1. Steps Towards Revolution

2. Changes in Br. Empire
Fr. & Indian War : Br. (and their Indian allies) fought France and their Indian allies…Br. won!!!
BUT…
Huge debt
Need for new revenue
Need to control Indians
Need to station 10,000 troops in America $$$

4. Time to Tighten the Ship 
Tighter control over trade (end salutary neglect): crack down on smugglers
Raise taxes to get $
Tighter control over gov’t of colonies

5. New Policies Include: Proclamation Act of 1763:
More gov’t officials & troops
New trade & tax laws:
Writs of Assistance
Sugar Act
Stamp Act

6. Stamp Act Protest

7. Effect of These Changes?
Many Americans in disagreement about what to do (lack of unity).
Americans Protest!!!
Speeches:
Stamp Act Congress:
Boycotts
Rebel groups formed

8. Effect of American Protests on British Policy?
Br. Make some concessions, but continue to exert authority
Stamp Act repealed (hooray!!!)
Declaratory Act is passed (boo…hiss!!!)
Townshend Acts (1767) passed:
Tax everyday goods: lead, glass, paint and paper

9. New Laws Increase Resistance
Mass. Circular Letter:
Non-Importation Agreements:
John Dickinson’s “Letters of a Penn. Farmer”
Argue over:
Virtual Representation
Actual Representation

10. Br. Response to the Building Resistance?
Repeal the Townshend Acts (yeahhh!!!)
Station more troops in Boston (boooo!!!)
March 1770: Boston Massacre
Impact?
Form Committees of Correspondence
Pamphlets, meetings, newspapers

11. Engraving: Paul Revere

12. Sons of Liberty Cartoon

13. Boston Tea Party 12/16/1773 1773 Tea Act American response
Br. Response: Coercive Acts
Closed Port of Boston
Disband Mass. Colonial Legislature
Station more troops in Boston
American response: First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia

14. First Continental Congress
(September 5, 1774)
Representatives from all colonies, but Georgia, met in Philadelphia to discuss colonial responses to the Intolerable Acts
- Created the “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” – a petition to King George III to respect the rights of the colonists (October 14, 1774)

15. 1st Continental Congress
September 5, 1774 – October 26, 1774 in Philadelphia.
All colonies were represented, but Georgia.
Leading delegates – George Washington, Patrick Henry (from?), John Jay (from?).
Goals:
determine their response to the Intolerable Acts,
discuss how to assert their rights and English subjects
wanted to be united in their response
Issue “Declaration of American Rights”
Actions:
The colonists continued to boycott all British goods.
Called people to arm themselves and form militias.
Made a direct appeal to the king outlining their grievances.
Outlined their rights a colonists
Listed the ways in which Parliament had restricted or ignored their rights
Discussed how England could change their policies to respect their rights.
Agreed to meet again in May 1775.
IT WAS NOT THEIR GOAL TO DISCUSS OR GAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM ENGLAND!

16. Final Steps Olive Branch Petition (rejected) – 7/1775
Americans begin to arm
Br. Troops march on Lexington & Concord

17. Lexington and Concord

18. April, 1775 Americans are divided (VERY little unity):
Loyalists: Stay w/Br.; laws are not so oppressive
Patriots: Independence only; too many instances of oppression
“Fence-Sitters” : these are the masses of people who are undecided or, worse, apathetic
One year later: Declaration of Independence is signed…what happened?

19. King George III’ Response
“The New England governments are in a state of rebellion, blows must decide.”
November 18, 1775

20. Second Continental Congress
(May 10, 1775)
Representatives from each of the colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the reasons for taking up arms
Led by John Hancock
Promised armed resistance until the end of tyrannical control by England and the acknowledgement of the colonist’s right as English citizens

21. Important Documents “Common Sense” – Jan. 1776
Written by Thomas Paine
Make economic sense for Americans to separate from Britain
45 page pamphlet
Written in simple language
Everyday people can read an understand it
Convinces many “fence sitters” to believe in independence
Declaration of Independence – 7/4/1776
Written by T. Jefferson
U.S. is independent (still have to fight a war to prove it)
Gives reasons why U.S. declared independence
Free to deal with other nations as they see fit
Will inspire independence movements throughout Americas

22. 2nd Continental Congress
2nd Continental Congress - body of representatives from the 13 colonies:
Met from May 10, 1775 to March 1, 1781.
adopted the Dec. of Ind. and the Articles of Confederation
acted as the national government of the U.S. by:
raising armies
directing strategy
appointing diplomats
making formal treaties during the Rev.