American Revolution The Albany Plan of Union Colonists

American Revolution

The Albany Plan of Union • Colonists from seven colonies met in Albany, New York • Benjamin Franklin, using the Iroquois League as an example, urged the joining of the 13 colonies… “Join or Die” • The idea failed, but served as a model for later government in the United States

Strained Relations • Britain felt that the colonies had not paid their fair share of the costly French and Indian War • Britain began taxing colonies to make money • Colonists grew angry. They were used to SALUTARY NEGLECT: Britain not interfering in their political and economic activities • Britain left soldiers in the colonies after the war

Causes of the Revolution • Proclamation of 1763 – King declared land west of Appalachians closed to expansion – Colonists were angry because they sought to move into lands recently won from France

New Taxes • George Grenville became Prime Minister: Establishes the “Grenville Acts” – Wanted to enforce taxes already in place – Planned to develop new taxes

• Sugar Act – Cut tax on foreign molasses – Designed to discourage smuggling – Ships were confiscated if duties not paid – Smuggling cases were to be tried by judge (not jury) in British court

• Quartering Act – Colonists had to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers who remained in the colonies

• Stamp Act – Placed a tax on newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents and most printed materials – Required a government stamp to prove tax had been paid – First time Britain had taxed the colonists solely to raise money

Stamp Act Congress • Seven colonies met to discuss Stamp Act • James Otis (Mass. ) claimed that Britain had no right to tax the colonies, because the colonies did not have a voice in British Parliament: • “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

Sons of Liberty • Organized a BOYCOTT of British goods = NONIMPORTATION • Offered violence to those who refused to comply • Tarred and feathered tax collectors

More Taxes: The Townshend Acts • A tax on goods rather than a direct tax – – Glass Lead Paper Tea • Colonial protests – Britain was taxing them without their consent… AGAIN! – Britain was using the money to keep soldiers in the colonies • Colonists react!

Boston Massacre • A group of colonists picked a fight with British troops in Boston • The troops fired into the crowd killing five colonists, including Crispus Attucks • Committee of Correspondence formed to coordinate resistance

Boston Tea Party • Colonists angry at new Tea Act – Britain allowed East India Tea Co. to sell tea without paying tax – Cheap tea drove colonial tea merchants out of business • Colonists sneaked aboard 3 ships and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor

Intolerable Acts • Britain punished the colonies • Passed the “INTOLERABLE ACTS” (Coercive Acts) – Boston Harbor closed until tea is paid for – Governor (General Thomas Gage) appointed to Massachusetts • Quartering Acts increased to include housing troops in private homes

1 st Continental Congress • 56 delegates met in Philadelphia (from all colonies except Georgia) • Renewed boycott of British goods • Called to colonists to arm themselves and form MILITIAS

Lexington & Concord: Revolution begins • Colonial “rebels” called themselves Patriots • British troops ordered to march on Concord, Massachusetts to take weapons supply • “REDCOATS” met at Lexington by “MINUTEMEN” (colonial militia) • “Shot Heard Around The World”

Ideas behind the American Revolution • Thomas Paine – Wrote pamphlet called “Common Sense” in 1776 – Supported a COMPLETE break with Britain • Olive Branch Petition – Stated colonists loyalty and desire for peace – King George III refused to read it

Declaration of Independence • Five Authors: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston • Penned by Virginia lawyer Thomas Jefferson • Natural Rights • Based on the writings of John Locke • “INALIENABLE RIGHTS” (Cannot be taken away) • Life • Liberty • Happiness (Changed from property) • Abigail Adams • “Remember the Ladies” • If you do not, women will not be obligated to follow the new laws

Battles of the Revolution • Battle of Bunker Hill – FIRST BATTLE – 2, 400 Redcoats v. 1600 Patriots – British Casualties = 1, 100… Patriot Casualties = 400 – Actually fought on Breed’s Hill

Elsewhere… • George Washington placed in command. He transformed the different militias into the Continental Army • Loyalists, colonists whose loyalty remained with Britain, left Boston with the British • The British formed a naval blockade of the Atlantic coast to prevent colonists from receiving supplies

Battle of Trenton • Sept. 1776, 30, 000 British and Hessians crushed Col. Army in New Jersey and New York • Dec. 26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night – Surprise attacked the British and Hessian troops – Killed or captured 1, 000 German Hessians – Zero American casualties – Key early American victory

Battle of Princeton • Early 1777 • Washington defeats British Gen. Charles Cornwallis • Washington loses Philadelphia after the battle of Brandywine Creek

Battle of Monmouth • June 1778 • German volunteer Fredrich Von Stueben trains the colonial army • American victory after big improvements. • Pursues the British after evacuation of Philadelphia.

Hessians • German mercenaries hired by King George III • Colonists angry because they felt this was a “family fight”

Battle of Saratoga • TURNING POINT OF THE WAR!!!!! • Horatio Gates led Patriots against General John Burgoyne • Victory for colonists • France openly aided the colonists once it appears they could win

Assistance from abroad • Marquis de Lafayette – French General who aided the Continental Army – Planned the Battle of Yorktown • Friedrich von Steuben – German General – Helped train the Continental Army: Made soldiers of farmers