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Road to Revolution. Section 4.1. Main Idea. A series of increasingly restrictive laws angered many American colonists, leading to rebellion against Britain. The King Needs $. After the French and Indian War, the British need money.
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Road to Revolution Section 4.1
Main Idea • A series of increasingly restrictive laws angered many American colonists, leading to rebellion against Britain.
The King Needs $ • After the French and Indian War, the British need money. • Parliament authorizes a series of taxes that are applied to the colonists. • After a century of salutary neglect the 13 colonies feel overwhelmed by these new laws.
New Laws • Sugar Act: tax on sugar damaged the colonial rum industry. • Stamp Act: a tax must be paid on all documents (newspapers, sermons, contracts). The document must show the stamp indicating the tax was paid.
New Laws • Quartering Act: gave British soldiers the right to take the homes of colonists. • Townshend Acts: taxes on paint, lead, tea, etc.
Colonial Reaction • The colonists reacted both nonviolently and violently. • A boycott was organized against goods that came from England. • This hurt English merchants, who put pressure on leaders to repeal the laws. • The Stamp Act was repealed, but new taxes followed. • Most of the early protests came from New England • Many colonists organized for the resistance against the UK. • The Sons of Liberty were created by Samuel Adams; they would attack tax collectors, and began hiding weapons for a potential conflict.
Boston Massacre? • In 1770 a mob of colonists approached a few British soldiers in Boston. • The mob began throwing snowballs and rocks at the soldiers, who opened fire. • 5 colonists died! (Were the soldiers justified?) • Word of the incident travelled through all 13 colonies (and became greatly exaggerated) thanks to a communication system set up called the Committees of Correspondence.
Boston Tea Party • 1773: To protest the Tea tax, a group of colonists boarded a British ship in Boston. • They threw thousands of dollars worth of tea into the sea. • This bold act of rebellion was meant get the UK to repeal the tax, instead the British were furious and sent additional troops to the 13 colonies.
More New Laws! • In addition to more troops, the British created more taxes and laws. • Intolerable Acts: closed Boston harbor, accused trials in UK • Quebec Act: Land prohibited to the 13 colonies (Proclamation of 1763) was now given to the people of Quebec.
Colonists Unite • In 1774 representatives of the 13 colonies finally gather together in Philadelphia. • The First Continental Congress issued a Declaration of Rights, which politely informed the British that the colonies were entitled to their “natural rights”. • The delegates at the 1st CC were mixed in their opinions, very few spoke of independence. • Attendees: George Washington, Patrick Henry, John and Samuel Adams, John Jay
Shot Heard ‘Round the World • Despite the CC attempts to settle the disputes peacefully, the militia of Massachusetts were preparing for a possible war. • These militia were nicknames minutemen, because the they could be ready to fight quickly in case of a UK attack. • The UK commander heard of their activities, and in 1775 he marched 700 UK troops toward the site of militia activities, Concord.
The Regulars are Coming! • The minutemen were prepared and riders galloped through the night to alert the colonists. • Paul Revere was captured, but any others spread the news. • By morning, the British troops were halfway to Concord, at a place called Lexington.
Shot Heard ‘Round the World • In Lexington the British were met by 70 armed colonists. • The UK General ordered them to put down their guns, and leave the road. • The Minutemen refused, and fighting ensued. • The British regulars easily won, but Lexington marks the first battle of the American Revolution. • The British continued toward Concord, when they arrived hundreds of militia laid waiting.
Concord • The Patriots thrashed the “Redcoats”, and the UK Army scattered and retreated. • The road back to Boston was 20 miles long, and the Americans used guerilla tactics and snipers to harass the British. • The American Revolution began at Lexington, but victory was not assured. Many colonists were still loyal to Britain.
