotts of these products
The Boston Massacre (1770)
Cause: Protesting British soldiers in Boston
Effect: British soldiers killed 5 colonists, begin talk of
independence
The Tea Act (1773)
Cause: Parliament gave the British East
India Company a monopoly on tea
Effect: The Boston Tea Party, colonists dumped 300
pounds of tea into Boston Harbor
The Intolerable Acts (1774)
Cause: closed the Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.
Forced citizens to house British soldiers.
Effect: Colonists were angry & scared (punishing everyone
for the actions of a few).
First Continental Congress (1774)
Cause: first meeting of Colonial leaders
Effect: said the King could not tax the Colonies, asked King
George for more rights, organized militias (armies)
Lexington &
Concord (April
19th 1775)
Cause: first two
battles of
Revolutionary War
Lexington & Concord (April 19th 1775)
Cause: first two battles of Revolutionary War
Effect: The Colonies break away from Great Britain