The Conflict Begins

King George & Parliament

vs.

The Colonies

The Debt

• Parliament will begin to pay for the debt from the war with the Sugar Act.Sugar Act.

• This was a tax on molasses and sugarmolasses and sugar. These were everyday items.

• Colonist were angered by the tax because they had no voice in the ParliamentParliament back in England.

• The slogan “No taxation without “No taxation without representation” is born.representation” is born.

Boycotts begin

• BoycottBoycott – This a refusal to buy or support specific goods.

• The aim of the boycotts was to hurthurt the British economy and draw attention to the colonists frustration.

Stamp Act 1765

• This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal, official stamp, or seal, when they bought paper when they bought paper items.items.

• This was a direct tax on the people.

• Protests began immediately.

• The Sons of LibertySons of Liberty are born in Boston.

• Colonists began saying that this was a violation of their rights and libertiesrights and liberties. Mr. Duvall

THE BIG MISTAKE

• Parliament repealed the Stamp Act under pressure from London merchants that were suffering the boycotts.

• This was the Parliaments biggest mistakebiggest mistake.• By repealing the Stamp Act, they gave the colonists a

sense of empowerment or control over themselves.empowerment or control over themselves.• Parliament would never get their full authority back

again.• Parliament realized this because they immediately

passed the Declaratory Acts.Declaratory Acts.• The Declaratory Acts basically said Parliament had the

right to make laws for the colonies.

The Townshend Acts 1767

• This is another tax on the colonists that gives raise to the Daughters of Liberty.

• It further angers the colonies.

The Boston Massacre

• This event is important because of its uses by the Sons of Liberty as a piece of Sons of Liberty as a piece of propaganda.propaganda.

• Propaganda Propaganda – The spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring a cause.

• Paul ReverePaul Revere picture ignites the colonists against the British (England)

The Boston Tea Party

• This event is caused by the Tea ActTea Act. (1773)• This allowed the British East India Company

to sell tea directly to the colonists. This gave them an unfair advantage over colony merchants.

• The Sons of Liberty will dump 340 chests of The Sons of Liberty will dump 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor (December 1773) in tea into Boston Harbor (December 1773) in protest.protest.

• This leads to the Intolerable Acts.

Intolerable Acts

• They closedclosed Boston Harbor• Massachusetts's legislature is limited

(Government)• Royal officials guaranteed friendly judge

and jury.• Quartering ActQuartering Act is imposed (House

soldiers)• Colony of Quebec received large piece of

land.

First Continental Congress

• This was a gathering of colonial leaders who were troubled with the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain (England).

• They will send King George III of England a Declaration of Rights.Declaration of Rights.

• They did not want to separate from England at this time.

“Patriot”

• In time, individuals like Patrick Henry, would begin to refer to themselves as Patriots.

• PatriotPatriot – A colonist who chooses to fight for independence from Great Britain.

Lexington and ConcordApril 1775

• “The Shot heard round the World”• Paul Revere and others set out to warn

the rebels that the British Army was on the move.

• Minutemen will meet the army just outside the town of Lexington. Shots were fired!

• The RedcoatsRedcoats (British soldiers) marched on to Concord to find no guns or ammunitions.

“Common Sense

• This was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine.Thomas Paine.• He argued that citizens should make the laws

not kings and queens. (This is crazy talk at this time in history.)

• He also made an argument about the benefits of staying a colony with England. The question he poised was there any benefitany benefit to stay with England.

• He supported economic freedom.He supported economic freedom.

Declaration of Independence

• Written by Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson• The document was broken into four parts.• The first part discusses that people have unalienable

rights. (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of HappinessLife, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness)• The second part discusses the grievances against the

king. (What he did wrong)• The third part covers the right of people to break away

from governments that suppress its people.suppress its people.• Finally, it states that we are a free people and Finally, it states that we are a free people and

formally break away from England.formally break away from England.

Second Continental Congress

• They meet again in May of 1775.

• They form the Continental Army (An army to fight the British).

• They named George WashingtonGeorge Washington as its leader of the army.

The Battle Bunker Hill

• This fight took place outside of Boston on Breed’s Hill.• The Continental Army was low on supplies and

ammunition. The rebel commander would give the order “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”

• It would take three attempts by the British to take the hill before success. (700 men dead)

• ** Bunker Hill was a moral victory for the Continental ** Bunker Hill was a moral victory for the Continental Army. It gave them the idea that they could fight Army. It gave them the idea that they could fight with the British Army and with the proper equipment with the British Army and with the proper equipment even beat them.**even beat them.**

Battle of New York

• General HoweGeneral Howe of the British Army destroyed the Patriot Army led by Washington at New York sending the Continental Army fleeing. (1776)

Battle of Trenton (1776)

• General WashingtonGeneral Washington of the Continental Army was in need of a victory for his army. It was in danger of falling apart.

• He decided to attack a portion of the British Army that was lead by HessiansHessians the day after Christmas.

• He crossed the Delaware Delaware RiverRiver at night and surprised the sleeping army in the morning.

Battle of Princeton (1777)

• General Cornwallis of the British Army was angry with Washington’s tactics rushed to catch Washington after Trenton.

• Washington tricked Washington tricked Cornwallis and defeated Cornwallis and defeated him at Princeton.him at Princeton.

• These two victories gave the needed boost of energy the Continental Army needed.

Battle of Saratoga• This battle is considered the turning pointthe turning point in

the war.• It was the turning point for several reasons.• First: One of the largest armies in the northlargest armies in the north

surrendered to the Continental Army.• Second: King Louis XVI of France signed a

treaty with the colonists. He agreed to send troops and a navynavy. (Spain also joins the colonists side.)

• Third: Morale soars and leads to the army increasing in size.

Valley Forge

• Washington camped here for the winter of 1777.

• Valley Forge was a winter of suffering for the Continental Army. Over 2000 soldiers would die that winter (starvation and sickness).

• It symbolized the colonist’s resolve for It symbolized the colonist’s resolve for freedomfreedom.

War in the South

• General CornwallisGeneral Cornwallis of the British Army made a major mistake after several battles with General Nathanael General Nathanael Green of the Continental Army.Green of the Continental Army.

• He moved his army to Yorktown for supplies and to make contact with the British Navy.

• General George WashingtonGeneral George Washington took the opportunity and moved several armies to surround Cornwallis at Yorktown.

• Cornwallis hoped to escape by sea but the French Navy French Navy trapped his army and cut off the sea.trapped his army and cut off the sea.

• He was forced to surrender the largest army in He was forced to surrender the largest army in America to General Washington.America to General Washington.

The Treaty of Paris

• Great Britain had to recognize the independence of the United States.

• Establish the border to the United States ending at the Mississippi River.

• Spain got Florida back from England.