Revolutionary WarRevolutionary WarMrs. Melanie’s Class

BeginningsBeginnings In 1760 the French and Indian War ended. Britain had succeeded in driving France from the

Ohio Valley. With the French gone, English colonists wanted to

move west, over the Appalachians for better farm land that had been controlled by the French.

Native Americans were living in the Ohio Valley and had been for thousands of years. French traders had treated them as friends and often held feasts and gave gifts. The British refused to do this. The English began to build forts and increased the prices of their goods to the Native Americans.

This caused the Native Americas to ban together and attack the British in Pontiacs’ War.

The war ended when France contacted the Native Americas, that they would no longer help them fight the British.

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763This battle convinced the British

Government that they must close lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to settlers.

The government issued the Proclamation of 1763.

This law drew an imaginary line along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were forbidden to settle west of the line. All settlers who were living west of the line had to “remove themselves at once”.

To enforce the law, Britain sent 10,000 troops to the colonies.

BacklashBacklash -This Proclamation angered colonists. Colonies

such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia claimed lands in the west.

-Colonists were charged an extra tax to pay for the troops sent to enforce the law. Many ignored the law and settled west.

-The French and Indian War and Pontiacs War had put Britain into a deep debt.

-To pay off this debt, British citizens tax bills rose sharply.

-Since the colonists benefited most from these wars they should pay.

-Two new taxes were passed on the colonists: the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act put a tax on legal documents, such as wills, diplomas, and marriage licenses. It also taxed newspapers, almanacs, playing cards and dice.

TaxationTaxation-The colonists protested paying this tax by

rioting around the colonies. This shocked the British. They had spent much money protecting the colonies against the French. -The Colonists replied that the taxes were unjust. The taxes went against the principle of no taxation without representation.

-They insisted that only their elected representatives had the right to pass taxes.

-Since colonists could not elect members to parliament they had no right to tax them. -Colonists signed petitions and boycotted British goods to protest this tax.

Tax on TeaTax on TeaA tax on tea was also levied.

Colonists boycotted British tea and refused to pay the tax.

When the Governor ordered the ship captains to pay the tax on the tea or lose the cargo it made Bostonians angry. To protest, the tea was thrown into Boston harbor. This event was known as the Boston Tea Party.

Intolerable ActsIntolerable ActsThe British were outraged by this lawless

behavior. They responded by passing laws that would punish the colonists. The colonist called them the Intolerable Acts.

1. The Port of Boston was shut down. No ship could leave or enter until the ruined tea was paid.

2. Colonists could not hold town meetings more then once a year.

3. British customs officers and other officials changed with major crimes to be tried in Britain instead of Massachusetts.

4. A new Quartering Act was passed. Citizens could be forced to house troops in their homes.

Colony ResponseColony ResponseThe Colonists response to the

Intolerable Acts colonial leaders called a meeting in Philadelphia. 12 of the colonies attended, Georgia did not. This group was the First Continental Congress. They came up with a plan of action: Boycott British goods, stop exporting goods to Britain and train a militia in each colony.

Common SenseCommon Sense In January of 1776 Thomas Paine authored a

pamphlet called ‘Common Sense”. The arguments that appeared in the pamphlet urged colonies to declare their independence. He showed how colonist had nothing to gain under British rule and pointed out disadvantages;

“it is foolish to be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or permission, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in.”

Paine also attacked the idea of kings and queens as rulers. His reasoning was so clear that he won many to the side of fighting for independence. In six months more then 500,000 copies were sold. After reading Common Sense, George Washington stopped toasting the king at official dinners.

John LockeJohn Locke Another influential person in the Revolutionary War had been

dead for 70 years; his name was John Locke (1632-1702). He was born in England and was a teacher of philosophy at Oxford. He wrote a book called The Two Treatises which became influential in the fight for independence and to Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Locke’s writings influenced Jefferson and Madison’s views of religious freedom and the rights of individuals

In his book The Two Treatises he said that “Government has a right to protect people’s property and possessions. In order for this to happen, people must submit to laws made by rulers. Ultimately, people not the ruler have all the power. Government should rest on popular vote and rebellion is permissible if a government is not protecting the rights and liberties of the people.”

Locke based his philosophy on the premise that people are born with Natural Rights and are naturally good. They will naturally pursue happiness and pleasure and if done rationally, leads to cooperation and a meshing of private happiness and the general welfare of the country.

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependenceThe arguments that Paine wrote in

Common Sense made sense to many colonists who began to dislike British rule. It also affected members of the Continental Congress. The second continental congress met in 1775. This group decided to write a formal statement that told the world why they wanted to break away from Britain. There was danger in signing this document. It would be seen as a sign of treason by the British and they could be hung. This document was called the Declaration of Independence.

Parts of the DeclarationParts of the DeclarationPreambleBeliefsComplaints/GrievancesAttempts to Address GrievancesDeclarationSignatures