Making of a Making of a RevolutionRevolution

Changes in British PolicyChanges in British Policy

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763– Closed land West of AppalachiansClosed land West of Appalachians

Sugar Act 1764Sugar Act 1764– Designed to raise $Designed to raise $– New punishments for smugglingNew punishments for smuggling

Quartering/Billeting Act 1765Quartering/Billeting Act 1765 Stamp Act 1765Stamp Act 1765

– ClearlyClearly designed to make $$$ designed to make $$$

Stamp Act Crisis (1765)Stamp Act Crisis (1765)

Stamp ActStamp Act passed in March but was to passed in March but was to take effect in Novembertake effect in November

In October, delegates from 9 colonies In October, delegates from 9 colonies metmet

Stamp Act CongressStamp Act Congress– James Otis of MassachusettsJames Otis of Massachusetts– ““No taxation w/out representation”No taxation w/out representation”– Petitioned the King and ParliamentPetitioned the King and Parliament

Colonial merchants organized a boycottColonial merchants organized a boycott

Groups sprang up to enforce the Groups sprang up to enforce the boycottboycott– Sons/Daughters of LibertySons/Daughters of Liberty– Mob action Mob action – By November, most collectors By November, most collectors

resigned/fledresigned/fled

Stamp Act repealed in March, 1766Stamp Act repealed in March, 1766– (British Merchants protested Act)(British Merchants protested Act)

Rising Tensions in ColoniesRising Tensions in Colonies

Declaratory ActDeclaratory Act passed passed same daysame day as repeal of Stamp Act (1766)as repeal of Stamp Act (1766)– Parliament had authority to make laws Parliament had authority to make laws

“in all cases whatsoever”“in all cases whatsoever” 1767, authority reasserted with 1767, authority reasserted with

passage of passage of Townshend ActsTownshend Acts– Duties on imports (tea, glass, etc.)Duties on imports (tea, glass, etc.)– $ used to pay salaries of royal governors$ used to pay salaries of royal governors

Violence Erupts in BostonViolence Erupts in Boston

March 5, 1770, unruly crowd in March 5, 1770, unruly crowd in Boston threatens squad of British Boston threatens squad of British SoldiersSoldiers

Five colonists are left dead/dying in Five colonists are left dead/dying in what becomes known as Boston what becomes known as Boston MassacreMassacre

Unhappy Boston! fee thy Sons deplore,Unhappy Boston! fee thy Sons deplore,

Thy hallow’d Walks befmear’d with Guiltlefs Thy hallow’d Walks befmear’d with Guiltlefs Gore:Gore:

While faithlefs and his favage Bands,While faithlefs and his favage Bands,

With murd’rous rancor ftretch their bloody With murd’rous rancor ftretch their bloody Hands;Hands;

Life fierce Barbarians grinning o’er their Prey,Life fierce Barbarians grinning o’er their Prey,

Approve the carnage and enjoy the Day.Approve the carnage and enjoy the Day.

- Paul Revere, 1770- Paul Revere, 1770

“ “The The Bostonians Bostonians Paying the Paying the Excise Man” Excise Man” (1774)(1774)

Parliament Responds to Parliament Responds to MassacreMassacre

Cancels Townshend Acts in May, 1773 Cancels Townshend Acts in May, 1773 except for tax on TEAexcept for tax on TEA

1773, 1773, Tea ActTea Act provides BEIC right to provides BEIC right to sell tea in America w/out paying sell tea in America w/out paying normal taxesnormal taxes

American merchants protestedAmerican merchants protested– Several port cities refused ships carrying Several port cities refused ships carrying

teatea– 1773 Boston Tea Party1773 Boston Tea Party

Parliament Punishes Parliament Punishes ColoniesColonies

Spring 1774, Spring 1774, Coercive ActsCoercive Acts passed passed Bad timing?Bad timing? Colonists call for a united response to Colonists call for a united response to

“Intolerable Acts” “Intolerable Acts”

June, 1774, Quebec ActJune, 1774, Quebec Act– Govt. w/ no representative assemblyGovt. w/ no representative assembly– Expanded borders into Mississippi ValleyExpanded borders into Mississippi Valley– Guaranteed free practice of CatholicsGuaranteed free practice of Catholics

1st Continental Congress1st Continental Congress

Sept. 5, 1774, convened in Sept. 5, 1774, convened in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia– 56 delegates from almost every colony56 delegates from almost every colony– Agreed to boycott British goodsAgreed to boycott British goods– Called on colonists to Called on colonists to arm themselvesarm themselves

Delegates 1Delegates 1stst appeal to the king appeal to the king

““The foundation of English liberty, and of all The foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right of the people free government, is a right of the people to participate in their legislative council: to participate in their legislative council: and as English colonists are not and as English colonists are not represented, and…cannot properly be represented, and…cannot properly be represented in the British Parliament, they represented in the British Parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclusive power are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of legislatures, where their right of representation can alone be preserved.”representation can alone be preserved.”

-Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, -Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 17741774

On October 26, the Congress endedOn October 26, the Congress ended– Members vowed to meet again in the Members vowed to meet again in the

spring if the crisis was not resolvedspring if the crisis was not resolved

November 18, the King November 18, the King

writes: writes: – ““The New England The New England

governments are in a state governments are in a state

of rebellion”of rebellion”

““Gentlemen may cry, ‘Peace! Peace!’- Gentlemen may cry, ‘Peace! Peace!’- but there is not peace…. The next but there is not peace…. The next gale that sweeps from the north will gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!...Is life so dear, or resounding arms!...Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but for what course others may take; but for me, give me liberty or give me me, give me liberty or give me death!”death!”

- Patrick Henry (1775)- Patrick Henry (1775)

Shot Heard Round the WorldShot Heard Round the World

Americans that King George labeled Americans that King George labeled “rebels” called themselves “rebels” called themselves PatriotsPatriots

Formed militias Formed militias (armies of trained civilians)(armies of trained civilians) and began to gather guns and and began to gather guns and ammunitionammunition

Concord, 20 miles from BostonConcord, 20 miles from Boston Late at night, April 18, 1775, 800 Late at night, April 18, 1775, 800

British troops marched toward British troops marched toward Concord Concord

Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott sent on horseback to alert Prescott sent on horseback to alert Patriot leadersPatriot leaders

British forces encountered 70 militia British forces encountered 70 militia (“minute-men”) at Lexington(“minute-men”) at Lexington

Destroy some supplies at Concord, Destroy some supplies at Concord, but are met by thousands of Patriots but are met by thousands of Patriots as they return to Bostonas they return to Boston

Over ¼ killed or woundedOver ¼ killed or wounded Is war inevitable?Is war inevitable?

Siege of BostonSiege of Boston Following L&C (April, 1775), ~20,000 Following L&C (April, 1775), ~20,000

armed Patriots surround Boston to prevent armed Patriots surround Boston to prevent 6,000 British troops from crushing the 6,000 British troops from crushing the rebellionrebellion

In May, Vermont’s militia captured Fort In May, Vermont’s militia captured Fort Ticonderoga in NYTiconderoga in NY

June, two hills north of Boston occupiedJune, two hills north of Boston occupied– G.B.’s third attempt to capture hills successfulG.B.’s third attempt to capture hills successful– 1,100 of 2,400 British killed or wounded1,100 of 2,400 British killed or wounded– Patriot casualties numbered 400Patriot casualties numbered 400

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress Convene May, 1775 in PhiladelphiaConvene May, 1775 in Philadelphia

Create Continental ArmyCreate Continental Army– G.W. as commander of G.W. as commander of American forcesAmerican forces

Support Olive Branch PetitionSupport Olive Branch Petition– T.J. and DickinsonT.J. and Dickinson– Rejected outright by KingRejected outright by King

Thomas Paine’s Thomas Paine’s Common SenseCommon Sense

Pamphlet appeared in Pamphlet appeared in

Philadelphia in January, 1776Philadelphia in January, 1776 Message to the colonists was blunt:Message to the colonists was blunt:

““The Period of debate is closed. Arms as the The Period of debate is closed. Arms as the last resource decide the contest…. Every last resource decide the contest…. Every thing that is right or natural pleads for thing that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART.”TO PART.”

Meanwhile, in Boston…Meanwhile, in Boston…

G.W. placed cannons that had G.W. placed cannons that had arrived from Fort Ticonderoga on arrived from Fort Ticonderoga on Dorchester HeightsDorchester Heights

He could shell British forces in Boston He could shell British forces in Boston and ships in Boston Harborand ships in Boston Harbor

British, defenseless, abandon Boston British, defenseless, abandon Boston in March of 1776in March of 1776

Estimated Population of Estimated Population of Colonies in 1770Colonies in 1770