The Road to The Road to IndependenceIndependence

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

(1753 – 1783)(1753 – 1783)

Section 1 – The French and Section 1 – The French and Indian WarIndian War

Main Idea: The war that the colonists Main Idea: The war that the colonists fought against the French and Indians fought against the French and Indians caused them to rethink their relationship caused them to rethink their relationship with Britain.with Britain. It was called the “French and Indian War” b/c It was called the “French and Indian War” b/c the British and American colonists waged it the British and American colonists waged it against the French and their Indian allies. against the French and their Indian allies. The French claimed a vast region of North The French claimed a vast region of North America that stretched from the Appalachian America that stretched from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Rocky Mountains Mountains in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the West. in the West. Conflict arose b/c the English claimed some of Conflict arose b/c the English claimed some of this territory as well – that of the upper Ohio this territory as well – that of the upper Ohio River valley.River valley.

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War

BritishBritishFrenchFrenchOhio RiverOhio River

ValleyValley

French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War

A meeting of delegates from seven northern A meeting of delegates from seven northern colonies convened in Albany, NY where they colonies convened in Albany, NY where they hoped to strengthen ties with the Iroquois hoped to strengthen ties with the Iroquois League. League. Benjamin Franklin offered an ambitious plan Benjamin Franklin offered an ambitious plan for a permanent union of the colonies named for a permanent union of the colonies named the the Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union – this plan called – this plan called for a council of delegates from each colony, for a council of delegates from each colony, all elected by their colonial legislatures. all elected by their colonial legislatures. The Albany Plan of Union is important because The Albany Plan of Union is important because it provided a model for the later government it provided a model for the later government of the United States. of the United States.

French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War

At first, the war went poorly for the British. At first, the war went poorly for the British. The British tended to fight in the open and in The British tended to fight in the open and in straight lines, as was common in Europe. straight lines, as was common in Europe. They were no match for an enemy that hid They were no match for an enemy that hid behind rocks and trees, as did the Native behind rocks and trees, as did the Native Americans and taught the French this tactic. Americans and taught the French this tactic. In 1757, William Pitt became prime minister In 1757, William Pitt became prime minister and believing that the entire empire could be at and believing that the entire empire could be at stake, Pitt persuaded Parliament to raise taxes stake, Pitt persuaded Parliament to raise taxes and borrow large sums of money to fight the and borrow large sums of money to fight the war. war. In 1758, better-prepared and better-led British In 1758, better-prepared and better-led British troops began to overwhelm French and Indian troops began to overwhelm French and Indian forces. forces.

French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War

With the fall of Quebec, the capital of New With the fall of Quebec, the capital of New France, the war was nearly over. By 1760, France, the war was nearly over. By 1760, the British controlled all of New France. the British controlled all of New France. In 1763, representatives of Great Britain, In 1763, representatives of Great Britain, France, and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris. France, and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris. France turned present-day Canada over to France turned present-day Canada over to Britain and surrendered its claims to ALL Britain and surrendered its claims to ALL lands east of the Mississippi River. lands east of the Mississippi River. New Orleans was given to Spain. New Orleans was given to Spain. The British returned Cuba, which they had The British returned Cuba, which they had captured during the war, to Spain in captured during the war, to Spain in exchange for Florida. exchange for Florida.

French and Indian WarFrench and Indian WarWeakened Loyalty to BritainWeakened Loyalty to Britain– The war seriously strained relations b/t Britain and The war seriously strained relations b/t Britain and

the American colonists. the American colonists. – The British thought the colonists had not provided The British thought the colonists had not provided

enough support for the long and costly war Britain enough support for the long and costly war Britain had fought to “protect them”. had fought to “protect them”.

– The Americans were shocked at the weakness of The Americans were shocked at the weakness of military tactics and demanded to be led by military tactics and demanded to be led by Colonial commanders – viewed by the British as Colonial commanders – viewed by the British as treason. treason.

– The end of the war left the colonists with two The end of the war left the colonists with two strong impressions: (1) They felt a loss of respect strong impressions: (1) They felt a loss of respect for British military power; (2) They believed the for British military power; (2) They believed the British did not treat them with proper respect and British did not treat them with proper respect and did not hold the same values. did not hold the same values.

– With the new land acquired, the colonists saw no With the new land acquired, the colonists saw no reason why they shouldn’t expand and prosper on reason why they shouldn’t expand and prosper on their own, without British help. their own, without British help.

Section 2 – Issues Behind the Section 2 – Issues Behind the RevolutionRevolution

The British colonists were not hunters and traders The British colonists were not hunters and traders like the French. As farmers, they represented a like the French. As farmers, they represented a much greater threat to Indian land and resources. much greater threat to Indian land and resources. As Native Americans approached British officials As Native Americans approached British officials with their concerns, they realized the British gov’t with their concerns, they realized the British gov’t was also a threat – the British Commander in was also a threat – the British Commander in North America, Jeffrey Amherst ended the flow of North America, Jeffrey Amherst ended the flow of trade goods with the Native Americans. trade goods with the Native Americans. Indians in the Great Lakes regions rebelled Indians in the Great Lakes regions rebelled against the British in the spring of 1763, called against the British in the spring of 1763, called Pontiac’s Rebellion. Pontiac’s Rebellion. By the end of the year, Native Americans had By the end of the year, Native Americans had destroyed every British fort in the area west of destroyed every British fort in the area west of the Appalachian Mtns except for only two – 2,000 the Appalachian Mtns except for only two – 2,000 colonists were killed and/or captured. colonists were killed and/or captured.

Issues Behind the Issues Behind the RevolutionRevolutionIn October, King George issued the In October, King George issued the

Proclamation of 1763 Proclamation of 1763 which closed the which closed the region west of the Appalachian Mtns to all region west of the Appalachian Mtns to all settlement by colonists. settlement by colonists. Despite it, colonists continued to move west Despite it, colonists continued to move west and Britain’s lack of success to stop them and Britain’s lack of success to stop them further undermined its authority in America. further undermined its authority in America. By 1763, the British were among the most By 1763, the British were among the most heavily taxed people in the world while its heavily taxed people in the world while its American colonies prospered. American colonies prospered. The British gov’t posed the idea, why The British gov’t posed the idea, why shouldn’t the colonists begin to pay some of shouldn’t the colonists begin to pay some of the costs of their own government and the costs of their own government and defense? defense?

British Policies in the British Policies in the ColoniesColoniesThe Sugar ActThe Sugar Act – reduce tax on imported molasses – reduce tax on imported molasses

The Quartering ActThe Quartering Act – required colonial assemblies – required colonial assemblies to house and provision the British soldiersto house and provision the British soldiersThe Stamp ActThe Stamp Act – taxed legal and commercial – taxed legal and commercial documents and printed matter; newspapers, documents and printed matter; newspapers, magazinesmagazinesThe Declaratory ActThe Declaratory Act – it repealed the Stamp Act – it repealed the Stamp Act BUT declared England could rule the colonies any way BUT declared England could rule the colonies any way it saw fitit saw fitThe Townshend ActsThe Townshend Acts – taxes on lead, paper, tea, – taxes on lead, paper, tea, paint, & glass and used to support British troops, paint, & glass and used to support British troops, royal governors, and royal judges royal governors, and royal judges Tea ActTea Act – created to save the East India Company – created to save the East India Company and sell its surplus to the colonies and to retain the and sell its surplus to the colonies and to retain the Tea tax from failing Townshend Acts. Tea tax from failing Townshend Acts. Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) – targeted – targeted Massachusetts; closed the Port of Boston until “Tea Massachusetts; closed the Port of Boston until “Tea Party” was paid for; eliminated self-government in Party” was paid for; eliminated self-government in Mass.; colonists forced to house British soldiers in Mass.; colonists forced to house British soldiers in private homes when necessary private homes when necessary

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

To put down resistance to the Townshend To put down resistance to the Townshend Act, Britain sent troops to Boston. Act, Britain sent troops to Boston. March 5, 1770 – a small crowd threatened March 5, 1770 – a small crowd threatened British troops and they opened fire on the British troops and they opened fire on the crowd, killing 5 colonists. crowd, killing 5 colonists. Soon after, Parliament canceled the Soon after, Parliament canceled the Townshend Acts except for the Tea tax as Townshend Acts except for the Tea tax as a reminder of its authority over the a reminder of its authority over the colonies. colonies. Only the boycott of tea continued. Only the boycott of tea continued.

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Tea Act created to help the failing East India Tea Act created to help the failing East India Company which gave them the right to sell its Company which gave them the right to sell its tea to the colonists without paying the normal tea to the colonists without paying the normal tax. tax. Colonists had been smuggling tea to avoid Colonists had been smuggling tea to avoid those taxes but the Tea Act would make those taxes but the Tea Act would make E.I.C.’s tea cheaper than the smuggled tea, E.I.C.’s tea cheaper than the smuggled tea, putting the tea smugglers out of business. putting the tea smugglers out of business. E.I.C.’s sales agents were forced to resign, E.I.C.’s sales agents were forced to resign, their ships weren’t allowed to dock in some their ships weren’t allowed to dock in some ports, and on the night of Dec., 16ports, and on the night of Dec., 16thth, 1773 , 1773 colonists disguised as Indians boarded three colonists disguised as Indians boarded three tea ships in Boston. tea ships in Boston. They broke open every crate on board and They broke open every crate on board and dumped the tea into the harbor in defiance of dumped the tea into the harbor in defiance of the Tea Act. the Tea Act.

First Continental CongressFirst Continental CongressOn Sept., 5 1774, a gathering of 56 On Sept., 5 1774, a gathering of 56 delegates from all colonies except GA, met delegates from all colonies except GA, met at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. They adopted a renewed boycott of British They adopted a renewed boycott of British goods and a call to all people of the English goods and a call to all people of the English colonies to arm themselves and form colonies to arm themselves and form militias. militias. ““It is a right of the people to participate in It is a right of the people to participate in their legislative council; and as the English their legislative council; and as the English people are not represented…they are people are not represented…they are entitled to a free and exclusive power of entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial legislation in their several provincial legislatures…”legislatures…”King George III, on November 18King George III, on November 18thth wrote, wrote, “The New England governments are in a “The New England governments are in a state of rebellion, blows must decide.” state of rebellion, blows must decide.”