Chapter 5: Toward Revolution: What eventually led to the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of the Revolutionary War? AFTER the French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War in Europe)

French and Indian War Britain helped colonists defeat French in war Britain needed money to pay for war expenses Taxed colonists, restricted settlements and limited self-govt.

Revenue Act (Sugar Act) 1764 Revenue Act of 1764 (Sugar Act) April 5, 1764 Revised duties on sugar, tea, coffee, wine; expanded jurisdiction of some courts. Protests about taxation

Stamp Act of 1765 Stamp Act March 22, 1765 thru March 18, 1766 Documents must contain a revenue stamp to be legal. All deeds, wills, marriage licenses, even newspapers affected.

Quartering Act of 1765 Quartering Act March 24, 1765 British troops must be given housing on demand from colonists. New York Assembly is punished for not complying. The king could not house troops in subjects homes in England, but permitted to do so in the colonies.

Declaratory Act of 1766 Declaratory Act March 18, 1766 Parliament declares sovereignty over colonies in all cases. Enacted on the same day that Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, this was merely positioning so that England would not lose face for giving in to the colonies.

Townshend Acts June 26, 29, July 2, 1767; repealed April 12, 1770 (some texts list a March date. This is wrong) except for tax on tea. Includes duties on new items including tea, glass and other goods available in the Western Hemisphere

Various protests: Patrick Henry’s speech Sons and Daughters of Liberty Benjamin Franklin’s visit to Parliament Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre

Tea Act of 1773 May 10, 1773 The British East India Tea Company (near bankruptcy) granted sole right to sell tea directly to Americans; some duties on tea reduced Tea was a popular drink throughout the colonies. Since 1770, tensions reduced between the countries, but the Tea Act indicated resumptio of tensions. Committees of Correspondence denounced the plan Endangered colonial representative government Dec. 16, 1773, Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party Lower price on British tea Colonists still pay taxes Boycotted British tea Sons of Liberty dressed in disguise and dumped British tea overboard

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) 1774 March-June, Boston Port Bill 2.Massachusetts Government Act2.Massachusetts Government Act (May 20) 3.Quebec Act3.Quebec Act (May 20) 4.Quartering Act (updated and extended to include public buildings)

Boston Port Bill Boston Port Bill (June 1), The Royal Navy blockades the Boston Harbor so no colonial goods could be sent out until tea was paid for.Boston Port Bill

Massachusetts Government Act Massachusetts Government Act (May 20) Revoked Mass colonial charterMassachusetts Government Act The King assigned British General Gage to be Massachusetts governor. restructured Mass. Government = less democratic Banned holding of more than one town meeting per year

Quebec Act Re-established Canadian borders. Re-drew the qualifications for officeholders. British colonists objected to pro-French Canadian, pro-Catholic legislation.

Net Effect of the Intolerable Acts These convinced people in all the colonies that the British were out to destroy representative government and civil liberties in America. Virginia rallied to side with Mass. Convening of first Continental Congress (September, 1774)

First Continental Congress All colonies except Georgia sent delegates to Philadelphia, Sept Suffolk Resolves: advised colonials to arm themselves against attacks by royal troops

Conflict at Lexington and Concord British General Gage learns of hidden weapons in Concord Two lanterns hung in church tower to warn the British coming by “sea” (Charles River) Paul Revere and William Dawes make midnight ride to warn Minutemen of approaching British soldiers

The Revolution Begins Lexington 250 British casualties vs. less than 100 colonists’ casualties “Shot heard round the world” April 18, 1775 Concord Paul Revere and William Dawes April 19, 1775Redcoats Where muskets of militia members were believed to be stored

Second Continental Congress Representatives brought money to help establish the… Continental Army (i.e. pay soldiers, buy guns, bullets, food, and uniforms

The Olive Branch Petition Most colonial delegates still hoped for reconciliation and offered the Olive Branch Petition to George III Olive Branch Petition: Cease fire at Boston Repeal of the Coercive Acts Negotiations to establish American Rights British ignored this and declared colonists in rebellion Dec. 1775

Thomas Paine: Common Sense (1776) Paine's political pamphlet brought the rising revolutionary sentiment into sharp focus by placing blame for the suffering of the colonies directly on the reigning British monarch, George III. First and foremost, Common Sense advocated an immediate declaration of independence, postulating a special moral obligation of America to the rest of the world. Not long after publication, the spirit of Paine's argument found resonance in the American Declaration of Independence. (

Who was involved? Benjamin Franklin John Adams Robert R. Livingston Roger Sherman Thomas Jefferson