Give Me Liberty

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Give Me Liberty
Causes of the American Revolution
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During the early years of settlement, England
ignored its colonies. Under the Navigation Acts,
the colonists could trade only with England.
Colonists resented Englands control of the
colonies because they were used to being left
alone.
Sketch of Baltimore Harbor, 1752
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Colony founders knew they must guarantee rights
and good government if they were going to attract
colonists. Virginia colonists created the House
of Burgesses which was the first representative
assembly in the Americas. By 1750 each of the 13
colonies had an elected assembly.
The first meeting of the Virginia Assembly
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Britain and France were intense rivals in the
struggle for North America. In the 1750s the
center of colonial conflict was the Ohio River
Valley. British officer George Washington was
sent to build a fort on the river but was
defeated by the French before he could. Native
Americans became French allies because it
appeared the French would win the war.
North American land claims, 1753
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The French and Indian war went badly for the
British colonies until Captain James Wolfe took
Quebec in 1759. The British finally won three
years later.
Taking of Quebec by English forces during the
French and Indian War
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Great Britain became the most powerful nation in
the world. The enlarged empire meant conflicts
with Native Americans in the Ohio River Valley.
To avoid problems, Britain issued the
Proclamation of 1763 which did not allow
colonists to cross the Appalachian Mountains.
Colonist were infuriated because they did not
like being told where they could and could not go.
North American land claims, 1763
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In order to enforce the Proclamation of 1763 and
keep peace with Native Americans, a permanent
British army was stationed in America. British
officials expected colonists to help pay for
their defense. The colonists did not like the
presence of the army, nor having to pay for the
troops support.
King George III
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Give Me Liberty
British Policies Summary
and how they correspond to the new school
policies
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The French and Indian War
Explanation Britain needed money to finance war
with France.
Reaction/ Result Britain imposed taxes on the
colonists without their consent to pay for the
war.
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Proclamation of 1763
Explanation Britain wanted to avoid conflict with
Native Americans, so Colonists were forbidden to
cross Appalachian Mountains. British Army
stationed in the colonies
Reaction/ Result Colonists were angered because
of British presence and being told what to do
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Sugar Act
Explanation Tax on sugar and molasses designed
by George Grenville to stop smuggling taxed tea
was cheaper than Smuggled tea
Suspects tried In military Courts
Reaction/ Result Did not affect many, but the
idea of taxes a growing issue
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Stamp Act
Explanation Tax on legal documents, newspapers,
wills, and basically every piece of paper used a
stamp was placed on the paper
Reaction/ Result Stamp Act Congress formed to
organize boycott Sam Adams organized Sons of
Liberty Eventually repealed
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Writs of Assistance
Reaction/ Result Few colonists affected, but
merchants felt this was an invasion of privacy
Explanation Customs officers could search ships
at will document allowed soldiers to search
anywhere for smuggled goods
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Townshend Acts
Reaction/ Result Colonists boycott through the
non-importation agreement (Daughters of
Liberty) Eventually repealed, except TEA TAX
led to Boston Tea Party
Explanation Tax on various imported household
items such as paper, glass, lead, silk, and
tea
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Quartering Act
Explanation Colonists had to provide food,
housing, blankets, candles, etc. for the British
soldiers
Reaction/ Result This was hated, but little could
be done
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Intolerable Acts
Explanation Punishment for Boston Tea
Party Colonists could not hold town meetings Port
of Boston closed Customs officials tried in
Britain
Reaction/ Result First Continental Congress
meets Individual colonies began to unify
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No taxation without representation! Taxation
without representation is tyranny
Explanation Colonists had no
representatives to
speak for them in
Parliament
Reaction/ Result Colonists resented not
having a say in their own
affairs Became a rallying cry
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Other Acts and Events
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The Declaratory Act
Explanation The same day the Stamp Act was
repealed, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act.
It said Parliament had the right to make any law
it wanted for the colonies, in all cases
whatsoever.
Reaction/ Result Most Patriots werent even aware
the law was passed. They were celebrating the
repeal of the Stamp Act and they overlooked the
passage of the Declaratory Act.
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The Boston Massacre
Explanation A rioting mob confronted British
soldiers at the Boston Customs House Tensions
rose and shots were fired into the
crowd, killing five colonists
Reaction/ Result Sam Adams used the
opportunity to whip up
anti-British feeling by calling the
event a massacre Two soldiers were found guilty
of manslaughter, six were found not guilty
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Tea Act
Explanation Tea merchants in the
colonies were cut out
of the tea trade
because the British
East India Company was
given a monopoly on the tea trade and they
lowered their tea prices
. The company monopolized, or controlled, tea
sales in the colonies.
Reaction/ Result Boston Tea Party
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Boston Tea Party
Explanation On December 16, 1773, the Sons of
Liberty dumped 90,000 pounds of tea into Boston
Harbor. This was an act of civil
disobedience That means people break a
law on purpose to try to protest it and get it
changed.
Reaction/ Result Intolerable Acts
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Chronology of Events
French and Indian War- 1754-1763
Proclamation of 1763- 1763
Sugar Act- 1764
Stamp Act- 1765
Writs of Assistance- 1767
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Chronology of Events
Townshend Acts- 1767
Quartering Act- 1770
Boston Massacre- 1770
Tea Act/ Boston Tea Party- 1773
Intolerable Acts- 1774