for Mrs. Stephens’ 4th grade Class The Revolutionary War By Miss Lily for Mrs. Stephens’ 4th grade Class

Analyze the Photograph...

Before the U.S.A. King George of Britain had 13 colonies in North America. People had come to live in them so they could have some freedom and to start a new life. The people who had decided to live in the colonies were the rebellious type- people who wouldn’t let anyone boss them around!

French and Indian War In 1754, Great Britain and France broke out in war over control of North America. (It’s called the French and Indian war because the French and Native Americans were on the same side- allies.) Great Britain won the war, but it had cost them huge amounts of money. King George decided to get Great Britain out of debt by making the colonists pay outrageous taxes…uh oh!

$$Taxes$$ The Declaratory Act stated that Britain could tax the colonists anytime they wanted to. The Stamp Act put a tax on all legal documents-this means that even newspapers were expensive! The Stamp Act was a direct tax put on the colonists by the King

Stamp Act Why was the Stamp Act a problem? The colonists didn’t mind paying taxes. The problem was there was no representation in Parliament (British government) If the King could put this small tax on them now, what would he do next? Stamp Act taxed newspapers, playing cards, and legal documents.

Stamp Act Colonists yelled, “No taxation without representation” Colonists only had representation in their own colonial assemblies. They did not want representation in Parliament, either. Colonists boycotted British goods which led to the repeal (or taking away) of the Stamp Act.

The Tea Act The Tea Act was not a tax. The Tea Act was brought on by the British government. The British government shipped cheap tea distributed by the East India Company directly to the colonies. The American leaders thought this was a ploy by the British government to gain support for taxes already put into place in the colonies. The colonists turned back the ships carrying the tea and boycotted British tea.

Cartoon

Charleston Tea Party The tea was stored in the Old Exchange building and was not allowed to be sold.

The Boston Tea Party Once, the colonists got so angry that a group of them dressed up as Indians, snuck on a ship, and dumped all the tea on the ship into the Boston Harbor. It was their way of rebelling against the taxes and all the other demands of King George. Needless to say, this “Tea Party” made him pretty angry and he put even more restrictions on the colonists.

The King’s Reaction The King closes the port of Boston. He sets up a blockade all around the port of Boston. No ships in, no ships out. He enacts the Intolerable Acts. This Act not only closed the port, but also took away the right for self-government, dissolving their colonial assembly.

S.C.’s role South Carolina felt badly for Boston because they could not get goods in or out of their port. So, SC sent rice and money to help the port.

Trying to Keep the Peace The colonists put together a group of leaders called the First Continental Congress. They asked King George to take back some of his rules and give the colonists their freedom back. He refused. Bad move, George.

The First Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress The First Continental Congress meets again. They advise colonies to arm themselves and create militias (small armies made up of regular men)

War begins! The British soldiers hear that colonists have been preparing for war in Lexington, Massachusetts and in Concord, Massachusetts. They march their, shots are fired and the American Revolution begins!

Battle at Lexington

Second Continental Congress Representatives met again at the 2nd Continental Congress. They named George Washington leader of the new Continental Army. They also declared their independence by writing the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority of this document.

The Declaration of Independence It said “all men are created equal” and have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It also listed all the reasons why the colonists felt they should be free of Great Britain.

The Declaration of Independence

Notes Stamp Act – tax placed on paper goods. This was a direct tax from the king. Colonists upset because of no representation. Tea Act – Britain sent cheap tea to be sold in the colonies. This was not a tax. Colonists revolted with “tea parties”.

Notes King passes the Intolerable Acts. He closes the port of Boston and takes away their right to “self-govern”. 1st Continental Congress meets. Small colonial militias begin. First shots fired at Lexington, Mass. 2nd Continental Congress meets. George Washington elected leader of Continental Army.

Notes Declaration of Independence written. Colonies declare independence from Great Britain.