The American The American RevolutionRevolution

A Change in 1763A Change in 1763• The conclusion of

the Seven Year’s War (The French and Indian War)

• War costs money

• England needs to pay its debts

Royal Proclamation Royal Proclamation of 1763of 1763

Hope to avoid furtherconflict between colonists and native Americans

Restricts western settlement to the Appalachian Mountains

The Stamp Act (1765)The Stamp Act (1765)

• Britain tries to raise money

• Tax on printed materials, playing cards, official documents

• British enforcement was un-democraticoNo Jury Trials

Who is affected by the Who is affected by the Stamp Act?Stamp Act?

• Attorneys

• Colonial legislatures feel undermined

• Government officials

• Sailors and gamblers

Reactions to the new Reactions to the new TaxesTaxes

• Colonial Assemblies pass resolutions against the taxes

• Sons of Liberty

• Boycotts

• Militia and police join demonstrations

Philosophical Philosophical Reactions Reactions

• Natural Rightso Taxation without

Representation

oRight to a jury trial

• Colonial Rights – are the colonists “Englishmen?”

Outcomes from the Outcomes from the Stamp ActStamp Act

• Stamp Act Repealed

• England passes “Declaratory Act”o The right to tax

• Philosophy linked to self interest

• Legitimizes boycotts and mass-demonstrations

Townshend ActsTownshend Acts

• Tax on glass, paper, and tea

• Boycotts in Boston

The Boston MassacreThe Boston MassacreMarch 5, 1770March 5, 1770

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea PartyDecember 16, 1773 December 16, 1773

The “Intolerable Acts” The “Intolerable Acts” of 1774-75of 1774-75

1. Massachusetts Government Act

2. Administration of Justice Acto All British soldiers to be tried in Britain, not in the

colonies

3. Boston Port Acto Britain demands payment for goods lost in the

Boston Tea Party

4. Quartering Acts

Quartering ActQuartering Act

Committees of Committees of Correspondence Correspondence

(1772)(1772)

• Include all 13 colonies

• Spread information about problems facing the other colonies

• Colonial Propaganda

• A nationalizing experience

First Continental First Continental CongressCongress

September 15, 1774 September 15, 1774

First Continental First Continental CongressCongress

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Agree to boycott British goodsoBritish imports dropped by 97% in

1775

• Agree to meet in the Second Continental Congress, to be convened on May 10, 1775

A Revolutionary WarA Revolutionary War

Battle of Lexington Battle of Lexington and Concordand Concord

oApril 19, 1775o “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”

Battle of Bunker HillBattle of Bunker HillJune 17, 1775

Second Continental Second Continental Congress, 1775Congress, 1775

• Congress creates a Continental Army

• The Olive Branch Petition

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

• Thomas Jefferson

• July 4, 1776

The Main Arguments:The Main Arguments:• Preamble

• Identifies injuries caused by King George III

• Denounces the British, argues that revolution is justified

• Conclusion that the colonies must create a new government

The Philosophy behind The Philosophy behind the Declarationthe Declaration

• “We hold these truths to be self

evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator

with certain inalienable Rights, that

among these are Life, Liberty and the

pursuit of Happiness.

John LockeJohn Locke• The Second Treatise

of Government

• Life, Liberty, and Property

• Laws of Nature