American Revolution Chapter 6, lesson 1

The Road to Revolution

Dividing the land

Proclamation line Proclamation line

The Road to Revolution Remember that King George didn’t want colonists to cross the Proclamation Line because every time they did, they got into a fight with the Indians. Well, they crossed it anyways and it was costing Britain more money to send soldiers over to help break up these fights.

The Road to Revolution The British government decided to raise taxes in the colonies to help pay for these debts. They were still heavily in debt from the French and Indian war, too.

The Road to Revolution The British government taxed sugar, molasses, glass, paper, and paint. These were things the colonists used every day. The colonists didn’t mind paying taxes to their local government, but this was different! This was money was going directly to Britain!

Causes of the American Revolution Brain Pop- Causes of the American Revolution Studies Weekly –American Revolution Mr. Betts- Causes of the American Revolution

Stamp Act - The Stamp Act was the next thing that Parliament passed. This law said certain papers and documents had to have stamps on them. Again, this cost more money!! Stamp Act video

The Townshend Acts and Tea Act - Even though the Stamp Act was repealed, Parliament still needed money and wanted to tax other things. The Townshend Act put taxes on lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. Tea was a very popular drink in the colonies and they were very unhappy that they now had to pay more for it!! Townshend Act video -The Tea Act was another law passed that only allowed a British company (East India Company) to sell tea in the colonies. This would be like us only being allowed to sell things here that said made in China…no American made things. This was upsetting, because again, the colonists were being forced to do things without having a voice.

“No Taxation without Representation!” -Colonists started chanting this to get other colonists angered about the problems. It meant…:We won’t pay taxes until we are allowed to help make the laws!” - The colonists felt their basic rights, or something someone is allowed to have, get or do, were being taken away by Parliament (the British government.) -School House Rock- No More Kings -No Taxation video

The Road to Revolution The colonists were upset about this and wanted to voice their opinion, BUT Britain wouldn’t allow them to send anyone over the Atlantic ocean to express their thoughts. The British government, called Parliament, made all the laws without asking if the colonists were even ok with it! The colonists had no representative (a person that goes to represent, or voice the opinion of the people) in Parliament. This would be like the leader of China (or another country) telling us Americans that we have to pay them for certain things and not even asking our opinion about it…just forcing us. That’s not right. Things HAD to change!

The Colonists Protest - The sugar and stamp taxes angered the colonists so they decided to protest, or complain. -First, they wrote letters to the king and Parliament explaining how unfair these taxes were. The people that wrote these letters were called the Committee of Correspondence. - Next, colonial men and women formed groups called the Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty. These groups boycotted the products. This meant they refused to but them in order to prove a point to the king. -Some of the protests turned violent…they would pour hot tar on the tax collectors and then put feathers on them. This was very painful. - This actually worked…Parliament decided to repeal, or end, the Stamp Act!

Boston Tea Party -The colonists boycotted the British company’s tea! When some of the company’s ships were docked in the Boston Harbor on night, the Sons of Liberty organized a protest. -Late one December night in 1773, a group of men dressed up as Indians boarded British ships that had the tea from the East India Company. They took the captain and crew below deck and then cracked open 300 crates of tea and dumped it into the harbor! -Boston Tea Party Video (Mr. Betts) -Boston Tea Party Song -Boston Tea Party Video

The “Intolerable Acts” or Coercive Acts - The Boston Tea Party angered the British people, Parliament, and the king. -Several new laws were passed to PUNISH them. The port of Boston Harbor was closed: no ships could come in (to bring supplies) or leave (to help them trade with other cities) Quartering Act- This said the colonists HAD to provide a house and food for the British soldiers that the king sent there to keep peace. -Intolerable Acts Video