The Road To The American Revolution, 1750s - 1776

French and Indian War 1754-1763 • France & Native Americans vs. British and Colonists • British & Colonists victorious • Expensive to Fight

• Britain wanted colonists to help pay expenses generated from war

• How would colonists make this payment? • How would they feel about this?

Proclamation of 1763 Line down the Appalachians Colonists stay to east Native Americans stay to the West Consider: Why Colonists: “why you always trying would the to tell me what to colonists want to do”??? expand westward?

New Taxes

We got to get our We want our M & $$$$ from French Ms!!! and Indian War You can’t tax Sugar Act what you can’t

Molasses catch!!!

Don’t drink the water!!!

Quartering Act…1765 British: “if you ain’t gonna pay your taxes your gonna have to feed and shelter our soldiers. Yo!” House and provide supplies for British soldiers Colonists must pay for these things Stamp Act 1767

 The Stamp Act was to tax the colonists directly that meant to tax every legal document carry a stamp showing that a tax had been paid . The colonists acted with rage. To show their rage the colonists boycotted British goods. Other people started the Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty. This group protested and some of their protests grew violent. But Parliament was not going to give in to them.

Tar and Feathering a Tax Collector

Townshend Act ( 1767-1770 )  The Townshend Acts were a British trick to cut the some taxes and replace it with another

• The Townshend Acts called for new import taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea . In March, 1770, the Townshend Acts were repealed except for the tax on tea.

• Taxes were used to pay the salaries of the British colonial officials.

• The Townshend Acts were very unpopular with the colonists, who criticized the Acts and demonstrated in protest in October. Indirectly raised prices. Led to boycott of British made goods.

Boston Massacre

• Redcoats v. colonist workers • March 5, 1770 – Soldiers fire on dockworkers and youth who were protesting – Five colonists were killed • Crispus Attucks • John Adams (lawyer) – Pleads self-defense – Jury agrees • British tyranny

Boston Tea Party 1773

• Protesting the Tea Act – Tea Act: Gave British owned company exclusive rights to sell tea in colonies • The Protests – Men disguised as Native Americans destroyed 342 chests of tea – 90,000 lbs of tea – 1lb = 220 bags of tea – 90,000 X 220 = 19,800,000 cups of tea!!!!

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts 1774 • Punishment for B.T.P . • Close Boston port until destroyed tea was paid for • British took over government of Mass. • First Continental Congress formed as a result of harsh punishment

Lexington & Concord

• British appeared to be getting ready for some military action…lots of soldiers in and around Boston

• Most of the patriot leaders fled the city fearing arrest • They began to stockpile arms in a village called Lexington • British soldiers ordered to seize weapons & ammunition from colonists

• Paul Revere had stayed behind in Boston

•Revere would warn others by placing a lantern in the belfry of the Old North Church •One lantern if the British were coming by land

•Two lanterns if they were coming by sea • April 19 – the “Minutemen” began to assemble on the Lexington lawn – When the British arrive at dawn, there were around 77 men – British commander tells the men to throw down their arms • A shot is fired…no one knows by whom – Patriots retreat into the woods, British continue to Concord

The Battle of Concord • British continued on to Concord

• Arsenal in Concord Basically Empty

• Brief skirmish with minutemen at North Bridge

• British began march back to Boston to avoid further conflict, despite no reinforcements • Lexington & Concord are considered to be the first “battles” of the American Revolution The War is On! • After Lexington & Concord (April 1775) the Second Continental Congress begins meeting (May 1775)

• The British and American forces continue to have several battles over the next few months.

• On July 4 th , 1776 this Congress signs the Declaration of Independence officially declaring the break up!!!