Why did Britain liked having the Colonies?

Why did Britain liked having the Colonies?MERCANTILISM: a country’s ultimate goal

was self-sufficiency and that all countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver.

American colonies were Britain’s main market to sell their goods, and also a source for all their raw materials.

In order to finance debts from French and Indian War, as well as other European, Parliament started taxing the colonies.

What different acts were passed? What was the colonists’ reaction to the acts?

What different acts were passed? What was the colonists’ reaction to the acts?The Stamp Act (1765)The Stamp Act required colonists to purchase special

stamped paper for every legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, and almanac, and imposed special “stamp duties” on packages of playing cards and dice.

People who disobeyed the law, were sent to trial, where convictions were regular.

Protests to the Stamp ActSons of Liberty(SOL): a group of Boston shop-keepers,

artisans, and laborers organized a secret resistance group. Founder Samuel Adams.

By the end of 1765 the SOL was harassing customs workers, stamp agents, and royal governors.

The Stamp Act was effective on November 1, 1765, and the colonial protests prevented any stamps being sold

What different acts were passed? What was the colonists’ reaction to the acts?Protests to the Stamp ActIn October 1765, delegates from nine colonies

met in NYC. This was known as the Stamp Act Congress.

They issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which stated that Parliament lacked the power to impose taxes on the colonies because the colonists were not represented.

The boycott worked and in March 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act.

Declaratory Act: Parliament had the right to create laws for the colonies.

What different acts were passed? What was the colonists’ reaction to the acts?The Townshend Acts:Townshend acts: (1767) Parliament passed an

indirect tax on imported materials (glass, lead, paint and paper) as they came into the colonies from Britain.

This imposed a three-penny tax on tea, the most popular drink in the colonies.

Protest to the Townshend Acts:The colonists reacted with rage and well-organized

resistance.“No taxation with representation.”Wealthy women stopped buying British luxuries and

joined other women in spinning bees- a public demonstration of colonists making their own clothes and made tea from birch bark and sage.

Tension Mounts in Massachusetts

Tension Mounts in MassachusettsJune 1768 British agents in Boston seized the Liberty, a ship owned by John Hancock and accused him of smuggling.

This cause riots against customs agents and the British stationed 2,000 “redcoats” or British soldiers in Boston.

This led to the tension in Boston.

Tension Mounts in MassachusettsThe Boston MassacreBackground: Tension started when the poorly paid soldiers

were looking for extra work in local shipyards during off-duty hours

On March 5, 1770 a fist-fight broke out over jobs. That night one guard, British Private Hugh White stands

alone outside the Custom House. That night a mob gathered in front of the Customs House

and taunted the guards. White is all alone, and calls for help. Captain Thomas

Preston and 7 other guards come to help. The crowd taunts the soldiers to fire.Private Hugh Montgomery is knocked down and someone

yells fire!The soldiers shoot into the crowd. In the end, Crispus Attucks and four other men were dead

in the snow.

Tension Mounts in MassachusettsBoston Massacre ContinuedSamuel Adams and other colonial agitators labeled this

confrontation the Boston Massacre, thus presenting it as a British attack on defenseless citizens.

As English subjects they were tried in the Superior Court of Judicature, the highest court in Massachusetts.

John Adams was their lawyer, one of our future Presidents.

The Loyalists wanted them pardon, the patriots wanted them found guilty.

Kilroy and Montgomery faced the death penalty, but used the “prayed the benefit of the clergy”.

The majority of the people couldn’t read. So if you could, you were off for murder.

They were branded with a “M” on the right thumb so they couldn’t use this again.

Samuel Adams wrote several articles for the Boston Gazette under the name “Vindex” claimed that the soldiers escaped with blood on their hands.

Tension Mounts in MassachusettsThe Boston Tea PartyIn 1773 Lord Frederick North, the British Prime Minister,

was having a problem. The British East India Company was loosing a lot of money

due to the colonist’s boycott on tea. Their warehouses had 17 million pounds of tea laying

around. To solve this problem they enacted the Tea Act, which would

get rid of the tax that colonists had to pay on their tea. Instead the colonists hated the Tea Act, because it made

local tea more expensive compared to British tea. On December 16, 1773, a large group of rebels disguised

themselves as Native Americans and proceeded to take action against three British Tea Ships anchored in the harbor.

They dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the harbor.

Tension mounts in MassachusettsThe Intolerable ActsIn 1774 Parliament responded to King George III

responded by passing a series of measures that British called the Coercive Acts or the colonists fondly called the Intolerable Acts.

The Intolerable Acts included:Shut down Boston harbor because colonists refused to

pay for damaged tea. Quartering act: authorized British commanders to

house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings.

General Thomas Gage, the commander in chief of the British soldiers became the governor of Massachusetts. To keep the peace he placed Boston under martial law.

The Colonies Unite

The Colonies UniteThe First Continental Congress. The First Continental Congress came together in

September 1773. 56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights.

They defended the colonies’ right to run their affairs.

They believed they had the right to fight against the British if they were abusing their privileges.

They also agreed to met again in May 1775 if their demands were not met.

Now minutemen or civilian soldiers began to stockpile firearms.

The Colonies UniteLexington and ConcordGage prepares to send men to Concord to destroy all the

Minutemen’s arms. Paul Revere was sent to warn the men of Concord that the

British were coming. He organized a network of riders who would spread the alarm.

On April 19, 1775 the king’s troops have reached Lexington.

They saw 70 Minutemen on the battlefield. Someone fired and the British soldiers shot into the militia. 8 Minutemen were killed, 10 were wounded, but only 1

British soldier was injured. The battle lasted 15 minutes It was known as the shot that was heard around the world.They continued on to Concord where they found the

arsenal empty. The British soldiers were heading back up to Boston, when

3,000-4,000 Minutemen hide behind trees and stone walls. British soldiers fell by the dozen.

The War Begins

The War BeginsThe Second Continental Congress:John Adams suggested the following:Each colony set up their own governmentThe Congress declare the colonies independent. Make the militiamen became the Continental

Congress and have a general to lead them. Congress agreed to recognize them as a

Continental army and appointed 43 year old George Washington.

This time Congress began acting like an independent government by printing paper money to pay troops and organized a committee to deal with foreign nations.

The War BeginsThe Battle of Bunker HillOn June 17, 1775 British General Thomas

Gage sent almost 2,400 British soldiers to meet the militiamen on Breed’s Hill.

The British army lined up in the customary broad lines.

They ran up the hill in 3 waves, and the British only succeeded because the colonists ran out of ammunition.

The colonists lost 450 men, while the British lost 1,000 causalities.

It was the deadliest battle of the war.

The War BeginsOlive Branch PetitionMany of the Colonists felt loyal to England

and King George III.On July 8, 1775 the loyalists sent the Olive

Branch Petition to the King in hopes to regain peace in the colonies.

King George said no and ordered Parliament to set up a blockade of the American coast because the colonies were in a rebellion.

Creating the Declaration of Independence

Creating the Declaration of IndependenceCommon Sense:An anonymous 50 page pamphlet written by

Thomas Paine attacking King George III. It stated the following:

It declared that the time had come for the colonists to claim their independence.

It was their “destiny” to trade freely to gain guns, ammunition, and foreign aid to gain victory over Britain.

That independence would give Americans the chance to create a better society.

It sold nearly 500,000 copies and was widely applauded.

Creating the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaring IndependenceBy the summer 1776 the colonies were slowly

declaring their independence. The writers were: John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman

The Declaration of Independence drew on the ideas of John Locke.

He stated that the people should enjoy “natural rights” to life, liberty and property.

Jefferson described these rights as “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

The Declaration also stated another one of Locke’s ideas; that the government should take their power by consent of the people.

Creating the Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence cont…The Declaration also stated another one of Locke’s

ideas; that the government should take their power by consent of the people.

Also that people had the right to change or abolish any government that threatened their unalienable rights (natural rights).

They also had the right to create a government that will uphold these rights.

It also stated that “all men are created equal”.This meant that all free citizens are equal political

equals, not that all men are equal.On July 2, 1776 the delegates voted unanimously

that the American colonies were free. July 4, 1776 they adopted the Declaration of

Independence.

The War

The WarThe Loyalists and the PatriotsThe Loyalists were opposed to independence

and wanted to remain loyal to the crown. Some knew little of the revolution. They thought Britain was going to win the war. They thought the crown would protect their

rights more effectively than the new colonial governments would.

Many slaves fought because they were promised their freedom.

Native Americans believed that the British were less of a threat than the colonists.

The WarThe Patriots were supporters of independence.Patriots wanted freedom for many other

reasons.Some saw economic opportunity. They wanted political freedom.They embraced many different people: farmers,

artisans, merchants, landowners, and elected officials.

Patriots made up half of the population. Now America was fighting a war of Independence

and a Civil war between their own countrymen.

Military Strengths and WeaknessesUnited States Great Britain

Strengths Weaknesses Strengths WeaknessesFamiliarity of home ground

Most soldiers were untrained and undisciplined

Strong, well-trained army and navy

Large distance separating Britain from battlefields

Leadership of George Washington and other officers

Shortage of food and ammunition

Strong central government with available funds

Troops unfamiliar with terrain

Inspiring cause of the independence

Inferior navy Support of colonial Loyalists and Native Americans

Weak Military leaders

No central government to enforce wartime policies

Sympathy of certain British politicians for the American cause

Time Line of the WarThe Empire Strikes Back!!!!

Time Line of the WarFort Ticonderoga, NY: May, 10 1775

Located in upstate New YorkMission: capture Britain's weapons. Led by Ethan Allen, who led the Green Mountain Boys

and Benedict Arnold. 400 men are successful invaded the fort, it is

significant because the colonists got artillery and it raised their morale.

Defeat in NY. – Battle of Long Island: June to September of 1776The British Soldiers: 22,000 men, including German

Mercenaries or Hessians, and Scottish Highland warriors. American: 19,000 men.

They were forced to retreat, due to being outnumbered and poorly trained.

Left with only 8,000 men.

Time Line of the WarThe Battle of Trenton, NJ:

Washington was going to risk everything on 12/25/1776. He led 2,400 men in small rowboats across the Delaware

River. They marched 9 miles through the snow to Trenton, NJ.The Hessians felt safe because of the storm, and were drunk

and asleep. Americans kill 30 enemies, took 918 captives and 6 cannons.

The War: 1777The war was fought on four front

Upstate NY and New England NJ, PA and downstate NY The South Western Frontier Diplomatic Front: France: diplomats John Adams and Ben

Franklin

Time Line of the WarBattle of Princeton, NJ: January 2,1777

General Charles Cornwallis planned to attack GW’s men at nightGW sent troops to do a surprise attack January 3rd American General Hugh Mercer fought the two

British units. The line was fading, and GW rode into battle., and had a stunning

victory.They retired to Morristown, NJ

Brandywine, PA: September 10, 1777GW was parading his men, not realizing the Howe landed his

troops near Philadelphia. They met at Brandywine, where GW had to retreat his men to the

capital. Congress and GW’s men fled, while Howe took the city.October 4: GW attacked the bulk of Howe’s men at Germantown,

PA, but was defeated.

Time Line of the WarValley Forge, VA

Conditions at Valley Forge were harsh. Out of the 10,000 men, ¼ died to disease, starvation, and freezing to death, while others fled.

Prussian Officer, Baron Friedrich von Steuben trained the soldiers. He was a captain and talented drillmaster volunteer to help Washington get the soldiers ready for war.

Nathaniel Green, new quartermaster, who alleviated many of the problems at the forge.

The men were ready for battle, and May of 1778 France declared war on England.

Time Line of the WarSaratoga, NY: 1777

General John Burgoyne wanted to end the war. He expected that General Howe would be at Albany to meet

him to cut off N. England from the rest of the colonies. He seized Fort Ticonderoga, lost men at Bennington, but was

destroyed at Saratoga by the leadership of General Benedict Arnold.

Guilford Courthouse, NC: March 15, 1781GW choose the general Nathaniel Greene to take over the

campaign in the South. He fought Commander Cornwallis, who defeated the colonists. Bright side: Cornwallis had to retreat some of his men to the

interior of NC and Britain finally realized this was not going to be easy.

The WarYorktown: 1781

Britain used the coast to move men and suppliesMarquis de Lafayette: a brave, idealistic 20 year old

French aristocrat. He came to help Washington as well. He was able to get French reinforcements in 1779, and commanded the American troops in Virginia in the last two years of the war.

Lafayette was able to convince King Louis XVI to send a fleet.

Admiral Francois de Grasse arrived in the Chesapeake Bay on August 5, and defeated the British navy.

The French navy block Cornwallis’s escape route from the Chesapeake Bay, and the 16,000 French and American troops surrounded the British troops.

The siege lasted 3 weeks, and finally surrendered on October 17, 1781.

On October 19 General Charles O’Hara, representing Cornwallis, handed over his sword to George Washington and the French. A symbol of the British’s surrender.

The War

The WarCivilians at War:As the men marched off, women had to take care of

the home, farm and businesses. Ben Franklin’s daughter, Sarah Franklin Bache,

organized volunteers to mend clothes for soldiers. Many women made ammunition from household

items and some followed their husbands to battle to wash, mend and cook for the troops.

Margaret Corbin replaced a gunner and was shot. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley took her husband’s

place at the cannon when he was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth. She was known to carry around pitchers of water and was known Molly Pitcher.

Treaty of Paris

Treaty of Paris Peace talks started in Paris in 1782Four nations were included and each of the

nations were focused on their interests:U.S.: wanted freedom.Britain: wanted to keep AmericaFrance: wanted to make sure that America did

not become a world powerSpain: wanted the land between the Appalachian

Mountains and the Mississippi John Adams, Ben Franklin and John Jay were

sent to the negotiations to ensure that America became a free nation.

Treaty of ParisThe Treaty was signed in September of 1783The Treaty included:

Declared the U.S. independent. Set the boundaries: The U.S. now went from the

Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. But…British made no attempt to protect their Native

American allies. British did not have to leave their forts. British creditors could collect their money from

American Colonists.