American Revolutionary War

1. American Revolutionary War

2. The American Revolution1775-1783 • The revolutionary war is also known as the American Revolution • The war was fought between the British and the Colonists • The result of the American Revolution was a new nation called the United States of America

3. EVENTS LEADING TO REVOLUTION

4. Navigation Acts 1756 King George III used an old law to make the colonists pay taxes on goods shipped in English ships. The colonists responded by smuggling goods!

5. French and Indian War(1754-1763) The British won the French and Indian War but had a large debt because of it. They decide to tax the colonies for defending them in the war.

6. Writs of Assistance The king angered the colonists again by enacting the Writs of Assistance, which was another old law. This allowed the use of general search warrants, which let them search anyone, anytime, anywhere. The colonists were very angry and protested.

7. Proclamation of 1763 The Proclamation of 1763 was an act in which the king said NO! to settling west of Appalachian Mountains. The colonists disobeyed his orders.

8. By 1763, the colonists had enjoyed a great amount of freedom. They resented the new orders issued by the king and of being taxed without their consent.

9. Sugar Act of 1764 raised the duty or tax placed on sugar. The colonists organized riots in protest!

10. The Stamp Act of 1765 placed taxes on any articles written on paper. This included newspapers, wills, licenses, deeds, and pamphlets.

11. The Stamp Act of 1765 The colonists responded by creating the Stamp Act Congress and refused to buy stamps or stamped paper. They also burned pictures of the King in effigy!

12. TheQuartering Act 1765 said that colonists must provide for salaries, housing, and supplies for British soldiers. The colonists did not agree and did not obey!

13. Townshend Acts 1767 Another act, the Townshend Acts of 1767, placed taxes on glass, lead, paint and tea and was used to pay salaries of colonial officers – including governors & judges. In response, the colonists boycotted all British goods.

14. VIOLENCE! Violence erupts as British troops are sent to Boston 1768. This leads to the Boston Massacre.

15. TheBoston Massacre • occurred on March 5, 1770 • It happened as tensions between colonists and redcoats peaked • Townspeople pushed to the customs house and the British guard called for help as colonists were crowding

16. The crowd of colonists began to throw stones, wood, etc. at the soldiers, and several soldiers were knocked down. • They fired shots at the crowd, and several colonists were killed. • The riot was used as propaganda by the colonists.

17. The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street

18. TheTea Act of 1773 was passed by Parliament so that the British East India Tea Company could sell tea cheaper than the price of smuggled tea. This ignited the Boston Tea Party.

19. BOSTON TEA PARTY • On December 16, 1773, Sam Adamsled a group of Patriots disguised as Indians on a raid of British ships docked in Boston’s harbor. • They dumped the cargos of tea overboard.

20. The Intolerable Acts of 1774 • punished Boston for the Tea Party. It closed the harbor until it was cleaned up, self-government was denied in Massachusetts, and the Quartering Act was enforced. • The colonists were appalled! • They set up the 1st Continental Congress to decide their plan of action.

21. The First Continental Congress September 5 – October 26, 1774 • in Philadelphia • 55 men met and represented all of the colonies except Georgia • It was a political body to represent American interests

22. Representatives at the 1st Continental Congress • Massachusetts – Sam Adams & John Adams • New York – John Jay • Virginia – Patrick Henry & George Washington

23. “The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more…I am not a Virginian, but an American” – Patrick Henry

24. Decisions of the Congress • The Congress wrote a Statement of Grievances which repealed the 13 acts of Parliament because they violated colonists’ rights • They boycotted ALL British goods and trade and vowed to arm themselves against British if necessary

25. Britain’s Soldiers Britain’s soldiers were trained and wore uniforms with bright red jackets. This earned them the nickname of “redcoats”.

26. TheColonial Militia • Was a citizens armythat consisted of ordinary citizens, farmers, craftspeople, and businessmen • They were prepared to drop everything at a moment’s notice, and were thus nicknamed the Minutemen

27. Colonists Viewpoints • Patriots: • Wanted to fight for independence from the king • Loyalists: • Loyal to the king and the mother country

28. The Sons of Liberty • Were a Patriot group that was led by Sam Adams and John Hancock • They were involved in the Boston Tea Party • They constructed “liberty poles”, where they displayed pictures of the British tax collectors • They even had one tax collector tarred and feathered

30. The Battles of Lexington and Concord occurred in 1775 British troops planned to destroy military supplies in Concord and to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock

31. Messengers • Three men served as messengers to warn the colonists of the upcoming attacks. • They were Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Sam Prescott • They rode through the town and announced, “The British are coming!”

32. In the Battle of Lexington • the British soldiers marched all night from Boston • They were met by minutemen at the Old North Bridge

33. Battle of Lexington • The Americans were told, “Do not fire unless fired upon…but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!” • WHO fired the 1st shot of the American Revolution????? No one knows for sure…but it is believed that the British fired the first shots. • When the fighting was over, 8 minutemen were dead.

34. To Concord… • The British arrived outside of Concord, where they were ambushed by the militia • The Americans had fired the “shot heard around the world” at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. • The British retreated to Boston

35. The Concord Hymn By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,Here once the embattled farmers stood,And fired the shot heard round the world.The foe long since in silence slept;Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;And Time the ruined bridge has sweptDown the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream,We set to-day a votive stone;That memory may their deed redeem,When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Spirit, that made those heroes dareTo die, and leave their children free,Bid Time and Nature gently spareThe shaft we raise to them and thee. Written by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1837 to commemorate the battles at Lexington and Concord

36. 2nd Continental Congress • Met to decide what to do now • Initiated a lasteffort with King George III for peace – they extended an Olive Branch Petition, which he rejected

37. Continental Army • The 2nd Continental Congress established a Continental Army that was commanded by George Washington • This organized the militia into an official army

38. At the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 • The militia waited for the redcoats at the top of Breed’s Hill • Because the militia was low on ammunition, they were told, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” • The redcoats charged up the hill 3 times, before the colonists retreated ------but it proved that the militia could fight

39. Thomas Paine • Was a revolutionary writer & philosopher who wrote “Common Sense” • It said all Americans should support independence • He said it was crazy for an island to rule a continent!

40. Benjamin Franklin was a Pennsylvanian who was sent to France to convince them to help the Americans in the revolution with soldiers, supplies, and ships

41. Patrick Henry • Was a passionate orator from Virginia • Famous for his immortal words of “Give me liberty or give me death!”

43. Abigail Adams – “Remember the Ladies” • Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, felt that the Founding Fathers should “remember the ladies” and extend rights to the women in America

44. TheDeclaration of Independence • was drafted by Ben Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson • The main author was Jefferson, and he actually wrote the 1st copy.

45. Declaring Independence 1776 • Declaring independence in 1776 was not easy for the colonists. They discussed it for 1 month • On July 2, 1776, 12 states decided to declare independence from Britain • Only New York did not vote

46. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 • 13 states unanimously approved, and the United States of America was born! • This was treason in the eyes of the king!

48. D of I – Section I • The introduction to the Declaration of Independence explains why colonists want to separate from Britain • It is called the Preamble

49. D of I – Section II • The 2nd section of the D of I “We hold these truths… happiness” says that • governments are formed to protect the rights of the people & • that if the government ignores the rights of the people, then a new government can be created

50. D of I – Section II • Established the concept that “all men are created equal” and are given “certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”