Road to Revolution

By 19mbrown

  • Mayflower Compact

    -The Puritans were blown off course, & landed in Plymouth, which is outside British jurisdiction.
    -Established a government with the Mayflower Compact which was representative & controlled by the people through town meetings.
    -Practiced frugality & private property in the Puritan church.
    IMPACTS
    -English laws cannot govern this new joint-stock company.
    -Puritans did not practice feudalism, which was rebellious.
    -Puritans created their own church, rather than following that of England.

  • Foundation of Providence Plantation

    -Roger Williams didn't like Massachusetts & the connection between church and state.
    -Creates own proprietary colony with religious freedom.
    -Every man can vote (Universal Manhood Suffrage).
    IMPACTS
    -England forced religion onto its people.
    -England did not have a representative government, just king & parliament.
    -Later became Rhode Island, notorious for never paying taxes & harboring known pirates and smugglers.
    -Church & state disconnected was different, rebellious, from that of England.

  • Bacon's Rebellion

    -Rebelled against the gap between urban & rural settlements and the protection granted to each.
    -Rebelled against monopolization of fur trade by Berkeley.
    -Jamestown is burnt.
    IMPACTS
    -Showed intolerance of gap between lords and peasants.
    -Established political parties, which was vastly different than government in England.
    -Demonstrated that everyone's voice needed to be heard, rather than that of just the king.
    -Showed that the colonies are separate from England, granting a taste of freedom.

  • French & Indian War (1754-1763)

    -Culmination of growing tensions between Britain & France over land, trade, and natives.
    -France was winning, but Britain struck back & dominated.
    -Albany Plan of Union is proposed.
    IMPACTS
    -Britain spent $8 mil on this war, which needs to be paid back.
    -End of salutary neglect.
    -Various taxes imposed.
    -Offer to unite colonies is extended, putting the idea in colonists heads that unity is possible.
    -Colonists believe their militia was the cause of the victory, causing pride in the colonies.

  • Royal Proclamation of 1763

    -British gained all land east of the Mississippi River in Treaty of Paris.
    -Already struggling to govern colonies, can't govern more land.
    -Disallowed settlement west of Appalachians, including Ohio River Valley.
    IMPACTS
    -Colonists don't like being told no.
    -Instills distrust of England.
    -Shows weakness in English rule, allowing for possible rebellion.
    -Allows for fewer frontier settlements.
    -Cannot reap rewards of a war the colonists won, which isn't fair, because the British are taxing them.

  • Boston Massacre

    -Rowdy crowd of Bostonians gathered around small group of British soldiers.
    -Terrorized the soldiers.
    -"Fire" was called, and the soldiers killed 5 of the mob, wounding 6 others.
    IMPACTS
    -American blood has been spilt, a reaction is necessary.

  • First Continental Congress

    -Colonies united because of intolerable acts.
    -Needed to decide what their rights are and how to defend them.
    -Decided on non-importation and boycotts.
    -Created committees of correspondence to enforce defense.
    IMPACTS
    -True rebellion against Britain.
    -King gets very angry.
    -Continues with harsh treatment of colonies, making the colonists want to rebel.
    -Colonies are pushing toward independence constantly, this truly united congress is another very strong step.
    -Postal roads were established.

  • Lexington & Concord

    -Colonists were storing munitions in Lexington & Concord.
    -Militia was forming, largely on the frontier.
    -British wanted to seize munitions & leaders.
    -A shot rings out, dubbed “The Shot Heard Round the World.
    IMPACTS
    -273 British casualties, largely through being sniped from the woods.
    -95 American casualties.
    -American blood has now been spilt, & needs to be avenged.
    -Causes 2nd Continental Congress.
    -Raises American and lowers British morale due to the rag tag forces winning the battle.

  • Olive Branch

    -Colonies want to apologize for previous grievances.
    -Ask for king to ease off punishment.
    -Ask to make amends.
    -States that the colonists really didn't want to fight, but had to defend themselves.
    IMPACTS
    -King ignores this document.
    -Colonists grow more frustrated and tired of the punishments.
    -King declares colonists in a state of rebellion.
    -Bands colonies together against common enemy.
    -Thomas Paine authors "Common Sense," which is read to/by 75% of colonists.
    -Declaration must be written.

  • Declaration of Independence

    -Colonies deem the Britain is mistreating them.
    -Colonies need independence.
    -Presents list of grievances.
    -Claims to have tried to make peace, but been denied.
    -Independence or death.
    IMPACTS
    -Colonial government is organized.
    -Congress us defined.
    -France & Spain aid the colonies.
    -Colonies rally behind Adams and Jefferson and decide that Britain is treating them for too unfairly & they want to become independent & free of tyranny.
    -Taxes aren't paid at all.
    -The Revolutionary War begins.