Events of the American Revolution Time Period

From French and Indian WarTo

The American Revolution

French and Indian War

• 1754-1763• Results of many years of conflict between

France and Great Britain• It led to the American Revolution because Great

Britain was left with a huge war debt• Ended with the Treaty of Paris 1763– France gave Britain Canada and all claims to lands

east of the Mississippi River – Spain gave up Florida (given back the island of Cuba)

Treaty of Paris 1763• Treaty that officially ended the

French and Indian War.• The British gained control over

the area west of the 13 British Colonies to the Mississippi River.

• The French agreed to no longer support any colonies in North America, including all of Canada.

• Since Spain had joined the war on the side of the French, the Spanish were also forced to give up their claim to Florida.

Proclamation of 1763• This closed much of America’s western lands

to keep the peace with Native Americans– Vacated land west of the Appalachian Mtns

• Created the British colonies of East and West Florida (Georgia’s newest neighbors)

• Georgia’s southern boundary was extended to the St. Mary’s River

• Georgia’s western boundary was the Mississippi River

Stamp Act of 1765

• Set a tax on all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards

• After paying a tax, the documents would receive a stamp• Stamps were expensive and could only be paid in silver or

gold• To protest the act colonists boycotted British goods,

which hurt British manufacturers• Ended March 1766 after (9) colonies formed the Stamp

Act Congress and wrote the Declaration of rights and grievances

Liberty Boys

• Group of Georgians came together to oppose the Stamp Act.

• Met at Tondee’s Tavern in Savannah

• The Liberty Boys were part of a larger group known as the “Sons of Liberty”

• They were the spirit of the Revolution

Townshend Acts 1767

• Began taxing glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea• Protests against this act became violent quickly

Intolerable Acts 1774• Also called the Coercive Acts• Four laws passed by Great Britain as punishment for the

Boston Tea Party of 1773– Closed the Boston Harbor– Cancelled Massachusetts’s royal Charter (no self-government)– British officials charged with offenses in the colonies were to

be tried in England– Quartering Act—feeding and housing of British soldiers

• Result of these acts was the formation of the First Continental Congress (Georgia did not send a representative)

American Revolution1775-1783

• Began at Lexington, Massachusetts with “The Shot Heard Around the World”

• Ended with the Treaty of Paris 1783• Very few battles/skirmishes were fought on

Georgia soil

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

• Approved by the Second Continental Congress• The document announced the separation of

the thirteen colonies from Britain• Was signed by representatives of each of the

thirteen colonies– Three signers from Georgia—Button Gwinnett,

Lyman Hall and George Walton

Revolutionary War in Georgia

• Battle of Kettle Creek-1779• Under the command of Elijah Clarke and John Dooly

– Austin Dabney served under Clarke (the only African American to fight in this battle)

– Because of his bravery he was the first African American to be awarded public land; also given his freedom

• Ensured the continued independence of upper Georgia• A small, but important win for the Patriots• Pushed the British out of the back country near

Augusta

Revolutionary War in Georgia• Siege of Savannah-1779• Georgia was restored to the crown, the 1st and

only colony to be restored to royal allegiance• Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman died during

this siege (ground troops)• French fleet (25 ships) arrived off the coast• Count Charles Henri d’Estaing came on

Washington’s request to recapture Savannah– Disembarked 4,000-5,000 men– French troops and other ground troops failed and

retreated

Treaty of Paris 1783

• Ended the Revolutionary War

• Was signed by Great Britain, France, and the United States in September of 1783

• Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America

• Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation.