The American Revolution

Motivations behind the Declaration of Independence.

Early ProblemsThe American Revolution did not just simply happen.

Like all of the “big” moments of history, there were quite a few moving variables and influences.

French and Indian War

France and Britain had been competing since the late 1600s

The world was still very “Euro-centric”.

The power play had little to do directly with the colonies.The goal for each country was to dominate Europe and therefore the world.

The North American theater of the war became known as the “French and Indian War”

The Value of Experience

Some men who fought in the French and Indian War would later become American officers during the Revolution.

Most famously, George Washington tended to drop the ball and prove himself a less than stellar field commander.

Debt. #BritishProblems

The Proclamation Act of 1763 (Proclamation Line) was a British reaction to growing tensions with Native People.

The British were heavily indebted by the Seven Years War and could not afford to send large numbers of soldiers to the New World.

The solution was to give in to Native demands and close off the frontier to American expansion and increase the financial burden for troops paid by Americans.

More Taxes. More Problems

Americans have always, and will always, throw a good- ol’-fashioned “mommy I want the GREEEEEN toy” supermarket-fit when you increase taxes.

The British did not have the sense to see this.

First Three

1. Sugar Act- 1764 – Technically a reduction on import duties, but more strongly enforced.

2. Stamp Act- 1765- Required ALL PAPER to be “stamped”

3. Quartering Act- 1765 – Colonists required to pay for housing of British soldiers.

Townshend Acts-1767This series of laws further aggravated many colonialists.

Placed import duties on a wide array of necessities the colonies had to import.

“Violators” and violators were stripped of many of the rights later protected by the Bill of Rights

Fair Trial (Innocent until proven guilty)Jury of your peersSearch and Seizure

“Boston Massacre”March 5, 1770

Tea Party!The Tea Act of 1773 actually reduced the price paid in the colonies for English tea.

The reduced price put the fortunes of smugglers in jeopardy and threatened other merchants. Some feared it would establish a monopoly on tea.

December 16, 1773. A group of men dressed as Native-Americans dump 342 chests of tea into the Boston harbor.

Now it is the crown’s term to throw a fit.

Coercive (“Intolerable”) Acts 1774

King George III and Parliament decide to make an example of Boston (Bad move?)

1. Port was to be closed until the city paid for tea.

2. Took away all elected positions in MA government. They were to be appointed by the Royal Govenor. (Oh. NO TOWN MEETINGS)

3. Trouble makers would be shipped to Britain for trial.

4. Private homes were now the barracks of British Soldiers

First Continental Congress

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)An attempt to counter British encroachment through diplomatic and economic means.

The colonies were still very much “British” Colonies.

The British continued to try and break the resolve of the colonies.

Not Yet A Revolution…

“Lexington”, “Concord”, the Second Continental Congress, “Bunker Hill” and all of the early battles took place between two groups of BRITISH citizens.

By July of 1776, resentment towards the British continued to build. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense further fueled anti-British flames.

Finally, on July 4th, 1776, the document drafted by Thomas Jefferson was adopted and the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence