1. Road to Revolution What causes the colonists to revolt against British rule?

2. Mercantilism (1650s) Idea a nation could increase its wealth by1) getting lots of gold & silver 2) sell more goods than you buy 3) control all trade British Parliament passes Navigation Acts 1) British ships must be used in all colonial trade 2) Ships had to have a majority British crew 3) Colonial products had to be shipped to England first

3. 1754-1763: French and Indian War France & Native Americans v. Britain & Am. Colonists, ambush techniques by Indians causing British to lose British Gen. William Pitt allies with Iroquois & defeats French 1763: Britain gain all of Canada Proc of 1763 issued: no settlements west of Appalachians, colonists upset!

4. 1. Sugar Act, 1764 British need money to pay for Fr & In war Most foreign molasses is smuggled, Parliament cuts tax on British molasses Hoping colonists will pay the tax instead of smuggling it since smugglers lose right to trial by jury, plan fails Tax on documents & printed items (wills, newspapers, etc.) Early Problems for Colonists (1764-1770) 2. Stamp Act, 1765 First direct tax on everyday needs

5. Samuel Adams starts Sons of Liberty, a resistance group in Boston to protest the new acts 3. Townshend Acts, 1767 British repeal stamp act but pass new act taxing many items never taxed before (glass, ink, paint, paper, tea) Sons of Lib. slogan “No taxation w/out representation!”, start a boycott of British goods

6. Boston Massacre - 1770 Increased presence of soldiers due to protests Soldiers open fire on protestors, kill 5 colonists Paul Revere’s depiction further angers colonists http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/boston- massacre#boston-massacre

7. Every story has two sides. Read two eyewitness accounts of what happened in Boston in 1770. Which side seemed more believable to you and why? Explain if the eyewitness accounts match the video clip. Look at the engraving by Paul Revere on the back. What side of the story does this show? Could the engraving be propaganda against the British? Why?

8. Boston Tea Party, 1773 British East India Co. losing money on tea. Parliament passes Tea Act, Colonists could only buy British Tea BEIC pays no export tax, but Townshend Act still in affect on tea Colonists dressed as Indians dump British tea into Boston Harbor (including King George’s personal tea)

9. Intolerable Acts, 1774 1.Boston Harbor is shut down 2.Quartering Act: forced colonists to house British soldiers 3.Reduced right of self-government, Mass Assembly suspended + 4. Boston Massacre trial moved to London Somethin g must be done!

10. First Continental Congress, 1774 56 delegates meet in Philadelphia, agree colonist have rights If British use force, colonists should fight back Create a militia called the Minutemen

11. Lexington & Concord British increase number of troops Paul Revere’s famous ride “redcoats are coming” Lexington, MA: British troops kill 8 Minutemen Concord, MA: Minutemen attack British, kill few dozen soldiers

12. Second Continental Congress: May, 1775 Colonists debate two main issues: 1. Should we declare independence from Britain? 2. Should we work things out with King George? 2 nd Con. Congress tries #2, sends “Olive Branch Petition”. Let’s give the King another Chance I don’t think so rebel scum! King George rejects the peace offer! Bunker Hill: Deadly battle between Minutemen & Red Coats

13. Declaration of Independence: 1776 Thomas Jefferson – primary author, writes two versions Influenced by Locke’s natural rights, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights & Common Sense Jefferson writes: People have right to life, liberty & pursuit of happiness & “All Men are Created Equal”. Ratified July 2, 1776 and adopted July 4, 1776