Eight Revolutionary DominoesBY,PAUL LARSON, DANIEL GREENE, & AMELIA SCOLFORO

PROFESSOR HAASU.S. HISTORY TO 1877 (HIST-1101-61)

JANUARY 26, 2017

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War, fought between 1754 and 1763, was between the French, the British, and their Native American allies in North America.

(Boundless. “The French and Indian War”)

The Ohio Valley was occupied by the Ohio Country Indians in the 1700’s.

In 1753, the French troops marched South from Canada to conquer the Ohio Valley.

The British protested the French’s march, claiming the Ohio Valley for themselves.

In May 1754, first shots were fired at French soldiers, led by George Washington.

(Boundless. “French-British Rivalryin the Ohio Country”)

Washington was forced to surrender by the French at Fort Necessity, a fort built for protection after the initial attack.

In 1755, Britain and the Virginia Militia took Fort Duquesne.

This fort was then attacked by the French and American Indians, who killed hundreds of British soldiers and militiamen.

Britain was defeated by the French and natives in the Battle of the Wilderness, along the Monongahela river.

Britain seized Nova Scotia in 1755 when they banished their whole population.

In 1755, British forces took a victory at Lake George, where they built Fort William Henry.

In 1756, the French captured Fort Oswego on the banks of the Great Lakes.

The French and Natives took on the massacre at Fort William Henry against the unarmed British.

A turning point came in 1758 for the British, when William Pitt, a member of parliament, recognized Britain's potential and pledged large amounts of money and resources on defeating the French.

A large group of British forces attacked a small French force destroying Fort Carillon, after the failed attempt a year earlier.

The Battle of Louisburg in 1758 ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada.

The British seize of Fort Niagara, in 1759, killing and wounding hundreds of French soldiers.

The British gained power over the French, defeating them in many battles and wars.

In 1759, the French surrendered Quebec to the British, after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

In 1760, New France negotiated a surrender with the British, ending the French and Indian War.

(Boundless. “The Seven Years’ War: 1754-1763”)

The Seven Years’ War

The Seven Years’ War, fought between 1756 and 1763, expanded from North America to Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.

(Boundless. “Peace of Paris”)

In 1756, the Seven Years’ War began as Great Britain declared was on France.

Following the French and Indian War, the war began on North American land and spread to Europe, where the British and French continued to fight.

In the first official year, British suffered a series of defeats against the French and Native American alliances.

The war in Europe began in 1756 when Britain and Prussia successfully invaded Saxony; although, it created a powerful coalition against them.

The French also suffered a series of defeats by the British in North America.

In 1759, the British captured the French island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.

The French planned an invasion of Britain but were defeated at Lagos, off Portugal and Quiberon Bay off Brittany.

After being unsuccessful in 1759, Britain took victory over Martinique in 1762.

The Siege of Pondicherry in 1760 was another defeat for the British.

The French fail at attempting to retake Newfoundland.

(Boundless. “A World War”)

The Battle of Manila, fought in 1762, resulted in the British taking the victory from Spain.

France suffered defeats against British forces in India.

A turning point came in 1763 when the Treaty of Paris 1763, which confirmed that France lost all claims to Canada and gave Louisiana to Spain. Britain received Spanish Florida, Upper Canada and various French holdings overseas.

The treaty strengthened the 13 American colonies by removing their European rivals to the north and the south.

Another turning point in 1763 was the signing of the Treaty of Hubertusburg, concluding the conflict of Austria and Prussia.

(Boundless. “The Peace of Paris”)

Sugar Act 1764

The Sugar Act of 1764 was a direct tax on sugar, molasses, wine, coffee, and other misc. items. The original Molasses Act of 1733 was a tax of 6 pence per gallon. This was a very high tax for the colonists to take on and parliament had a hard time enforcing it. Parliament decided that due to not being able to enforce this high tax it would be reducing it to 3 pence per gallon with the Sugar Act of 1764.

This was an act to raise even more revenue from the colonists. British Parliament thought that by reducing the rate by half and expanding measures to effectively enforce the tax, the British hoped that the new tax on sugar would actually be collected (Boundless: Sugar and Stamp Acts) Helping enforce this tax was the British military. Military members would collect this tax at ports of call as well as from there ships and seizing cargo.

The sugar act was passed during a time of economic depression in the colonies (Boundless: Sugar and Stamp Acts ) The trading of sugar and molasses was essential to there economy. The colonists saw a large decline in the rum industry at this time as molasses was the main ingredient to make it. The markets were now reduced as they could no longer trade with certain islands and the British West Indies.

The affected colonists were angry as this was taking money out of their pocket and putting a heavy burden on them financially. As a result they rebelled and decided to boycott British products. After some time had passed and numerous boycotts against British products the colonists finally got parliaments attention.

The Sugar Act was repealed in 1766 and replaced with the Revenue Act of 1766, which reduced the tax to one penny per gallon on molasses imports, British or foreign (Boundless: The sugar and Stamp Acts ) This was a huge win for the colonists! They stood their ground and their voice was finally heard by parliament. This victory would later become a big turning point in the colonists gaining independence.

Stamp Act 1765

The Stamp Act, passed in 1765, was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp (Boundless: The Sugar and Stamp Acts) British Parliament said that this tax was to help pay for the debt of the Seven Years War.

The taxes imposed deeply affected merchants as well as land owners. They were in complete disagreement and didn’t feel they should have to pay these taxes because they never had issues with the French or Native Indians that the British were fighting against in this war. Colonists decided to petition and boycott these taxes which caught the attention of a group called the Sons of Liberty.

The first wave of protests for the Stamp Act was the first time Americans from each of the thirteen colonies met together and planned a common front against illegal taxes. This also began the rise of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, who staged public protests over the taxes (Boundless: Acts of Parliament) The Sons of Liberty were a secret organization determined to fight the battle with the American colonists against the Crown.

Led by Samuel Adams they were a group that was very well organized with their main goal of protecting the rights of American colonists. They would find many different avenues to get their voice heard. Organizing protests or making pamphlets opposing parliaments decision to tax. They also rebelled against local post offices or any outposts using stamps enforced by the British.

The coming together between the colonists and Sons of Liberty ended in another victory! The Sons of Liberty were instrumental in defeating the Stamp Act. The Act was repealed on March 18, 1766 as a matter of expedience, but Parliament affirmed its power to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever" by also passing the Declaratory Act (Boundless: Sugar & Stamp Acts).

Townshend Act 1767

The Townshend Act of 1767 was a tax imposed by the British primarily to raise revenue in the colonies to pay the salaries of governors and judges so they would be independent of colonial rule (Boundless: The Townshend Acts) In response to these taxes, Samuel Adams wrote a letter called the Massachusetts Circular. As a result it only created more tension which led to the British taking military action.

The letter was written stating that taxes were not justified due the colonists of Massachusetts having no saying to a parliament that was 4,000 miles away. The Massachusetts Circular got Parliament’s attention, and in 1768, Lord Hillsborough sent 4,000 British troops to Boston to deal with the unrest and put down any potential rebellion there. (Boundless: Tax Protests)

In Boston colonists were congregating at local bars planning out their acts of boycotting. The boycotts also brought support from a group of woman called the Daughters of Liberty. In boycotting British goods these ladies would make clothes for the colonists. The group was very pro active in voicing against colonist buying imported goods from the British. Colonists would sign agreements stating that they wouldn’t buy imported goods as well.

There was minimal movement from the British In 1770 there was only a partial repeal of the Act.

The Boston Massacre was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which nine British Army soldiers killed five colonial civilian men.

The Boston Massacre

British troops were sent to Boston in 1768 They did this to protect and support crown-

appointed colonial officials who were supposed to enforce the vastly unpopular Parliamentary legislation and taxes.

There was a constant tension between the colonial population and the soldiers

It all came to a finale when a large group of civilians formed on the night of March 5, around a British soldier.

At first he was taunted and harassed and was it was rumored that he was being pelted with ice and snowballs.

At some point during the harassment eight additional soldiers arrived to provide backup to the lone soldier.

The colonists continued to berate and throw things at the nine soldiers.

After some time and what was a very tense standoff, the soldiers fired their weapons at the crowd.

The shooting instantly killed 5 men in the crowd killing or injuring a total of 11 men.

This was the first major bloodshed between the colonists and the British forces and became instant propaganda in the revolutionary movement.

Thomas Hutchinson was the Acting governor at the time and he was summoned to the scene to deescalate the situation and negotiate peace.

Since this was the first bloodshed of what would eventually become the Revolutionary war it is believed that a young African American man Named Crispus Attucks who was the first person killed at the site of the massacre, would become the first casualty of the war.

The bloodshed was proof of the growing tension between the British loyalists and the growing movement of colonists that were becoming weary of their taxation and misrepresentation.

Because this was such a violent event both sides (loyalists and revolutionaries) published propaganda that told opposing outlooks and views of what had happened on that fateful night.

This was a key turning point that began to turn loyalists on King George III, and it furthered the dislike from the colonists who were already on edge.

Men Such as John Adams when so far as to say that "foundation of American independence was laid" on March 5, 1770.

In the end the Massacre became a massive selling point for the ideas of the Patriots and became a thorn in the side for the British who were still trying to enforce the new taxes and tariffs.

Men such as Samuel Adams used the event as a way to incite other acts of protest such as The Boston Tea Party.

The Boston Massacre is undoubtedly one of most key and influential events that foreshadowed and influenced the start of the Revolutionary War.

In response to the British Tea Act of 1773, the Sons of Liberty took action in what would later be known as the Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was a symbolic action against the Tea Act of 1773.

This protest was organized by the sons of liberty and had participants from many communities.

Colonists were opposed to the Tea Act for many reasons. They strongly resented the fact that they were no longer allowed to tax them-selves through rates set by the local elected officials.

Protesters had blocked the unloading of taxed tea in three other colonies, New York, Philadelphia, and Charlestown.

A the time the Royal Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Hutchinson refused to allow the tea to be returned to Britain, even though he faced strong protest.

Soon after the ships made landfall a group emerged called the Sons of Liberty.

They began a campaign to raise awareness and to convince or compel the consignees to resign, in the same way that stamp distributors had been forced to resign in the 1765 Stamp Act crisis.

When the Dartmouth (ship) arrived in Boston harbor in late November one of the leaders of the sons of liberty called for a meeting.

The British required that the ship offload its cargo and collect the tariff within 20 days of landfall or risk having its cargo confiscated.

At the meeting the Sons were urged to unload the cargo and not pay the tax and to ensure that this happened members of the group were posted at dockside to make sure that the ship was not offloaded.

Governor Hutchinson would not allow the ship to be sent back to England and urged his two sons who were tea consignees to keep the ship in port.

On the evening of December 16th, a group of colonists boarded the three vessels from smaller boats.

Some of the men were dressed in mohawk disguises. Over a period of three hours the men broke up the chests and

dumped every one of the 342 stamped chests of tea into the harbor.

Since a crowed of onlookers had formed it was hard for anyone to reach the men on the ships and during this time they managed to destroy all of the tea that had a value equivalent of 1 Million dollars in todays market.

This was obviously a huge blow to Brittan and made a lasting impression and a real name for the Sons of Liberty.

It is still debated as to weather or not Samuel Adams had actually helped to plan the act, but it is know that he was a strong advocate and supporter of it after it had happened.

His arguments were that It was not carried out by a “lawless mob” but rather a group of people taking advantage of the only remaining option that they had to defend their constitutional rights. (ironically we did not have a constitution yet but he was referring to the constitution that all governments have.)

The actions of the men in the harbor began to influence and spur other acts of “resistance” up and down the coast.

At this time many colonists did not support the act of wholesale destruction of property.

Those people along with the British government could not let these actions go unpunished, and they acted by closing the port of Boston.

Eventually the tax on tea was repealed as part of the Taxation of Colonies act of 1788. This was only temporary and like many of the other acts would not last.

At this time the damage was done the Sons of Liberty had show that they could “fight back” and have their voices heard and this was a major victory and event that helped to build animosity that would eventually spur the Revolution and the Colonies independence.

The capture of Fort Ticonderoga allowed colonial forces to transport much-needed artillery to Boston and eventually break Britain's year-long siege.

Fort Ticonderoga

At the time of the outbreak of the revolutionary war after the battles of Lexington and Concord the for did not serve much of a purpose as it had in the French and Indian war.

The fort was situated on a major transport route and was a gateway to the new lands of America.

In 1775 the for was in dis repair as it had been a French position and they destroyed the powder magazines and other parts of the fort when they had to abandon it after the treaty of Paris.

Realizing that the fort needed repair British general Thomas Gage set out to repair the fort.

At the same time some colonists were beginning to take interest in the fort, and had the idea to capture it.

A colonist named Benedict Arnold would frequently travel past the for and would tell the others about the condition of the fort .

Because of this he was granted permission by the Massachusetts council to conduct a raid on the fort. Immediately he left and reached the border between Massachusetts and the Grants.

It was at this time that he learned of the recruitment of the Connecticut committee and a man named Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain boys.

When the two men met up they formed a war counsel, at this time Arnold pleaded his case to lead the expedition due to his formal authorization from the Massachusetts committee.

The date was May 9th the men lead by Arnold were beginning to assemble across the lake at hands cove, and were preparing to cross the lake to Ticonderoga.

Early that morning Arnold took the men that he had and began to cross the lake so as not to loose the element of surprise.

Once they landed there was only one sentry posted and he fled after his rifle had misfired.

The men lead by Arnold stormed the fort and capture the sleeping troops at gunpoint ant took their weapons.

No one was killed and later more than 400 men arrived after the takeover and took liquor and all the other provisions.

Capturing the fort itself wasn’t the main goal the colonist wanted all of the massive artillery that the fort had and that created a whole new set of challenges.

It was now winter and the time had come to take the artillery from the fort to Boston and that responsibility fell on Henry Knox who was appointed by George Washington

Starting in November and over a period of three winter months Knox moved 60 tons of armament and artillery from Ticonderoga to the city of Boston on a hill in Dorchester.

Washington than used the cannons to fortify Dorchester. They moved the cannons so that they could fire down

upon the British supply ships. This was critical because the British ships could not

elevate their guns to return fire. During this time the British ships were forced to flee and

on March 17, 1776 they moved their troops to Halifax Nova Scotia ending their year long hold on Boston harbor.

For this event it was not so much the fort itself that played a major role but rather the use of the cannons to fortify the city and push out the British troops causing them to loose a major supply line and a way to drop British troops in Boston.

With this loss the end of the war was near and the British began to accept defeat.

Works Cited Boundless. “The Boston Massacre and Military Occupation.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 09 Oct. 2016.

Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-townshend-acts-and-economic-retaliation-1767-1770-40/the-boston-massacre-and-military-occupation-232-10317/

Revere, Paul. Massacre. 1770. Engrav'd Printed & Sold by Paul Revere Boston, Boston. Web. In response to the British Tea Act of 1773, the Sons of Liberty took action in what would

later be known as the Boston Tea Party Boundless. “The Boston Tea Party.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 12 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017

from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-tea-party-and-the-coercive-acts-1770-1774-41/the-boston-tea-party-236-6988/

The Boston PROP. 2001. MOMENTUS. Web. 25 Jan. 2017 Fort Ticonderoga historical. 2013. Historical data visit

http://www.fortticonderoga.org/userfiles/social/opengraph/216/largeFort-Ticonderoga-Drone-2---small.jpg Boundless. “Fort Ticonderoga.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 19 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from

https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/domestic-insurrections-1774-1775-42/fort-ticonderoga-245-8146/

Bosons Ticonderoga. 1776. Web. 26 Jan. 2017

Works Cited Boundless. “The Seven Years' War: 1754-1763.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 27

Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/the-british-colonial-experience-553/the-seven-year-s-war-1754-1763-38/the-seven-years-war-1754-1763-216-9694/

Boundless. “A World War.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 27 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/the-british-colonial-experience-553/the-colonial-wars-28/a-world-war-162-9655/

Boundless. “The French and Indian War.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 27 Sep. 2016. Retrieved 27 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/the-british-colonial-experience-553/the-colonial-wars-28/the-french-and-indian-war-161-9654/

Boundless. “French-British Rivalry in the Ohio Country.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 27 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/the-british-colonial-experience-553/the-seven-year-s-war-1754-1763-38/french-british-rivalry-in-the-ohio-country-217-10316/ 

Boundless. “The Peace of Paris.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 27 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/the-british-colonial-experience-553/the-colonial-wars-28/the-peace-of-paris-163-9418/

History.com Staff. "Seven Years' War." History.com. A E Networks, 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2017. History.com Staff. "French and Indian War." History.com. A E Networks, 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Works Cited The Sugar Act was passed during a time of economic depression in the colonies

Source: Boundless. “The Sugar and Stamp Acts.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 05 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-1763-1765-39/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-226-9432/

By reducing the rate by half and expanding measures to effectively enforce the tax, the British hoped that the new tax on sugar would actually be collected.Source: Boundless. “The Sugar and Stamp Acts.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 05 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 fromhttps://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-1763-1765-39/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-226-9432/

The Sugar Act was repealed in 1766 and replaced with the Revenue Act of 1766, which reduced the tax to one penny per gallon on molasses imports, British or foreignSource: Boundless. “The Sugar and Stamp Acts.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 05 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-1763-1765-39/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-226-9432/

Works Cited The Stamp Act, passed in 1765, was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament on the

colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stampSource: Boundless. “The Sugar and Stamp Acts.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 05 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-1763-1765-39/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-226-9432/

The first wave of protests attacked the Stamp Act of 1765, and marked the first time Americans from each of the thirteen colonies met together and planned a common front against illegal taxes. This also began the rise of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, who staged public protests over the taxesSource: Boundless. “The Acts of Parliament.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 05 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-1763-1765-39/the-acts-of-parliament-225-8628/

The Act was repealed on March 18, 1766 as a matter of expedience, but Parliament affirmed its power to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever" by also passing the Declaratory ActSource: Boundless. “The Sugar and Stamp Acts.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 05 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-1763-1765-39/the-sugar-and-stamp-acts-226-9432/

Works Cited The purpose of the Townshend Acts was primarily to raise revenue in the colonies to pay the

salaries of governors and judges so they would be independent of colonial rule.Source: Boundless. “The Townshend Acts.” Boundless U.S. History Boundless, 09 Oct. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/u-s-history/textbooks/boundless-u-s-history-textbook/the-colonial-crisis-1750-1775-6/the-acts-of-parliament-60/the-townshend-acts-372-9440/

Resistance to the acts prompted the occupation of Boston by British troops in 1768, which eventually resulted in the Boston Massacre of 1770.Source: Boundless. “Tax Protests.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b-cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/domestic-insurrections-1774-1775-42/tax-protests-243-4595/

The Massachusetts Circular got Parliament’s attention, and in 1768, Lord Hillsborough sent 4,000 British troops to Boston to deal with the unrest and put down any potential rebellion there. The troops were a constant reminder of the assertion of British power over the colonies, an illustration of an unequal relationship between members of the same empire.

Source: Boundless. “Tax Protests.” US History to 1877 Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 26 Jan. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-9e5d3c56-f48a-487c-835b- cea71fc7aa09/independence-liberty-freedom-and-justice-554/domestic-insurrections-1774-1775-42/tax- protests-243-4595/