Ch 5 – Toward Independence Essential Question: Why did American colonists believe they were being treated unfairly by the British King? Learning Goal: To evaluate the events that led to the American Revolution.

SECTION TITLE: COLONIAL LIFE 1620-1763

Colonial Life before 1763 Population in the colonies exploded from 50,000 to over 1 million by 1750 People came for cheap land, religious freedom, and economic opportunities Each colony set up its own Assembly that passed laws and imposed taxes Most importantly, colonists were left alone to self-govern

French and Indian War France with Native American allies and Britain fought over the Ohio River Valley land in America for 7 years War ended with the Treaty of Paris, 1763 which gave Britain all the French territory east of the Mississippi River

Proclamation of 1763 Colonists wanted to move and settle in newly won territory (Ohio River Valley) King George III feared fighting would break out between the colonists and Native Americans The King banned British settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains and ordered settlers to leave the Ohio River Valley area

Debrief Discuss: Why did the Proclamation of 1763 anger the American colonists?

Skip 5 lines for next section SECTION TITLE: 2. TENSION RISES

A: The Quartering Act Required colonists to shelter, feed, and provide transportation of British soldiers Caused colonists to become suspicious and angry

B: The Sugar Act First tax passed by Parliament to raise money for Britain from the colonists Taxed molasses and sugar British navy searched all ships for smuggled goods

Debrief Discuss: What is the significance of the Sugar Act? Why did the Quartering and Sugar Acts anger the American colonists?

C: The Stamp Act A tax on all paper goods: newspapers, legal documents, marriage licenses, and playing cards Colonists were angry that they were being taxed without their consent (taxation without representation) Sons of Liberty was formed to protest the tax

D: Townshend Acts Taxed glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea before it reached colonial ports (tax included in price) Colonial women formed the Daughters of Liberty in protest Colonial governor disbanded the Massachusetts legislature and called in more British troops to Boston

Debrief Discuss: How are the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts the same? Why would these acts anger the American colonists?

E: The Boston Massacre: March 1770 A soldier hit a colonist during an argument. A crowd gathered and started throwing snowballs at the soldier. More soldiers arrived and tension got higher. Colonists were taunting and soldiers fired into the crowd killing five colonists

F: The Boston Tea Party: December 1773 The Tea Act forced the colonists to buy tea from the British East Indies Company only. Colonists saw this as an other example of England controlling them The Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans and dumped 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in protest

G: The Intolerable (Coercive) Acts: 1774 Closed Boston Harbor until ruined tea was paid for Massachusetts’ charter was cancelled Royal officials accused of crimes were sent back to England for trial General Thomas Gage became the new governor of Mass. (military rule) Other colonies feared losing their liberties

Debrief Discuss: Explain the cause and effect of the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party.

Skip 5 lines for next section SECTION TITLE: 3. COLONIAL REACTION

First Continental Congress: September 1774 Representatives from every colony, except Georgia, met in Philadelphia to work together to protect their rights and to write a formal complaint, the Declaration of Rights, to the King George III. They stopped trade with(boycotted) England They alerted the colonies to prepare for war

Lexington and Concord: April 1775 700 British soldiers were ordered to Lexington to destroy a storehouse of guns and ammunition collected by the colonists Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode into the countryside alerting colonists that “The British were coming!” 70 Minutemen –volunteer civilian militia- waited for the British to reach Lexington Shots were fired and the British marched onto Concord to destroy the storehouse Marching back to Boston, minutemen attacked the Redcoats (British soldiers) killing/wounding 250 soldiers