Events Leading to the Revolutionary

War

Student made

Seven Years War

Stamp Act

Proclamation of 1763

Quartering Act

Townshed Act

Boston Massacre

Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts

First Continental Congress

Lexington & Concord

Revol ut iona r y W

a r

Colonial Life• By mid 1700’s many

immigrants had arrived from several European countries (PLURALISM)

• Slave demand grew; Between 1770-1775, 250,000 brought.

• Pluralistic society forms religious tolerance (ENLIGHTENMENT)

• The “Great Awakening” 1730-1750

-Strengthening of religions (self worth) challenged authority (Church of England and government)

-Gave colonists a sense of independence

Jonathan Edwards

One of the most influential early American theologians, Jonathan Edwards’s fiery sermons helped trigger the Great Awakening, a period of evangelical zeal during the 1740s that produced numerous conversions and greatly increased church membership.Copyright of Encarta.msn.com

Back in England• 3,000 miles separate

England and Colonies and messages took 5 weeks or longer

• England busy with conflicts in Europe and didn’t enforce many rules for colonies (known as salutary neglect)

• In Colonies-Right to vote: free white male over the age of 21 who owned land. 75% in NE (white men), less in the south.

• King had to approve a law passed by the assemblies veto = rejection

Seven Years War(a.k.a. “French and Indian War” 1756-1763)

• Both England and France claimed Ohio River Valley; At first Indians and French triumphed, but English and colonist won the war

• Many battles over many years

• Treaty of Paris (agreement)

• England received control of Canada, Ohio Valley, land east of the Mississippi River, and Florida

Proclamation of 1763

• British closed territory west of Appalachian Mountains. Colonists couldn’t settle, and now British had control of the land (gained from France)

Quartering Act (1765)• Colonists had to feed and

shelter troops• 1765-local Gov. had to pay

for supplies. (N.Y. assembly said “no” because it was a burden on colonies)

• Parliament (England’s King & Gov.) threatened to take away power of assembly; colonists gave in

Stamp Act (1765)• Most hated England’s

attempt to raise money• Stamp Act required

colonists to buy a revenue stamp for each newspaper, pamphlet, almanac, cards… hard on lawyers, tavern owners, merchants and printers

• People protested • Sons of Liberty formed

(protests & riots)(Samuel Adams was leader)

• Declaration of Rights were written (“No taxation without representation”) So British back down and Stamp Act failed in March, 1766

Townshed Act (1767)

• Taxed paint, glass, lead, paper, and tea

• Customs officials were granted WRITS OF ASSISTANCE (Rights)- gave British power to search for smuggled goods in homes/businesses at anytime.

• Colonies boycotted these goods. Colonists made their own clothes, paper, and paint

• Women organize creating Daughters of Liberty

These are examples of the stamps that were used during the Stamp and Townshed act.

Encarta.msn.com

Boston Massacre (1770)• British troops housed

in Boston since 1768• Sam Adams- author

of newspaper got people riled up

• March 5th, 1770, some unemployed people attacked Boston Custom’s House & English soldiers came to aid

• Colonists threw things & five rioters were killed (Crispus Attucks- runaway slave)

Boston Massacre (continued)• Colonists (Sam Adams - instigator) called this a

massacre to gain sympathy from other colonies (Paul Revere’s picture spread throughout colonies as propaganda)

• John Adams/lawyer/hero stood up for what was right by defending the soldiers in court

• Committee of Correspondence - 1772

Boston Tea Party• Because of

colonists’ boycotts, in 1770 all taxes cancelled except tea tax

• Most colonists felt better. British supplied tea and lowered prices for lots of sales, but they raised taxes to manipulate colonists

• Protests were immediate. King George III was furious and wanted control!

• On Dec. 16th, 1773, disguised “Indians” dumped tea chests off three British ships in the Boston Harbor

Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Parliament passed measures to punish people of Boston (for tea party)

• Closed Boston port until they could pay for the lost tea

• Governor banned town meetings

• Colonists called measures “INTOLERABLE”

• Committee of Correspondence needed to meet! Other colonies would need to help Boston!

First Continental Congress (1774)

• Fall, 1774- delegates from all 13 colonies except GA met to discuss problems

• Decided acts were “null & void”

• Set a petition of grievances to king

• Embargo enforced (ban on trade) against England

• Told colonies to begin training soldiers

• Scheduled next meeting for May, 1775 (but it would be too late to avoid war)

Lexington & Concord (April, 1775)

• Militia formed in 1774 (citizen army) “minutemen”

• April: 700 British soldiers sent to Concord, Mass., to arrest Patriot leaders John Hancock and Sam Adams

Lexington & Concord (continued)

• Paul Reveres ride (and 2 others) WARNING, “The British are coming”

• 70 minutemen from Lexington, Mass., waited in village green

• Refused to lay down arms (guns)/Soldiers (Redcoats) rushed and shot

• 8 minutemen dead! Only 10 hurt!