Chapter 5: The Revolution

Divided Population Americans were divided –40% were “patriots” demanding revolution –40% were “moderates” hoping for a peaceful solution –20% were “loyalists” wanting to remain with England Key questions: –How did colonists happy with relationship with England change to revolutionaries? –How did the minority convince the majority to rebel? –What were the goals of revolution? –How did the US defeat England, which was the stronger military power?

French-Indian War French-Indian War ( ) pushed France out of area west of Appalachians, but created huge debt for England England turned to taxation on Americans to help pay debt Proclamation of 1763 declared that Americans could not settle west of the Appalachians These two policies led Americans to protest

Taxes Previous taxes had been only loosely enforced 1764: Sugar Act passed and enforced, causing some protest Sugar tax was seen as justified way of regulating trade 1765: Stamp Act taxed paper products (newspapers, cards, legal documents), affecting most colonists “Direct” tax seen as “tyranny” Parliament repealed Stamp Act after protest 1767: Townshend Acts: direct tax on paper, lead, paint – leading to American boycotts

Protests 1770: Boston Massacre: English troops fired on protesting colonists, killing 5 Parliament repealed Townshend Acts “Committees of Correspondence”: letter writers to unite colonies in protest Tea Act: give East India Company monopoly on tea in America 1774: Boston Tea Party 1774: Intolerable Acts: closed Boston harbor, shut courts

Declaration of Independence 1775: Fighting began between colonists and British around Boston Colonists created Continental Congress to discuss situation Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense arguing that Americans should rebel Continental Congress authorized Declaration of Independence –Social contract between government and people –If government broke the contract, people could change the government

War & Peace 1776: –English took New York City, most of New Jersey, some of Pennsylvania –Americans surprised English at Trenton on Christmas night English tried to slice America into two by attacking middle colonies French aided US when US victory seemed possible, after Saratoga US used “guerrilla” warfare to pester English 1781: English surrendered at Yorktown 1783: Paris Peace agreement