1. War of Independence

What drove the American colonies to rebellion?

• the right to representation

• political independence

• separation of church and state

• nationalism

• slavery

• the closure of the Western frontier

• increased taxation

• commercial restriction

• use of military in civil unrest

• individual freedoms

• judicial review

Proclamation of 1763

• forbade settlers to move beyond the Appalachians, the Proclamation Line

• reorganizing relations between the mother country and the colonies

• increasing British presence in North America, stricter control over the colonies, revenues and expenses

Sugar Act

• 1764

• American revenue Act

• George Grenwille - Prime Minister

Currency Act

• 1764

• prohibits the issuance of legal tender currency in the colonies

• George Grenwille - Prime Minister

Quartering (Mutiny) Act

• 1765

• recquired civil authorities in the colonies to provide barracks and supplies for British troops

• George Grenwille - Prime Minister

Stamp Act

• March 22 1765

• the first direct tax on the American colonies by the British Parliament, tax on legal documents, newspaper,pamphlets to raise money in order to pay for troops stationed in North America

• George Grenwille -Prime minister

• Stamp Act crisis

• light tax, but ominous precedent

• 1st time British Parliament intended to raise revenue in the colonies without the consent of the colonial assemblies

• Riots in several colonies

• Called for non-important movement, which hurt the merchants as the colonials began to boycott British goods

Stamp Act Congress

• New York

• 1765 Oktober

• Delegates from 9 colonies

• Petition sent to the King and Parliament to revoke Act

• The British Government backed down and repealed the Act on March 18, 1766

• The Parliament declared that it had power over the colonies. The Declaratory Act stated that the colonies were ‘subordinate’ to Great Britain

The Declaratory Act (1766)

• The Parliament declarer that it had power over the colonies. The Declarators Act stated that the colonies were ‘subordinate’ to Great Britain “ in all cases whatsoever”

The Boston Massacre

• a spark in the Fight for Independence

• 1770 March 5 - British soldiers fire on a crowd of colonists in Boston

• 5 colonists killed, several wounded

• Context : Growing tension between British soldiers and colonists in Boston, colonists were frustrated by the British military presence and increading control

• The massacre fueled anti-British sentiments and united the colonies

• Boston Massacre became a symbol pf British tyranny

• It was a turning point that galvanized the movement toward independence

Committee of Correspondance

• Samual Adams proposed it on November 2 1772

• Publicize grievances against the British in Massachusetts

• Initiative followed in other colonies

• Secret societies formed to promote colonial unity

Tea Act

• May 10, 1773

• The British Goverent practically exempted the East India Company from paying tea tax

• The Company acquired a monopoly in North Amercian by undetselling the American competitors

• Issue of no taxation without representation resurfaced

• Tax in Americans

• In several cities the people prevented the British from unloading the tea

The Boston Tea Party

• December 16, 1773, Massachusetts

• Colonials dressed as Indians boarded three British ships and threw the tea-chests into Boston Harbor, emptied 342 chests of tea

• Protests against the preferential treatment of the East Indian Company

• “The die is now cast” - George III → the colonies must either submitnor triumph

Coercive (Intolerable) Acte

• Spring 1774

• The British response to the Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts by Parliament

• Boston Port Bill → blockade, prohibited the loading and unloading of any ships in Boston Harbor

• The Administration of Justice Act → colonial officials were to be tried in British Courts

• Massachusetts Govermnet Act → self-goverment of Massachusetts was practically terminated, the King was to appoint membere of the Council

• Quebec Act → Civil government for Canada, Catholics given religious toleration, boundaries of Quebec extended as far South as rhe Ohio Valley

• Quartering act → legalized quartering of troop in occupied dwellings in all the colonies

First Continental Congress

• Philadelphia

• Sept 5 - Okt 26, 1774

• 12 colonies represented except Georgia

• All colonies were given same voting power in the name of unity 1 vote each

• Petition sent to the King on the grievances and rights on the colonists

• Attempt made to restore harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies

• Continentsl Association - to boycott British goods → Article of Associstion okt 20 1774

• Declaration and Resolves on 14 Okt 1774

  • statement of rights and principles

  • Declare the rights of the colonies

  • Many of the rights listed were later included in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

  • Like → right of life,liberty,property, and the right to peaceably assembly

• A Conciliatory Proposition was made by Beitain in 1775, stating that the colonies may tax themselves at the Parliament’s demsnd

Second Continental Congress

• Philadelphia, Independence Hill 1775 May 10

• Relations and conditions deteriorated between the Colonies and Great Britain

• Congreds remained in session to serve as the government of colony-states

• On June 7, 1776 the Virginia delegation called on Congress to resolve that the colonies are and ought to be free and independent

• Strong supporter → John Adam

• Difficult decision → disloyalty and war with Great Britain

• Committee of five appointed to prepare a proclamation expressing the reasons for independence

• Organized the Continental Army

• Accepted the Declaration Of independence

• 3 grouos at the Second Continental Congress

  • Radicals: who wanted independence(John Adams, Samuel Adams, Henry Lee)

  • Moderates: those who favoured recomciliation( John Dickinson) one of the organizers of the colonial resistance

  • Middle ground supporters

Olive Branch Petition

• 1775 Jul 5

• Drafter by John Dickinson and accepted by the Second Continental Congress

• Delegates asked the King to put an end to hostilities until some form of reconciliation cold be reached

• George III refused to accept the offer

Common Sense

• Thomas Pain

• Jan 1776

• Published in Philadelphia

• Political message that called for immediate separation from Britain, demand for independence

• 16 pamphlets seeies, The American Crisis, inspired the American people