Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Road to the Revolution
What events led to the American Revolution?
London, 1765
• The 7 Year War, was expensive and King George needed a way to pay for it.
• The King expected the colonists to help pay for it, because it was fought to protect them.
• Do you think this is an unreasonable expectation?
• Why or Why Not?
Stamp Act
• Parliament passes the Stamp Act, requiring that all paper products require an official stamp.
• How would you feel if you were accustom to having control, and then your King suddenly wants to assert his authority?
• How would you feel if you had been King with absolute control and suddenly your subjects think they have the right to question you?
• What angered the colonist most was the question of who is in charge here.
Two Sides of the Same Issue
• Colonists – They are concerned about losing their liberties.
• British – All about money, they needed to pay for an expensive war.
Sons of Liberty
• An underground movement using terror as a means of intimidation.
• They strongly opposed the Stamp Act.
• Example: Tar and feathering.
John Adams is a 29 year old lawyer who is very outspoken, he brings logic and intellect to this emotional issue.
Patrick Henry was a passionate speaker influencing many including James Otis.
Benjamin Franklin
• He is the most famous American both in and out of the colonies.
• He is the unofficial ambassador of the colonies.
• He was the embodiment of what it was to be American.
It’s business not politics that settles the matter.
• What’s a boycott?• Why does it work?• Can you think of
another time in history that this has been used?
• Who would be hurt by a boycott?
Problem: England still needs money and now they have to prove they are still in control.
• Parliament passes more acts to prove they still have authority, such as The Quartering Act, The Declaratory Act, and The Townshend Act.
• Troops brought to the colonies add fuel to the fire.
Tell me what you see.
Boston Massacre
• British troops are sent to occupy Boston.
• A crowd gathers, taunting a soldier.
• Other soldiers arrive.• Soon snowballs and
stones are thrown.• Shots ring out and 5
colonists die.
• What would you do?• Put yourself in the shoes
of the colonists/soldiers?• Was this really a
massacre? Why/why not?• What biased exist?• Why was it drawn this
way? • What effect did this have
on the Revolution?
The Trial
• Troops are put on trail.• John Adams agrees to
be a lawyer.• He believes strongly in
the right to a fair trial.• Seven soldiers are
acquitted with the other two got light sentences.
• Do you agree/disagree with John Adams decision to defend the soldiers?
Same old, same old
• 3 more years of taxes and repealed taxes.
• King keeps tax on tea. • New tax is 3 cents per
pound, except on the East India Trading Company.
• Why would they be angry if tea is cheaper?
• What’s the big deal with tea?
• What is a comparable American drink?
Boston Tea Party
• Dec. 16, 1773 the Sons of Liberty dress as Native Americans and dump 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
• This was a costly mistake and the British are angered.
Thomas Hutchinson• January 1774 Ben Franklin
leaked some letters written by Thomas Hutchinson to a British official.
• Ben Franklin is ripped apart by the British government who they had considered an ally.
• Hutchinson flees to back to Britain.
British Deal Out Punishment• The King wants to scare the
other colonies with their punishment of Boston.
• They pass the Coercive Acts, the colonists call them the Intolerable Acts. (Revoked MA charter, dissolved assemblies, troops re-occupied, ports closed till tea paid for, British governor, and troops go to trial in Britain.
First Continental Congress
• August 1774 delegates from all over the colonies came together to devise a strategy to oppose the erosion of their liberties.
• The colonists while all different came together to fight a common enemy.
One problem…
• The delegates still saw themselves as individual colonies, until Patrick Henry declared, “ I am no longer a Virginian, I am an American!”
• King George believes that the colonists will submit to his demands.
The British Are Coming!!!
• British General Gage is ordered to confiscate ammunition the colonists are storing in Concord, MA.
• April 18, 1775 Paul Revere makes his famous midnight ride.
• One if by land, two if by sea.
The Revolution Begins…
• The word got out that the British were coming.
• The militiamen gather in Lexington.
• How would you feel if you were a militiaman?
• How would you feel if you were a British soldier?