The American Revolution The Colonists Unite

Review 0 Parliament decided to repeal the Stamp act in response to the colonists being angry about the tax on paper goods Soldiers were sent to the colonies to police the colonists 0 Many fights broke out 0 The worst fight the occurred was The Boston Massacre

Sugar Act Act that put a three-cent tax on foreign sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo, and certain kinds of wine. 0 It banned importation of rum and French wines. These taxes affected only a certain part of the population, but the affected merchants were very vocal. 0 Besides, the taxes were raised without the consent of the colonists. This was one of the first instances in which colonists wanted a say in how much they were taxed.

Townshend Acts 0 Once the Stamp act had been repealed (canceled), Parliament decided to evoke some new laws on the colonists. 0 The Townshend Acts were a series of taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. 0 Colonial reaction to these taxes was the same as to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act 0 Britain eventually repealed all the taxes except the one on tea.

The Boston Tea Party 0 In 1773 passed a new law that allowed a British company to sell tea for a very low price to the colonists. 0 This hurt colonial merchants and they would still have to pay a tax on the tea 0 Soon colonists decided to boycott all British Tea 0 In PA and NY, ships carrying British tea were not allowed to enter ports

The Boston Tea Party 0 In MA however, the ships’ captains refused to be turned away and the colonists responded in anger. 0 One late December night in 1773, British ships carrying tea entered the Boston Harbor. Members of The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians.

The Sons of Who? 0 Secret organization of American colonists formed initially to protest the Stamp Act. The idea found success in many colonies. 0 After the Stamp Act was repealed a year after it was passed, the Sons of Liberty broke apart. 0 But the patriotic spirit and the name remained. Groups of men, such as the ones who were called sons of liberty.

Anyway, back to the party… 0 The Sons of Liberty disguised as Indians boarded the ships 0 They then proceeded to dump the tea in to the harbor 0 As they did so they sang: 0 “Rally Mohawks! Bring out your axes! And Tell King George we’ll pay no taxes!”

Uh ohhhh… 0 Parliament responded by punishing the Colony of MA 0 A law was passed stating that no ship carrying colonial goods could leave Boston Harbor until all of the tea that was destroyed was paid for. 0 The Royal Navy blocked the harbor 0 Parliament also ordered the colonists to quarter British Soldiers (pay for their housing, give them food and a place to sleep)

AND! 0 Parliament appointed the Head of the British Army in North America the new Governor of MA. (General Thomas Gage) 0 “Intolerable Acts!” colonists responded!

0 Penelope Baker, a woman in Edenton NC, led a group of 51 women to conduct their own tea party 0 This is one of the first political demonstrations by women in the American Colonies

Continental Congress 0 In Sept a meeting of representatives from all of the colonies (except GA) met in Philadelphia 0 The members of the Continental Congress decided to stop all trade with Britain. 0 Imports would stop immediately and exports would stop in one year. 0 The Continental Congress informed Parliament that they would no longer follow any laws that took away their rights as citizens 0 And, if their demands were not met, they would meet again in May of 1775 to decide what to do next.

People of the Revolution 0 Paul Revere 0 Samuel Adams 0 Patrick Henry 0 James Otis 0 John Adams 0 George Washington 0 John Hancock 0 Abigail Adams 0 Thomas Pain 0 Ethan Allen 0 Mary Draper 0 Benedict Arnold 0 Molly Pitcher 0 Martha Washington 0 Thomas Jefferson 0 Betsy Ross

Battle at Lexington and Concord 0 By the end of the Continental Congress, members of the colonies militia became Minutemen fighters 0 They could be ready at a moments notice to defend MA 0 The British soldiers also stood ready to defend themselves if needed

Battle at Lexington and Concord 0 The colonial Patriots were storing weapons in the town of Concord near Boston 0 General Gage heard that John Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying near by (They were two leaders of the Sons of Liberty) 0 Gage sent 700 British soldiers to find the Patriot weapons and arrest Adams and Hancock.

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But… 0 Paul revere and William Dawes heard about the raid and went on a midnight ride to warn the two men 0 On April 19, the British soldiers found Minutemen of all ages waiting for them 0 Many were working men, at least 5 Africans, and several were slaves 0 Shots were fired and 8 Minutemen were killed and several wounded

Ha! 0 The British soldiers marched on Concord, however the weapons they hoped to find had been moved. 0 As they marched back to Boston, Minutemen were hiding in the woods and fields by the road were killed and 174 were wounded. 0 Of the 4000 Minutemen at Lexington and Concord, 93 died or were wounded

0 And this marked the beginning of the battle for liberty by the colonists! 0 A long and bitter battle between the British and the American Colonies has begun.