+Bellringer 1/2/2012

Define:Mercenary

RecruitDesert

+

American Revolution

+Problems With Britain

1) Stationed 10,000 Soldier in the colonies

2) Prohibited colonists to move west After the French and Indian War Britain had a HUGE

debt they were desperate for a way to repay.

+Taxation Without Representation Sugar Act – lowered the tax on molasses but

encouraged colonists to pay the British tax on sugar. Forced smugglers to be judged by a British appointed

judge, rather by jury.

Stamp Act – placed a tax on all printed material in the colonies. This included everything from newspapers and pamphlets to wills and playing cards.

People were made because: 1) It taxed colonists without their consent 2) In interfered in colonial affairs by taxing them directly.

+Protest

People boycotted and refused to buy British and European goods in protest.

Farmers and merchants signed nonimportation agreements, which pledged not to import goods from Britain.

+Townshend Acts

Taxed only imported goods, so the colonists wouldn’t get as mad.

Goods included basic imported items, such as glass, tea, paper, and lead. Colonists did not produce these goods.

Colonists boycotted again!!!

+Boston MassacreFight broke out in the

crowd. Angry townspeople

taunted the soldiers and dared them to fire.

One of the soldiers got knocked down and the redcoats fired. 5 colonists were killed.

+The Word Spreads

Colonial leaders used the killings as propaganda – information designed to influence opinion – against the British.

Sam Adams and Paul Revere set up posters and drawings, showing the British opening fire into the crowd.

Britain tried to help its self image by repealing all taxes except for tea.

The Boston Tea Party Samuel Adams and The

Sons of Liberty in Boston acted quickly in December, 1773

The royal governor, who’s house was previously destroyed by Stamp Act protestors, did not allow the ships to go back to London

He ordered the tea to be unloaded, and Adams and the Sons of Liberty went to work.

+The Boston Tea Party Ctd…

On Dec. 16th 1773, a group of Men dressed as Mohawk Indians and armed with hatchets marched into the docks.

They boarded the ships and threw out 342 chests of tea. This was the Boston Tea Party

Men and women went into the streets and celebrated this event. Still, most colonists still considered themselves British colonists.

The Intolerable ActsThe King promised Boston

will payThe Coercive Acts were

harsh laws designed to make Massachusetts pay.

Boston Harbor was closed until the colonists paid for the tea.

Many rights of the people were taken away, such as prohibiting town meetings.

+The Intolerable Acts

The final straw was the Coercive Acts forced people to house British Soldiers IN THEIR HOMES!!!.

Instead of isolating Boston, to the surprise of the King, other colonies sent food and clothing to support Boston.

The colonists renamed the laws the Intolerable Acts.

The Continental Congress

Representatives from all colonies came

New York sent John Jay, Massachusetts sent Sam and his brother John Adams, a successful lawyer

Virginia sent Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, as well as George Washington.

+Different Interests

The colonies had different views, but now they had a common goal

The delegates voted to boycott all British goods.

They also decided to form militias, groups of citizen soldiers.

If fighting did break out, colonies would have a military ready for fighting.

Minutemen were soldiers who would be ready for fighting in a minutes noticed if war broke out.

The King Sends Troops

It was rumored the colonists were storing ammunition and weapons at Concord, a town close to Boston.

King George sent 700 troops to Concord

Paul Revere

Dr. Joseph Warren of Boston saw troops form ranks and then march out of the city

He rushed to alert Paul Revere. Revere rushed to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that “The British were coming”

Adams heard the news and yelled “What a glorious morning this is”

The colonists were ready to fight for their independence

Battle of Lexington and Concord

When the British arrived at Lexington, 70 minutemen stood in the army of about 700’s way.

A redcoat shouted, “Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels”

It is unknown who, but someone then fired a shot. Bullets rang out and when it was over, eight minutemen were dead.

+Lexington and Concord

The troops destroyed the remaining supplies, although many were removed by colonists, and headed back to Boston.

However, Blacksmiths, saddle makers, farmers, and clerks hid behind rocks, trees, and stone fences.

As the British walked back down the trail, the colonists fired.

By the time the British reached Boston, 200 were wounded and 73 were dead.

Building ForcesLexington and Concord

became known as “The shot heard round the world.

The battle for America’s independence from Britain had begun.

Volunteers started to join the militias. Soon the army around Boston was 20,000 strong.

Americans and British waited for the other to make the next move.

+The Battle of Bunker Hill

1,200 Militia men were stationed on Bunker and Breed’s Hill on June 16, 1775

The British decided to drive the Americans out. They charged up the hill.

Colonel Prescott, low on ammunition, shouted the order “Don’t fire until you see the white in their eyes!!”

+

+Result of Bunker Hill Ctd…

The Americans opened fire, causing the British to retreat.

The redcoats charged twice more, and eventually the Americans had to retreat

The British won the Battle of Bunker Hill, but had more than 1000 soldiers dead and wounded.

The British learned defeating America would not be easy.

Decisions

Americans now had 2 choices:

1. Become Loyalists and stay loyal with Britain. These people did not consider taxes to be unfair and worth a rebellion.

2. Become Patriots, and fight the British to the end, until independence was won.

+Second Continental Congress

Three weeks after Lexington and Concord the Second Continental Congress met. Representatives from all 13 colonies were present.

John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington all showed up again

This time, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson (Only 32 years old) showed up as well

The Congress starts to Govern

The Congress authorized the printing of money, and set up a post office.

They also created the Continental Army

The army needed a commander, and they unanimously chose George Washington.

Last Warning

The Colonists sent the Olive Branch Petition to Britain. This told the king the colonists wanted peace, if their rights were protected

King George III refused to receive the petition.

He hired 30,000 troops to send to America

+Getting the Armies Ready

Washington reached Boston a few weeks after Bunker Hill, and began training new soldiers.

His army grew everyday, but lacked discipline, organization, and leadership.

The redcoats, under Sir William Howe landed in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Colonists Decide to Strike First

An army led by American General, Benedict Arnold, attacked Montreal, once they learned the British were going to invade New York

He tried to attack Quebec as well, but failed.

Common Sense

Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet Common Sense, which gave the reasons for revolution

It sold 120,000 copies in three months

It inspired thousands of Americans

Debate on Independence

Meanwhile, at the Second Continental Congress, the debate was heated on whether to separate from Britain

Many wanted to separate, however others feared the power of Great Britain to defeat the Americans

Declaration of IndependenceWhile the debate roared

on, a committee was formed to write the declaration of independence.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the declaration.

This was the official document that stated America should be seen as an independent country, and not controlled by Great Britain

+Independence Day

After minor changes, the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4th 1776.

John Hancock, the president of the congress, was the first to sign.

He wrote his name big enough so King George could read it without his glasses.

All 55 delegates signed it. Washington read it to his men, and they cheered with firing their muskets, cannons, bonfires, and other demonstrations of joy.

+

Inside the DeclarationThe Declaration listed the basic rights of human beings, according to Thomas Jefferson

It also listed in detail the abuses of the British since 1763.

Americans declared themselves a new nation. However, King George III and the British would not let their colonies get away so easily.