The Road to Revolution

French and Indian War

Jul 4, 1754

Caused colonists to develop a new vision of their destiny, First three Anglo-French wars had started in Europe, fourth struggle began in America, “Seven Years War”, Began when Washington and his troops invaded French territory in the Ohio Valley hoping to capture Fort Duquesne, In response, the French surrounded Washington and his men at Fort Necessity, British allied with Iroquois, French allied with Huron, 1755-Braddock set out to capture Fort Duquesne, William Pitt: Louisbourg, JWolfe: Quebec

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

· Prohibited settlement in the area beyond Appalachians
· Issued by London government
· Document was not designed to oppress colonists
· Created to settle the Indian problem and prevent another bloody eruption
· Document was “out of the blue” http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/proc63.htm

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

· Imposed by George Grenville 1764
· Taxed sugar coming from West Indies
· First tax on colonists
· Colonists protested, taxes lowered http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sugaract.htm

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

· Imposed by George Grenville in 1765 to raise money for the troops in America
· Stamps were required on bills of sale for about fifty trade items
· Playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, bills of lading, and marriage licenses
· Britain paid tax as well
· Repealed in 1766, no one to collect taxes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYYwW7_zuYI&feature=related

Quartering Act

Mar 24, 1765

· 1765
· Royal Crown sent more troops to America
· Forced colonists to provide food and shelter for British troops

Stamp Act Congress

Oct 7, 1765

· 1765- Brought together in NYC 27 distinguished delegates from nine colonies
· Largely ignored in England
· Members drew up a statement of their rights and grievances and told the king and Parliament to repeal the legislation

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

· Repealed Stamp Act in 1766, right away passed Declatory Act
· Reaffirmed parliament’s right to “bind” the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”
· Defined the constitutional principle it would not yield absolute and unqualified sovereignty over it’s North American colonies

Townshend Acts

Jun 29, 1767

· Persuaded Parliament in 1767 to pass the Townshend Acts
· Most important of these new regulations was a light import duty on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea
· Taxes without representation
· Revenues to pay the salaries of the royal governors and judges in America

British troops occupy Boston

Oct 1, 1768

• 4,000 troops landed in Boston to enforce Townshend Acts
• Colonists became angry with Acts, increased violence
• Presence irritated colonists
• Clash between British soldiers and colonists known as Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

· Occurred on the evening of March 5, 1770
· 10 redcoats, 60 colonists
· Taunted, rocks, clubs, snowballs
· Redcoats provoked to open fire
· 11 “innocent” victims http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRxJh9mcfmk&feature=related

Townshend Acts Repeals, except for tea tax

Apr 12, 1770

• Colonists began to boycott British products after Townshend Acts were placed
• Very unhappy about taxes, especially those on tea
• Acts did not produce revenue, but produced rebellion
• Lord North persuaded Parliament to repeal Townshend Acts

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

• Organized by Sons and Daughters of Liberty
• British E. India Company, verge of bankruptcy, awarded tea to America
• Protested the Tea Act
• Colonists disguised as Indians, dumped 342 chests of British tea into harbor

Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

· Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party with measures that brewed a revolution
· 1744 passed a series of acts designed to chastise Boston in particular
· Branded America as “the massacre of American Liberty”
· Most drastic was Boston Port Act, closed the tea stained harbor
· Massachusetts charter taken away
· Restrictions were placed on town meetings http://www.youtube.com/user/LibertysKidsTV#p/c/653B6B29215415CD/3/fALa2zjlSN0

Quebec Act

Jun 22, 1774

· 60,000 French were under British control
· Granted religious freedom
· Kept traditional customs (included no trial by jury or representative assembly)
· Boundary extended to Ohio River
· French-Canadians: was a shrewd and conciliatory measure
· American colonists: seemed to set a danger against jury trials, it alarmed land speculators, it aroused anti-Catholics

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

· Deliberated for seven weeks
· Philadelphia 12/13 colonies, 55 delegates
· Not calling for independence, most wanted to reconcile
· Drew up several dignified papers; Declaration of Rights, as well as appeals to other British American colonies, to the king, and to the British people
· Would meet in May 1775 if necessary
· Created The Association; a complete boycott of British goods: nonimportation, nonexportation, and nonconsumption
· Parliament rejected petition, militias began to form and dri

Battle of Concord

Apr 19, 1775

• After battle of Lexington, British marched on to Concord
• Americans were ready, forced British to retreat
• 70 redcoats killed, 230 injured

Battle of Lexington

Apr 19, 1775

• British commander sent detachment to Lexington to seize stored gunpowder
• Minutemen didn’t disperse rapidly enough, British forces won
• 8 killed, others injured
• More of a massacre http://www.youtube.com/user/LibertysKidsTV#p/c/653B6B29215415CD/9/Na3pq9wqJlA

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

• Moving rapidly towards independence
• Month long debate, agreed upon independence
• Committee prepared to develop an appropriate statement
• Declaration of Independence signed July 4, 1776
• Also known as Philadelphia Congress

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 17, 1775

· Patriots heard through their spies that the British were planning to attack Bunker Hill
· Fought during the Siege of Boston
· One of the most important colonial victories in the U.S. War for Independence
· Made both sides realize that this was not going to be a matter decided on by one quick and decisive battle
· Started when the colonists learned about the British plan to occupy Dorchester Heights
· British suffered heavy losses with 226 men killed and 828 more wounded but gained control

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Jan 10, 1776

• Argued that colonies had outgrown any need for English domination
• Best seller, sold 120,000 copies
• Stated it didn’t make sense for a small country to control such a large area
• Called for independence, wanted to become a Republic
• Swayed many to the Patriots side http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvlOOkjHII