On the Road to the Revolution Stirring of Rebellion

Impacts of the French and Indian War

Proclamation of 1763 • Prohibited settlers west of Appalachians • Halted expansion • Settlers thought GB didn’t care about their needs • Lack of Opportunity

War DEBTS • From French and Indian War (double national debts)

Maintaining troops in America - 40,000 pounds a year • Appointed Prime Minister George Grenville

English Presence in North America

• Stationed 10,000 troops • Pontiac’s War • “protection of colonists” • Loss of liberty?

George Grenville • During F&I war cracked down on colonial smuggling • Search without warrants (time of war!) – Writs of Assistance • Sugar Act (1764) – Direct Tax • Reduced tax on foreign-made molasses by 50%

Placed taxes on new things (never taxed before) Strengthened enforcement

The Stamp Act • Direct Tax • Stamped paper for every legal document • If found in violation of the Stamp Act you were put on trial in Vice-

Admiralty Courts

Stamp Act Protests • Loss of respect for the British Crown (here and there) • Sons of Liberty (Sam Adams): secret resistance group; centered

in Boston o Demonstrations & Protests o Delayed the sale of stamps

• Harassment: Customs workers, stamp agents, royal governors • We’ll pay taxes, only if we pass them!

Stamp Act Congress • Organized resistance – Acting as one! • Inter-colonial [9 colonies]Met in NYC • Declaration of Rights and Grievances: Petitioned to reject

Stamp Act - Ignored by the British • In lieu - boycott • Successful: trade drops 14% • 1766: Parliament repealed Stamp Act • Passed the Declaratory Act: Parliament has the right to make

laws for the colonies

Townshend Acts • Charles Townshend: New minister of treasury • Not strong enough • Passed revenue laws: “Townshend Acts” [1767] • Indirect tax: imports - Glass, lead, paint, paper, and TEA • Organized more resistance - boycotts • Women: Homespun threads, more tea recipes

Boston Loves a Good Riot

More Rowdiness in Boston • June 1768: British Agents seize Liberty, John Hancock’s ship • Seizure triggered: More riots • As a result: more British troops are stationed in Boston • Quartering Act [first proposed in 1765]

o provide housing, candles, bedding, and beverages to soldiers

• Competition for jobs with colonists

The Boston Massacre • March 5, 1770 • Boys began to taunt British Sentinel outside of the Boston

Custom House • Soldier hit one of the tormentors with musket • Mob gathered • Soldier called for help • Officer in charge: Thomas Preston • Cornered soldiers • Shot fired: 5 killed, 6 wounded

Propaganda and Exaggerations

• Samuel Adams & other rabble-rousers labeled this as the Boston Massacre

• Paul Revere’s engraving - “shows” the brutality

• Effect of the propaganda of the Boston Massacre: Enraged Massachusetts colonists

• Thomas Preston: was tried (defended by John Adams & other Patriots) was found innocent

Boston Tea Party • Dutch East India Company : monopoly • Tea Act [1773] - Cut merchants out of the trade • Tea sold directly from Dutch East Indian Co. to the colonists • Cheaper TEA!! • Colonists STILL protested! • Dec. 16, 1773 –

o Boston rebels dressed as Mohicans o Boarded 3 British ships on the harbor o Dumped the tea off the ships: 15,000 pounds

Intolerable Acts • King George III: Angry, Passes Intolerable Acts (1774) • Shuts down Boston harbor • Enforces stricter Quartering Act • Appoints Thomas Gage - new governor of MA - places

Boston under martial law • Example of Boston - Does opposite - unites colonies

First continental congress • Delegates: 56 met in Philadelphia • Drew up: Declaration of Colonial Rights • Support protests in Boston • If British use force, colonists should fight back • Agreed to reconvene

Colonists Prep for War • Stockpile firearms/

gunpowder • Thomas Gage:

uncovers plot - orders British army to seize weapons. . .

• Lexington and Concord

Thomas Gage

“The Shot Heard Round the World” Battle of Lexington Battle of Concord

• Dawn April 19, 1775 • British met by 70 Minutemen • British ordered them to leave

o Shot fired [controversy as to who]

o several minutemen killed; 1 British soldier injured

o 15 minute battle • http://www.youtube.com/watch

?v=Y6ikO6LMxF4

British marched to empty arsenal

On return: met by 3,000-4,000 Minutemen Many British killed Forced back to Boston…

embarrassed

After the Battles • May 1775: delegates reconvene -

Second Continental Congress • Loyalties/interests divide

As 2nd CC meets • Minutemen still camped outside

Boston • Congress takes action:

oCreate Continental Army oAgrees to print money - pay army o Formed committee for foreign relations oGW appointed commander

• Acting as an independent government

Battle of Bunker Hill • T.Gage: decided to attack militia near

Bunker Hill [actually Breed’s Hill] • June 17, 1775: Sent 2,400 Red coats

o 3 waves of advances, only 3rd successful • End of the Battle:

oColonist: 450 men dead o British: 1000+ dead

• Factors: heat, uniforms, elevation • Deadliest Battle of the War

ATTEMPT FOR PEACE? [July 1775] Colonists prep for

war - @ same time hope for peace Olive Branch Petition - July

8, 1775 Urge to return to “harmony” King George III rejected petition Called for blockade American

coast

SHIFTING ALLIANCES Common Sense Essay attacking monarchy [Thomas Paine] Time to claim independence!!! [destiny] If independent – free trade Chance to create better society

500,000 copies sold --> changes minds - gains support for radical view

June 1776 – NC declares independance

DECLARING INDEPENDENCE Thomas Jefferson - Ideas from

John Locke: Natural rights: life, liberty, and property

Unalienable social contract – protect liberty (Natural

Rights) People have right & duty to resist/overthrow

if…? July 2, 1776: delegates agree they are

free July 4, 1776: adopted the Declaration

of Independence, @ Independence Hall