The Road to the American Revolution Chapters 4.1 – 4.2: Power-Point Notes

The Colonies Organize to Resist Britain The huge debt the British faced from the French and Indian War caused them to enact many new policies in the Colonies The Stamp Act The Townshend Acts The Tea Act The Intolerable Acts

The Stamp Act March 1765, the Stamp Act is passed Samuel Adams helped found the Sons of Liberty October 1765, Delegates from 9 colonies met and created a Declaration of Rights and Grievances Colonial Merchants boycotted goods being imported from Britain March 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but issued the Declaratory Act

The Townshend Acts 1767, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts The colonists reacted with rage and well organized resistance: Protested “Taxation without Representation” Samuel Adams called for another Boycott on British goods American women in every rank organized in protest June 1768, British seized The Liberty

The Boston Massacre Colonists and British soldiers often battled over jobs March 5, 1770 – one of these fights erupts, killing 5 colonists Samuel Adams labeled the event, The Boston Massacre The Committees of Correspondence were set up to communicate with each other about threats to colonial liberties

The Boston “Massacre”

The Boston Tea Party 1773, the Tea Act is passed This cut colonial merchants entirely out of the tea trade December 16, 1773 – The Boston Tea Party Dumped 1800, pounds of the East India Company’s tea into the Boston Harbor

The Intolerable Acts King George III was infuriated by the Boston Tea Party 1774, Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts: Shut down Boston Harbor Quartering Act Placed Boston under martial law 1774, the Committees of Correspondence quickly set up the First Continental Congress

Fighting Erupts at Lexington and Concord After the First Continental Congress, many colonists declared themselves minutemen General Gage gave orders to march along the Lexington Road to Concord April 18, 1775: “Paul Revere’s Ride” Battle of Lexington lasts only 15 minutes Battle at Concord becomes a bloodbath

The Colonies Hover between Peace & War Delegates had heated debates at the Second Continental Congress Congress agreed to recognize the minutemen as the Continental Army and authorized the printing of paper money June 17, 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill July 8, 1775 – Olive Branch Petition is sent to the king King George rejected the petition

The Patriots Declare Independence Common Sense by Thomas Paine became very influential in promoting a revolutionary spirit By summer 1776, Congress urged each colony to form its own government Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write a formal declaration Declaration of Independence adopted on July 4, 1776

Americans Choose Sides Colonists divided over the idea of independence Patriots drew their numbers from people who saw economic opportunity in an independent America Patriots made up about half of the population Many colonists remained loyalists Colonies were plunged into two wars