us hist - road to revolution
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PPT "The Road to Revolution"TRANSCRIPT
The Road to Revolution
What, When, Why
The Stamp Act
What:– First direct tax on colonists.
Taxed any paper products. When:
– March 1765 Why:
– Britain wanted the colonists to help pay for the cost of military defense.
Reaction:– Colonists were very angry and
defiant.
Sons of Liberty
Samuel Adams What:
– Group of men led by Sam Adams. They used intimidation and violence to protest.
When:– July 1765
Why:– Opposed to the Stamp Act.
Reaction:– Stamp agents fearful and
resign. Some American merchants stop ordering British goods.
Townshend Acts
What: – Taxes on any goods imported
from Britain. When:
– June 1767 Why:
– Officially to offset the costs of administering and protecting the colonies. Unofficially, imposed by Townshend to prove that he could do it.
Reaction:
– Boycott of British goods,
colonists made their own stuff.
Boston Massacre
What:– Fight between British
soldiers and Boston citizens.
When– March 1770
Why: – Soldiers being bothered by
people so shot back. Reaction:
– Troops withdrawn, Bostonians very angry.
Committees of Correspondence
What: – Groups formed throughout
colonies that wrote to each other.
When: – 1772
Why:– To keep other towns and
colonies informed. Reaction:
– More colonists supportive
after learning about events.
Boston Tea Party
What: – Colonists dress up as
Indians and dump all the tea from British ships in the Boston harbor.
When:– March 1774
Why: – To protest the tea tax.
Reaction: – Britain passes more laws,
colonists becoming united.
What:– Speech by Patrick Henry.
When: – March 1775
Why:– Announces that he believes life
in America is not worth living if they cannot be free from Britain’s rule.
Reaction: – Colonists move closer to
declaring independence.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
‘Shot Heard Around the World’
What: – First shots fired between the
British and the colonists at Lexington.
When: – April 19, 1775
Why:– British trying to destroy
colonists’ weapons, colonists defend themselves.
Result:– The Revolutionary War has
begun.
Second Continental Congress
What:– Second group of colonists that
get together to discuss problems with the British.
When:– May 1775 - 1776
Why:– To make decisions about how to
handle the break from Britain. Results:
– George Washington becomes General of the Army, Declaration of Independence written.
–
George Washington
Ben FranklinJohn Adams
Thomas Jefferson
John
Hancock
“Common Sense”
What: – A pamphlet written by
Thomas Paine. When:
– January 1776 Why:
– To criticize the King and argue for independence.
Result:– More colonists convinced
to break away from Great Britain.
We have it in our power to begin the world anew
Declaration of Independence
What:– Document signed by colonial leaders.
When:– July 4, 1776
Why: – To announce to the world that the
colonists have decided that they can no longer live under the rule of Britain, America is going to be a free and independent nation.
Result: – Ultimately a new nation. The war
eventually ends and the Declaration is used many times by other groups of people as a foundation for fights for freedom.
The Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress chose Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
For the final draft, Thomas Jefferson, was assisted by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no public speaker. In the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause. As the "silent member" of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence.
You might have thought that George Washington was in Philadelphia with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and the other delegates of te Continental Congress as they wrote the Declaration of Independence, but he wasn't. In July 1776, Washington was in New York with his troops. On July 9, he received his copy of the Declaration with a note from John Hancock telling Washington to share the news with the troops. Can you imagine how the troops reacted?
John Dunlap is thought to have printed between 200 to 500 Broadsides that July 4th evening which were distributed to the members of Congress on July 5th. Contrary to popular belief, this printed document with only Hancock and Thomson's names was the actual document delivered to King George III in England later that year. The names of the other delegates who voted for Independence were not published until 1777.
In fact, the Declaration of Independencewas made to be read aloud…