UNIT 2: CREATING THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC

I. Events leading to the American

Revolution (1763-1775)

A. Results of the French and Indian War

• Britain was in debt

• Proclamation of 1763 was issued (reduced protection costs)

• Colonists ignore it and settle west of the Appalachian Mountains

B. British Actions

• 1764 Sugar Act

• 1765 Quartering Act

• 1765 Stamp Act: 1st direct tax on the colonists

C. Colonists are upset

• Claim “No taxation without representation”

• Violent protests - Sons of Liberty formed, Daughters of Liberty made homespun clothe and supported the boycotts

• Stamp Act Congress organized a boycott of British goods

D. Parliament repeals the Stamp Act

•1766 Declaratory Act is enacted: Britain had the right to tax the colonists

E. 1767 Townshend Acts

•Indirect tax on glass, paint, tea, etc.

•Colonists revive their protests and boycotts

•British send troops to Boston

F. 1770 Boston Massacre

• British soldiers kill 5 colonists

• Patriot Samuel Adams organizes the Committees of Correspondence to promote unity and cooperation among the colonies against the British

G. British withdrew troops and dropped most of the Townshend Taxes EXCEPT the one on Tea

H. 1773 Tea Act

• British East India Company could sell tea cheaper than the smugglers

• Colonists responded with the Boston Tea Party

I. Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

•Boston Harbor was closed until the tea was paid for

•Renewal of the Quartering Act (in Boston specifically)

•Crimes by British officials committed in the colonies were tried in Britain

Colonial Response to Intolerable Acts

•1774 First Continental Congress–Colonies met to renew the boycott of British goods

–Colonists saw the Coercive Acts as a threat to their liberty and it united them in protest against the Acts

J. Battles of Lexington and Concord

•General Gage and British troops searched for John Hancock, Samuel Adams and weapons

•Patriot militia (minutemen) kill/ wound more than 200 British soldiers and follow them back to Boston

•First shots of the War

Second Continental Congress• Colonies meet and name George

Washington commander of the Continental Army

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Indirect tax Direct tax

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Sons of Liberty

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Daughters of Liberty

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Committees of Correspondence

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