1. 2.2 Uniting for Independence
By the 1760’s Britain
began to tighten control of the colonies and raise taxes in N. America

2. The Colonies on Their Own
Britain let us do as we pleased—they were too far away to do much about it
We were becoming successful w/out their help
That’s when they started to pay attention to us—they wanted our raw materials and wanted us to buy their goods
We stayed loyal and agreed to help against the threat of French in Canada in return for self-rule

3. Britain Tightens Control
French and Indian War started as a struggle over lands in western PA & OH
British win the war and American colonists no longer needed Britain to protect them from the French
Britain left with huge debt

4. Taxing the Colonists
To pay for war the British raises taxes on colonies
Stamp Act had colonists pay a tax on written materials
Revenues increased for Britain and colonists began to protest—refused to buy goods from Britain
Britain repealed Stamp Act

5. Boston Tea Party
Britain made new taxes and colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor
Britain retaliated with the Coercive or Intolerable Acts

6. Colonial Unity
1754 Benjamin Franklin proposed a plan for uniting the colonies called the Albany Plan of Union
People rejected it because it gave too much power to an assembly made up of reps from the colonies
Colonists began to see themselves as Americans

7. Taking Action
1765 delegates from 9/13 colonies met to protest King George’s actions
Committees all over the colonies were created so they could keep in touch with each other as events unfolded

8. First Continental Congress Sept. 1774
Intolerable Acts caused colonies to impose an embargo (prohibiting trade) against Britain & not to use British goods
Led to American Revolution
First battles were in Lexington & Concord, MA

9. Second Continental Congress
May 1775 delegates from all 13 colonies met to set up an army, navy, & issue $$$, and make George Washington as Commander in Chief
Served as acting government throughout Revolutionary War

10. Independence
Thomas Paine—wrote Common Sense—a pamphlet saying that the British monarch was a corrupt form of government
Richard Henry Lee from VA declared independence and introduced a resolution to declare all colonies independent

11. DOI
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence declaring freedom from Britain
7/2/1776 Congress approved Lees’ resolution
7/4/1776 Congress approved final draft of DOI
All 56 delegates signed

12. DOI Explained reasons for independence 3 parts
Statement of purpose & basic human rights
Complaints against King George
Colonists’ determination to be free of Britain

13. First State Constitutions
Now 13 colonies saw themselves as states
By the end of / 13 colonies had written constitutions
Most had a bill of rights defining citizens rights