The Road to Independence

Learning Objectives:• Tell how the French and Indian War gave

England control of the New World• Describe the laws that angered the colonists• Describe how the colonists showed their

anger toward British control• Describe the First Continental Congress

Words to Know

Act: a law

Committee: a group of people chosen to do certain work

Correspond: to write letters to someone and receive letters back

Declaration: a public statement

Delegate: chosen spokesperson

Duty: a tax on goods brought in from a foreign country

Hostile: hateful, angry

Loyal: faithful to someone or something

Protest: speak out or act against

Repeal: cancel, put an end to

Statesman: a person who is good at handling government business

Tax: money people must pay to support a government

United: joined together

Colonists Look for New LandsThe English colonies grew quickly so they decided to push WEST.

On the other side of the Appalachian Mountains, there was rich land Ohio River Valley

Oops- France already claimed the Ohio Valley!! They explored the land, made friends with the Native Americans, and started a fur trade!

The French and Indian War Breaks Out

Which nation, France or England, should control the Ohio Valley???

The war began in 1754, battling in both Europe and in the American Colonies.

In America, the French received LOTS of help from the Native Americans

They used surprise attacks to confuse their enemy- which they learned from the Native Americans.

France was winning the war at first, but England sent over more soldiers and supplies.

Then England began to win!They claimed the Ohio Valley and ALL of North America east of the Mississippi River.

England also took control of Canada.

Victory for England Brings New Problems

The colonists helped England through the French and Indian War,

But after England’s victory, the British took actions that were very unfair to the colonists.Passed acts/laws that would help England pay its huge

war debtsMade colonists pay a tax on certain goods

One of King George III of England’s law said no colonists could settle in Ohio River Valley Proclamation of 1763

The government said that they could not protect its people against the hostile Native Americans. Although it was because they did not want the

colonists spreading out and moving beyond its control

Britain worried if colonists moved west,

they would buy goods from other

colonies instead- no longer sending

money to England.

New Acts Seem UnfairEngland went act-crazy!

Were passing acts one right after another, making the colonists very angry!!

Colonists did not want to give these new freedoms up!

Stamp ActPassed in 1765 to enable to government to tax all legal and business papers used in America

Colonists tarred and feathered tax collectors, burned legal papers and refused to pay the tax.

Colonists boycotted all English goods.Finally Parliament removed the

Tax.

(Doesn’t mean King was done taxing)

Townshend ActsCharles Townshend, minister of finance, looked at colonies as a source of money for England

Reduced the colonists’ freedom to govern themselves

Put new taxes on items that were importantColonists once again boycotted English goodsTrade slowed and colonists were out of workProtests began to organize

“No Taxation Without Representation”

Since money collected from the taxes went back to England, instead of improving life in the colonies, many protested

The colonists protested the British acts in different wayssome Americans stopped buying goods from

England, other refused to pay taxes (went to jail)

“Sons of Liberty” were formed in towns all over the colonies.

“No Taxation Without Representation”Colonists wanted a voice in decisions affecting the

colonies

Boston Massacre

A crowd gathered near a group of British soldiers and a round of shots were fired.

1st to fall was a free black man, Crispus AttucksFew colonists were killed and several woundedColonists demanded soldiers be removed from city!

Governor agreed to prevent trouble.

Boston Tea PartyA group of colonists dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded

ship in Boston’s harbor on 12-12-1773.Dumped more than 300 chests of tea into the harbor so the

English would not unload and collect taxes on the teaSimilar incidents took place in other cities as well.Showed colonists resistance to the English demands!

British Reaction to the Tea Party

The King’s reaction was to pass the: Intolerable Acts:

Closed the port of Boston to all trade Banned town meetings Housed British troops in Boston Required that British soldiers accused of any unlawful

act be tried in England

1st Continental CongressSam Adams invited representatives from all the colonies to

meet in Philadelphia for a convention in 1774Wanted to discuss possible actions against the KingAll colonies, expect Georgia, elected delegates Some included George Washington, Patrick Henry, John Jay

Agreed that a Declaration of American Rights should be adopted and sent to the King

Also agreed to boycott British goodsAnother Congress would be held in 1775 if the king

rejected the Declaration of American Rights.

King and Parliament refused to compromise…1st shots at Lexington & Concord were fired starting

the AMERICAN REVOLUTION!