The Road to Revolution: (1760-1776)

Was the American Revolution Inevitable??

Navigation Acts (1660) All goods must be shipped on British ships- ¾ of the crew must be British Certain raw materials only sold to Britain (tobacco, sugar, cotton, etc.) Staple Act- all imports come through England Colonists Reaction Frustration leads to illegal smuggling of goods from other countries (Massachusetts lost its charter as a result of the smuggling)

Sugar Act (1764) American Revenue Act Higher tax on sugar, molasses, silk, wine, coffee, indigo, etc.-from foreign colonies British could seize goods without due process Colonist Reaction Complained to parliament that the act hurt trade James Otis- “No taxation without representation…”

Quartering Act (1765) Forced colonists to pay for their own defense- had to supply food and shelter for Br. Troops If they did not build barracks the troops could stay on citizens’ property Colonist Reaction NY (1766) refused to house soldiers-they stayed on their ships Law circumvented in other colonies

Stamp Act (1765-66) Required a stamp on most paper goods (newspapers, playing cards, legal documents, etc.) that certified that a tax had been paid on the items First direct tax on the colonists Colonist Reaction Debate Sprung up House of Burgesses- taxes for VA should only come from VA Sons of Liberty- intimidation tactics Stamp Act Congress Boycott of Br. goods

Tar and Feathering

Townshend Acts (1767) Series of acts Revenue Act of 1767 taxed glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea Private property could be seized Trials for colonists in vice admiralty courts- guilty until proven innocent Writs of Assistance- general search warrants Colonist Reaction Infuriated colonists-felt it weakened colonial govts. Boycotted Br. Goods VA resolves that only VA can tax VA

The Boston Massacre (March 5,1770)

Committees of Correspondence Purpose  warn neighboring colonies about incidents with Br.  broaden the resistance movement (7,000-8,000 colonists involved)

Tea Act (1773) Lowered tax on tea to help the British East India Company Permitted the company to sell tea directly to colonist without middlemen (cheaper tea!) Monopoly on Br. tea imports- Many members of Parliament held shares. Prime MinisterNorth expected the colonists to eagerly choose the cheaper tea. Colonist Reaction Did not let some tea into port Seized other tea Boston Tea Party (12/73) 342 chests of tea

The Coercive or Intolerable Acts (1774) In response to the Boston Tea Party 1. Port Bill 2. Government Act 3. Quartering Act 4. Administration of Justice Act 2,000 troops sent to Boston Colonist Reaction House of Burgesses- troops in Boston is a military invasion Boycott of all Br. goods Lord North

First Continental Congress (1774) 55 delegates from 12 colonies 1 vote per colony represented. Agenda  How to respond to the Coercive Acts? Declaration of Rights and grievances Still loyal to King, but condemn Coercive Acts

The British Are Coming . . . Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers.

The Shot Heard ’Round the World! Lexington & Concord – April 18,1775

The Second Continental Congress (1775) Olive Branch Petition

Was the American Revolution Inevitable??

Thomas Paine: Common Sense

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Declaration of Independence

Independence Hall

New National Symbols