Road to Independence
And the shot heard ’round the world.
Pushing the colonists around
• The Proclamation of 1763 prohibits colonists from
moving west of the Appalachian Mountains.
• The British kept 10,000 troops in the colonies after
the French & Indian War to protect their interests.
• The colonists were alarmed. They feared that the
British will interfere with their liberties.
• The French and Indian War left Britain with a huge
debt. Because they were defending the colonists,
they believed the colonists should pay the debt.
Taxation without Representation
• British prime minister, George Greenville, decided to put an
end to smuggling. No juries for smugglers.
• Writs of Assistance allowed customs officers to search any
location for smuggled goods.
• Greenville lowers tax in Sugar Act to stop smuggling.
• The Stamp Act passed in 1765 requires a tax on all printed
materials. Affects almost every colonist.
• Patrick Henry convinces the House of Burgesses to take
action- saying only citizens have the right to tax.
• Samuel Adams starts the Sons of Liberty to protest taxes by
boycotts. Burn effigies of tax collectors and tar & feather.
And more Taxation without Representation
• The Stamp Act Congress sends a petition to the king- should only be
taxed by own assemblies. They agree to boycott British goods.
• 1766 Stamp Act repealed. Same day England passes Declaratory Act
saying they have the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies
in all cases.
• 1767 Townshend Acts tax every day items like glass, paper, tea &
lead. Colonists had to buy these imports.
• Outraged by ANY tax. Only their own representatives can tax them.
• Daughters of Liberty encourage women to make their own products
instead of buying British-made items.
• “No taxation without representation” becomes a rallying cry for
colonists.
Anger boils over
• British officials nervous- brink of rebellion. England
sends two regiments to Boston.
• Colonists say they’ve gone too far.
1.
2.
Passed laws that violated their rights
An army was occupying their city
• On March 5, 1770, colonists start throwing snowballs,
stones, oyster shells at redcoats. They call them names.
• One soldier is knocked down and another fires. Things
were frantic. Five colonists were killed.
• Americans called it the Boston Massacre. Say it was a
“slaughter of innocent Americans by bloodthirsty
redcoats.” Used as propaganda to rally the colonists.
England reacts
• Parliament
repeals
Townshend
Acts
except
on
tea.
1)Closed
Bostonwon
Harbor
Tea was paid
Colonists
feel they’ve
and until
end boycotts.
for of Correspondence bring together protests
• Committees
opposed to British measures.
2)British
officers
accused
of
crimes
were
tried
• Britain allows the British East India Company to bypass
taxes and
sell tea at
a lower
in England
instead
of price.
the colonies
• In 1773
the
Sons
of
Liberty
throw
342
chests
of
tea
into
3)Banned
town
meetings
Boston Harbor- the Boston Tea Party.
shelter
soldiers
in their or
• King 4)Forced
George IIIcolonists
says “we to
must
master
the colonists
totally leave
them
alone.”
homes
• England passes the Coercive Acts (called Intolerable
Acts) to punish the colonists of Massachusetts.
The First Continental Congress
• Meets in 1774 in Philadelphia- challenge the British.
• Delegates are Sam Adams, Johns Adams, Richard Henry
Lee, Patrick Henry, & George Washington.
• They drafted a statement of grievances and asked for a
repeal of the 13 acts passed since 1763.
• They called for people to arm themselves and form
militias. The Minutemen were ready.
• British general Thomas Gage had several thousand men
around Boston and orders to take weapons and arrest
leaders. He learned weapons were being stored in
Concord.
The fighting begins
• Paul Revere & William Dawes ride to Lexington to warn
Sam Adams & John Hancock “the regulars are out.”
• The first fight was at Lexington. Eight minutemen were
killed. The British moved to Concord. Stores were
moved. Met Minutemen at the Old North Bridge in
April 1775.
• By the time the British returned to Boston, 174 were
wounded and 73 were dead.
• The shot heard ’round the world had been fired. And
the War for Independence had begun.
And the fighting continues
• Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen (with the Green Mountain
Loyalist:
American
colonist
who was
Boys) work
together
to take over
Fort Ticonderoga.
• Committees
of Correspondence
for volunteers.
loyal
to the Britishcallgovernment.
• June 1775- William Prescott is the Commander at Bunker
Hill & Breed’s Hill. The British want to drive them from the
Patriot:
American
colonist
who
strategic location.
believed
the
colonies
had
the
right
• The colonists are low on ammunition. Prescott orders
“Don’tto
firegovern
until youthemselves.
see the whites of their eyes.”
• The colonists had to withdraw. British suffered heavy losses
in the victory.
• Colonists now had to make a decision- loyalist or patriot.
The Second Continental Congress
• May 10, 1775, Second Continental Congress meets.
John Hancock – president. Jefferson, Franklin, Lee,
Henry, & Adams are delegates.
• They begin to govern the colonies.
1. Establish a post office, Ben Franklin postmaster
2. Create a committee to correspond with foreign nations
3. Establish the Continental Army with George
Washington as commander
• Send Olive Branch petition to King George asking for
reconsideration- one last chance at peace. He
refused to look at it.
It's just common sense
• Colonists learn that British troops in Canada plan to
attack. The decide to attack first. They capture
Montreal but not Quebec.
• Washington goes to Boston and finds the troops
undisciplined and untrained.
• By March 1776 he deems them ready to fight. They
attack Boston and drive out the British.
• Some colonists are still sitting on the fence.
• Thomas Paine writes Common Sense in 1776. He calls
for complete independence and says it is simply
common sense to break from the “royal brute.” He
inspires thousands of Americans to become Patriots.
To be or not to be… Independent
•Resolved:
Should the
colonists
declareare,
independence?
Mainto
That
these colonies
and of right ought
topic
conversation.
Henry
Leeare
of absolved
Virginia
be,
freeof
and
independentRichard
states, that
they
proposes
independence.
of all allegiance
to the British Crown, and that all
• Thomas
is between
chosen tothem
writeand
a draft.
He pulls
political Jefferson
connection
the state
of
Great
is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That
fromBritain
John Locke.
it is expedient
forthwith
to take
mostrights
effectual
• Locke
says people
are born
withthe
natural
like
measures
for&forming
foreign
Alliances.
a plan of
life, liberty
property.
He says
peopleThat
formed
confederationtobeprotect
prepared
andrights.
transmitted
the
governments
these
Peopletohave
respective
colonies
for
their
consideration
and
the right to overthrow the government if it fails.
approbation.
The Declaration of Independence
• The Declaration of Independence is approved on
***July 4, 1776.***
• There are four major sections to the Declaration:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain why they are breaking away
Discuss rights they should have
Detail their complaints against Britain
Proclaim existence of a new nation
• The Declaration lists grievances against Britain:
1. Cutting off trade with other nations
2. Imposing taxes without the colonists’ consent
• The struggle for independence, the American
Revolution, had begun.