Declaring Independence

Great Awakening The colonists began returning to God Revivals were held outside where hundreds of people listened to sermons about going to hell if they did not believe in Jesus Christ. Old Lights v. New Lights George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were preachers

Taxation Without Representation The French and Indian War was EXPENSIVE, so who was going to pay? King George III taxed all of the colonists without their say. When Parliament discussed new taxes, there were NO representatives from the American colonies.

Proclamation of 1763 The Proclamation of 1763 said that the colonists could not move west of the Appalachian Mountains. Stay over there!

Sugar Act Parliament felt the colonies should pay for French and Indian War. The Sugar Act, was a new duty (tax) on molasses.

Stamp Act In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed. You had to pay a tax in order to buy any paper products, such as newspapers, licenses, and even playing cards. When you paid the tax, they gave you a STAMP to prove that you paid.

Townshend Acts Charles Townshend put a “secret” tax on imports. Instead of knowing that something had a tax on it, the colonists just thought the price went up.

Boston Massacre March 5, 1770 Colonists threw snowballs at the British soldiers. The British shot and killed five colonists Ouch!

Boston Tea Party Sons of Liberty were men who were protesting the taxes, especially the one on TEA In Boston, they snuck onto 3 ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor (90,000 pounds) I hate tea!

Intolerable (Coercive) Acts Now you will pay! Because of the loss of money from the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed laws to punish Massachusetts The King closed the port of Boston to all trade Town meetings were now forbidden

Quartering Act One aspect of the Intolerable Acts was that the colonists had to provide housing and food for British soldiers without being paid for it! Where should we stay tonight?

First Continental Congress As a result of the Intolerable Acts, representatives from each colony, except Georgia, met in Philadelphia in September of This new Congress did not yet want independence, but they wanted to stop trading with Britain until the King repealed the Intolerable Acts.

LISTEN, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere He said to his friend, -- "If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light, One if by land, and two if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm. Through every Middlesex village and farm, Paul Revere

8 Americans were killed Lexington The Minutemen fired at the British soldiers, but were not able to stop them from advancing.

Concord The British RETREATED when they met up with the American militia at Concord 73 British killed and 174 wounded 49 Colonists killed and 39 wounded

George Washington The Second Continental Congress unanimously chose Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

Declaration of Independence In Congress, July 4, 1776 The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people...

Our First Flag

A New Nation The United States' flag has alternating red and white horizontal stripes. They made thirteen stripes to represent the thirteen colonies. The number of stars on the blue field represent the number of colonies or states in existence at the time.

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