The Road to Revolution 1763-1774

• After the French and Indian War, the divide between the Colonists and the British crown began to grow.– Post war mistrust

and confusion

– Proclamation Line of 1763 = a betrayal

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

• 1764 – Sugar Act

• 1765 – Stamp Act

– Sons of Liberty

– Violent resistance and Protest

– Boycotts

• The Stamp Act Congress

– Colonists from 8 colonies meet to draft a protest letter to the King.

– The Acts are eventually repealed

• The Declaratory Act– gives the King and British

Government absolute authority over the colonies in “all matters whatsoever”

• The era of “Salutary Neglect” ends

Townsend Acts

• The Townsend Acts 1767 – duties and taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea.

– Led to Colonial boycott of English goods and more smuggling

– Samuel Adams condemned the Acts and urged all colonies to resist the British crown.

– Daughters of Liberty created to lead protests

– England responded by increasing the presence of troops in cities across the Colonies

Anger Boils over in Boston: The Boston Massacre March 5, 1770

Committees of Correspondence

The aftermath of the Boston Massacre spurned the creation of the “Committees of Correspondence” across Massachusetts. and then into the other Colonies

These “committees” functioned to communicate issues and disseminate ideas to the other colonies

It was a way for Colonial Leaders to communicate, plan, and get to know each other

The Tea Act Boston Tea Party

• The Tea Act of 1773 – gave one company the right to import tea in America which led to higher prices

– The Boston Tea Party

• Colonial Resistance

• Colonial Rebellion

The last straw…The Intolerable Acts

• The Intolerable Acts of 1774 were the British response to the Boston tea party– Boston Port Act – closed the Port– Revoked Mass’s right to self-

government and local elections– Tried colonial “criminals” in England– Quartering Act allowed Britain to seize

buildings and property, as well as forcibly quarter soldiers in the colonies

– Created a permanent government for Canada to separate the 13 colonies from the former French claims

– Dissolved the Virginia House of Burgesses

The Road to Revolution Video and Video Quiz

Enough is Enough: Uniting for Action• 1st Continental Congress met in

September 1774 in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia

• Representation from every colony but Georgia

• Divided between “Loyalists” who wanted the protection of the Crown and the “Colonists” who wanted the right to self-government in America

• Attendees included John Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams

1st Continental Congress Actions

• Adopted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances castigating England for abuses “dangerous and destructive to American rights.”

• Formed the Continental Association– Boycott English goods

– No exporting of American goods to England

– Refused to participate in English Slave trade

• King George responded by saying that the colonists would have to either submit to England or triumph over England and become free of the crown

Goodbye King

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBBTF0Wg7dY