1. Beginnings of The American Revolution (1:3) ● The French and Indian War (1754 – 1759) ● Britain v France and Indian allies ● Britain (England) wins, and gains control of much of North America ● Very costly – One way to pay was to tax Americans

2. 1:3 Countdown to War ● Britain creates a series of acts that infuriate American colonists ● Proclamation Act of 1763 – Bans English settlement west of imaginary line

3. 1:3 ● Sugar Act (1764) ● Taxed sugar-related goods coming in, and going out, of the Colonies ● Hurt the economy by limiting trade

4. 1:3 ● Stamp Act (1765) ● Taxed printed materials ● “Sons of Liberty” formed – Organize protests – Intimidate stamp distributers ● Stamp Act Congress formed – “no taxation without representation”

5. 1:3 ● Townshend Acts (1767) ● Customs duties (taxes) on goods coming into Boston by sea ● Boston Massacre (1770) ● Anger over acts erupts into violence

6. 1:3 ● Boston Tea Party (1773) ● Colonists dump British tea in Boston Harbor

7. 1:3 ● Coercive Acts (“Intolerable Acts”) (1774) ● Closed Boston Harbor ● British took control of local government ● British soldiers could be placed anywhere in colonies ● First Continental Congress formed (1774) ● Decided to boycott British goods

8. 1:3 The Revolutionary War (1776-1783) ● Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 – Written by Thomas Jefferson – Explained to the world why we wanted independence ● British were winning for first few years ● British want to end War after Yorktown (1781) ● Treaty of Paris (1783) officially ends the War