1. Causes of the American Revolution

2. Ruled Britain from 1760-1820 Great Britain thought of him as a hero 13 Colonies thought of him as a tyrant KING GEORGE III

3. The war was won by Britain; however, they were deeply in debt. The British government demanded more revenue from the colonies. To cover the cost of their defence during the war. With the defeat of the French, the colonies did not need / want the British military for protection. Seven Years War / French – Indian War 1754-1763

4. What pushed the Americans over the edge? There was no 1 event The root causes had been planted 20 years previously and were finally coming to maturity British Apathy  They had ignored the region as a source of revenue  They had allowed a certain level of political freedom – some colonies selected their own governor, or had the right to refuse British appointments  Uncontrolled immigration by dissatisfied Britains’ had flooded the colonies – land, anger towards government British stubbornness  After 1763, the British don’t feel the need to negotiate for anything.  Refuse to recognise the level of discontent among the American Colonists

5. This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. PROCLAMATION OF 1763

6. This act raised revenue by increasing duties on sugar imported from the West Indies. Many colonists began smuggling in sugar from the West Indies SUGAR ACT 1764

7. Parliament argued that colonial currency had caused a devaluation harmful to British trade. They banned American assemblies from issuing paper bills or bills of credit. CURRENCY ACT 1764

8. Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary QUARTERING ACT 1765

9. This required tax stamps on many items and documents including playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses STAMP ACT 1765

10. In 1765, delegates from nine colonies met in New York City and drew up a statement of rights and grievances thereby bringing colonies together in opposition to Britain. STAMP ACT CONGRESS 1765

11. Colonists tried to fight back by imposing non-importation agreements. The Sons of Liberty often took the law into their own hands enforcing these 'agreements' by methods such as tar and feathering. Daughters of Liberty encouraged people to wear colonial-made clothing and boycott British made clothes SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF LIBERTY 1765

12. These taxes were imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops in Boston. TOWNSHEND ACTS 1767

13. The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston. This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred. BOSTON MASSACRE 1770

14. THE BOSTON MASSACRE

15. To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America. TEA ACT 1773

16. A group of colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbour. BOSTON TEA PARTY 1773

17. These were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and placed restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor. INTOLERABLE ACTS 1774

18. Britain granted the Americans’ interior lands to the French Canadians for the fur trade. For the 13 Colonies, this is the “last straw” QUEBEC ACT 1774

19. In response to the Intolerable Acts, 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia from September- October, 1774. One of the main results of this was the creation of The Association calling for a boycott of British goods. Quebec, NS & PEI were invited but did not attend FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1774

20. In April, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the loss of 70 men. This was the first instance of open warfare. The rebels who fought the British were called Minutemen LEXINGTON AND CONCORD 1775

21. All 13 colonies were represented at this meeting in Philadelphia beginning May. The colonists still hoped that their grievances would be met by King George III. George Washington was named head of the Continental Army. In that same year, rebels launched an attack on Quebec. They thought that if Quebec could be conquered, then all of the North American colonies could be pitted against Britain. The campaign failed; however, the attack made Britain even angrier at the colonies. SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1775

22. This major victory for the Colonists resulted in George III proclaiming the colonies in rebellion. BUNKER HILL 1775

23. It is estimated that only one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion. One-third continued to side with the British. The last third were neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain. OUTBREAK OF WAR

24. A committee of the Continental Congress, headed by Thomas Jefferson, drew up the Declaration of Independence. In this statement, the colonies stated that they were free and independent of British control. The colonists were no longer fighting for their rights as English citizens – they would be fighting for their freedom as citizens of a separate country. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 1776