1. Causes of the American Revolution
The Road to Independence

2. Proclamation Line of 1763 - Bellringer
1) The Colonists were still fighting ______.
2) King George III of England states the colonists can not pass the ______ Mountains.
3) ______ were given the _____ River Valley.
4) The Colonists felt ______ about the Proclamation.
5) How would you feel if someone gave your property away?

3. “Taxation without Representation”
This was a slogan by James Otis used in the 13 colonies from 1763 – 1775
The colonists complained that taxes were forced on them without any colonial representation in Parliament
This violated the rights given to them in the Magna Carta (1215)

4. Reasons for Taxes
Britain owed a large debt from the French and Indian War
Keeping troops in the colonies would raise that debt even higher
Wanted colonies to pay for part of that debt and to help with the cost of defense in the colonies

5. Loyalists vs. Patriots Loyalists
A strong unified British Empire is good for all
Colonists are British subjects and should obey British law
Taxes are due to French & Indian War which was fought to protect colonies
American colonies would be weak without Britain
Patriots
People have rights government can’t take away, like property
Colonists don’t have voice in Parliament, so they can’t tax colonies
Many colonists fought in the French & Indian War (we’ve done our part)
British personnel are causing violence, riots, and death

6. Causes of the American Revolution
Sugar Act, 1764
Quartering Act, 1765
To enforce the Proclamation Line
10,000 English soldiers stayed in the colonies
To save the King money the colonists had to house the soldiers in their homes or pay for them to be housed
To get the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War they used taxation
Tariffs on sugar, molasses and other products shipped to the colonies
“Taxation without Representation is Tyranny” – James Otis

7. Causes of the American Revolution
Stamp Act, 1765
Every documents had to have a paid royal stamp
Colonists had to pay in silver coins (hard to come by)
All Contracts
All Diplomas
All Wills
All Newspapers
All Legal Documents

8. Colonies Responded by…
Boycotting -
Protesting -
Resisting -
Publishing -
Secret Societies -
refused to buy English goods
“No Taxation Without Representation”
bought goods from smugglers
(like John Hancock)
political cartoons, letters, pamphlets, poems
groups like the Sons of Liberty

9. What are they doing? Tar and Feathering
Forcing Tea down tax collectors throat
Caning (hitting with stick)
Who are they?
Who do you think created this cartoon?

10. Sons of Liberty Sam Adams -
Leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty
Many members were lawyers, merchants, and craftspeople – the colonists most affected by the Stamp Act
They staged many protests
Not all were peaceful

11. Causes of the American Revolution
Response from the Colonists
Townshend Acts, 1767
Boston Massacre, 1770
1,000 soldiers came to Boston because of the riots
Townsmen and soldiers yelled insults to each other
A fight broke out
Soldiers started shooting into the fight
5 townsmen died, including Crispus Attucks, first African American to die
Suspended the New York Assembly
Tariffs on:
Glass
Paper
Paint
Lead
Tea

12. Boston Massacre, 1770 Colonists started the fight
British soldiers were defending themselves
Samuel Adams (leader of The Sons of Liberty) named it the Boston Massacre
Soldiers were put on trial for murder of the colonists
John Adams (cousin) defended the soldiers and they were set free – Why did he defend them?

13. Boston Massacre, 1770 Identify purpose: Identify Emotion:
The cartoon portrays the redcoats as the aggressors and the colonists as innocent unarmed victims
Identify Emotion:
The cartoon portrays the redcoats as violent murderers who do not care about the lives of the colonists
Think Critically:
The cartoon does not show what caused the redcoats to begin firing or the actions of the colonists before the firing began

14. Paul Revere’s PROPOGANDA

16. What is a boycott?
Boycott – The act of not buying a product in order to protest some action of the seller

17. Writs of Assistance
Money raised from the Townshend Acts was intended to pay the British governors and other officials in the colonies.
To enforce the Acts, British officers used Writs of assistance, or search warrants, to enter homes or businesses to search for smuggled goods.
King George III

18. Committees of Correspondence
Sam Adams urged the colonists to create these committees in 1772
Purpose – to stay informed of British actions abroad and continue to spread the seeds of rebellion
These groups exchanged letters on colonial affairs
These groups led to the creation of the 1st Continental Congress

19. Causes of the American Revolution
Response from the Colonists
Tea Act, 1773
Boston Tea Party, 1773
Townshend Acts repealed in 1770 except…
Kept the tea tax to prove England still had the right to tax the colonists
Parliament then formerly gave the British East India Company control of all tea trade in America
Protests fueled by the Committees of Correspondence
Sons of Liberty in Boston was most famous
Dressed as Natives they threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor
British officials wanted the men to be arrested

20. Boston Tea Party

21. War is Close
After Boston Tea Party the Intolerable Acts are passed to punish the Massachusetts Colony
Closed the Boston Port
Banned Committees of Correspondence
Allowed troops to be housed anywhere they wanted
Appointed General Gage as governor of Massachusetts
All other colonies offered help to them
First Continental Congress is held in Philadelphia, PN (1774)
Banned all trade with England
Intolerable Acts repealed in the colonies
Each colony began training Minutemen, those who are ready at a minutes notice

22. The Shot Heard Around the World
Paul Revere road all night to warn Patriots that the British were coming
At Lexington, MA, British soldiers are stopped by militiamen
8 militiamen are killed and British soldiers move on to Concord to destroy military supplies
4,000 minutemen and militiamen arrive first battle of the Revolutionary War
Could either the Colonists or British soldiers have stopped the war at this point? How or Why?