1. 1 Major events towards Independence Navigation Acts Acts which attempted to regulate colonial trade and stated all goods must be shipped in English ships, thus reducing colonial trade with other nations.

2. 2 French and Indian War Also known as the Seven Years' War in Europe over which nation will dominate world affairs, Britain or France. Britain fighting against the French and Indians. British win but are heavily in debt. Treaty of Paris 1763 ends war. France gives up all land east of the Mississippi except New Orleans. Spain gives up east and west Florida for the return of Cuba.

3. 3 1763

4. 4 Proclamation of 1763 Proclamation of King George III – prohibits English settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. Angers settlers.

5. 5 Sugar Act Tax or duties on colonies to offset war debt. Increases duties on imported sugar and other items such as textiles, coffee and wine. Doubles duties on items reshipped from England.

6. 6 Currency Act Forbids colonists from issuing any legal tender paper money. Act threatened to destabilize colonial economy. British acts to regulate colonial trade, all shipping must pass through English ships.

7. 7 Stamp Act First direct tax on all printed materials, including newspapers, pamphlets, all legal documents. Colonists quickly unite to oppose this act.

8. 8 James Otis Colonists who raised issue of “ taxation without representation” Published “The Rights of the British Colonists Asserted and Proved”

9. 9 Stamp Act Repealed Colonists refuse to use stamps, Stamp Act Congress convenes, (representatives from 9 colonies meet to ask for the repeal of the Stamp Act) Parliament repeals Stamp Act, but passes the Declaratory Act the same day.

10. 10 Declaratory Act Declares Parliament has total powers to legislate any laws regarding colonies whatsoever.

11. 11 Townshend Acts Acts imposing a series of taxes on paper, tea, glass, lead, paints. Colonists boycott English luxury items. Britain sends troops to Boston.

12. 12 Townshend Acts Repealed Townshend acts repealed except tax on tea.

13. 13 Boston Massacre 1770 British Soldiers fire into an angry mob in Boston, killing 5 citizens and wounding 6 others. Including Crispus Attucks an African American- regarded as the first casualty of the Revolution

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16. 16 Committees of Correspondence Led by Sam Adams, a 21 member committee is established to communicate with other colonies regarding incidents in the colonies.

17. 17 Boston Tea Party -1773 Colonial activists called the Sons of Liberty ( disguised as Indians) dump 342 containers of tea into Boston Harbor in opposition to the tax on tea, and also to the fact that the ships were not allowed to leave until the tax was paid.

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19. 19 Port of Boston closed until tax on tea is paid Closed local Massachusetts assembly Royal officials must be tried in England Established the Quebec Act Intolerable or Coercive Acts British respond by :

20. 20 Quebec Act Centralized control of Quebec territory (with former French officials) and extends Canadian territory south to lands claimed by Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

21. 21 1774- First Continental Congress Colonists respond: 56 representatives from all colonies except Georgia meet in Philadelphia to discuss issues and declare opposition to Coercive Acts, to promote the formation of local militias, to boycott English imports and agreed to meet the following year.

22. 22 Lexington and Concord April 19, 1775- armed militiamen stand face to face against British troops at Lexington Green. An unordered ‘shot heard around the world’ begins the American Revolution. The British volley kills 8 Americans and wounds ten others. The British troops continue on to Concord where they are met by militiamen at the North Bridge. Fighting continues as the British troops retreat back to Boston with over 250 casualties. News of Lexington and Concord spread throughout the colonies. Militiamen place Boston under siege.

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24. 24 Lexington

25. 25 Concord

26. 26 Second Continental Congress Meets in May in Philadelphia, 1775. The Congress places the colonies in a state of defense, appoints George Washington as commander and chief of the new Continental Army.

27. 27 Common Sense A 50 page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which is critical of King George III and provides strong arguments for American independence. American independence.

28. 28 Declaration of Independence Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presents a formal resolution to the Continental Congress to declare independence from Britain. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia is selected to write the first draft. On July 4, 1776 Congress formally endorsed the Declaration of Independence.

29. 29 Toward Independence How did the ideas of John Locke and Thomas Paine help shape the Declaration of Independence?

30. 30 The period in Europe during the 17 th and 18 th centuries was known as the Enlightenment. It was during this time that new ideas about the rights of people and governments developed. It was during this time that new ideas about the rights of people and governments developed.

31. 31 John Locke, was an English philosopher whose ideas about governments influenced the American belief in self-government more than any other philosopher.

32. 32 Locke wrote: All people are free, equal and have “natural rights” of life, liberty and property. All power actually resides in the people. They consent to enter into a social contract among themselves to form a government to protect their rights. In return, people agree to obey the laws and rules in order to have “ordered liberty”.

33. 33 Locke also stated that the powers of the government are limited to those the people consented to give it. If the government ever threatened people's natural rights, the people had the right to overthrow it or alter it. These ideas were radical ideas as they challenged the world ruled by kings, emperors and chieftains.

34. 34 Thomas Paine was an English immigrant to America who wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense. Paine stressed that America should not be ruled by the King of England Paine also believed it was in the best interest of the American colonies to separate from England His views contributed to the growing spirit for independence from England.

35. 35 The Declaration of Independence The draft of the declaration, written by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia at the 2 nd Continental Congress in Philadelphia, reflected the ideas of the Enlightenment, including Locke and Paine. It was a formal declaration of independence from England. (more information included after last slide)

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37. 37 Articles of Confederation The form of national government adopted in 1776-77 which allowed for a central Congress with very limited powers. Remained the form of government throughout the war and until 1787.

38. 38 The Declaration of Independence had three parts: 1. Preamble 2. Grievances against the King 3. Formal Declaration of Independence

39. 39 Preamble “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life,liberty,and the pursuit of happiness.”

40. 40 “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed…”

41. 41 That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government…” Jefferson then listed many grievances against the King. And stated a formal declaration

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