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?