The Struggle for Independence

The Connecticut Adventure – Chapter 5

Early Signs of Trouble

• The colonists helped England fight against France and American Indians during the French and Indian War.

• The war was expensive and England wanted the colonists to help pay for it.

• The Sugar Act was passed, which taxed sugar and molasses. The colonists were angry that they had to pay.

Loyalists and Patriots

• Not all colonists wanted to break away from England.

• Loyalists were loyal to the king and wanted to stay with England.

• Patriots wanted independence from England and helped to fight against the British.

Stamp Act

• The British made colonists pay for special paper. The paper was used for everything, so the colonists had to pay.

• Colonists were not allowed to send representatives to vote in Parliament in England.

• Colonists felt they shouldn’t be taxed since they couldn’t vote.

• “No taxation without representation!”

Boston Tea Party

• Colonists were angry about the tea tax.

• After an argument at the customs house in Boston, British soldiers fired their guns and killed five men (known as the Boston Massacre).

• In Boston, colonists dressed up like American Indians and dumped British tea into the harbor.

Sons of Liberty

• The Sons of Liberty were secret group that protested the British taxation of the colonists.

Jonathan Trumbull

• Governor of Connecticut

• Nicknamed “Brother Jonathan”

• Helped George Washington’s army by sending food, supplies, and troops

George Washington

• General George Washington was the leader of the colonial army

Thomas Jefferson

• Wrote the Declaration of Independence

• On July 4, 1776, delegates from all 13 colonies signed the Declaration

Nathan Hale

• A schoolteacher• Became a spy for

the colonists• Caught by British

and hanged• “I only regret that I

have but one life to lose for my country.”

• Connecticut state hero!

Israel Putnam

• Member of the Sons of Liberty

• Helped the starving people of Boston after the Tea Party by bringing sheep to feed them

David Bushnell

• An inventor• Studied at Yale• Created the first

submarine ever used in battle

• It was called the TURTLE because of its look in the water

Benedict Arnold

• Captain Benedict Arnold from Norwich was a hero early in the war

• He captured British forts and led brave attacks

• He was put in charge of a fort in New York where he became friends with a British leader

• The British offered Arnold a lot of money if he turned over the fort and he did!

• This made him a traitor!

The Revolutionary War

• Started in 1775

• Was also called the War of Independence

• Began as a war between

Britain and the thirteen colonies

• Colonists were upset about the taxes imposed by the British.

• They thought the taxes were unfair.

The War Continues

• The colonists formed the Continental Congress.

• The colonists boycotted taxed British tea which lead to the Boston Tea Party.

• The British responded by ending self government in Massachusetts and putting the colony under the control of the British army.

An End to the war

• The colonies and Britain could not reach a compromise.

• The colonies declared their independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.

• Other countries including France also went to war with Britain.

• The war ended in 1783.

Connecticut’s Part in the War

• Connecticut was nicknamed the Provisions State because it gave so many supplies to the war effort.

• Connecticut sent food, clothing, gun powder, weapons and troops.

• Connecticut farmers even gave their livestock to feed hungry soldiers.

Slaves in the War

• Some slaves fought in the Revolutionary War.

• As a reward many were freed after the war.

• Even though they were free, they did not have the same rights as white men.

Let’s Review

• Why were the colonists angry with the British?

• Who was the leader of the colonial army?

• Who is our state hero?

• Who were the Sons of Liberty?

• Explain the difference between loyalists and patriots.

Let’s Review

• What reward do slaves get for fighting in the war?

• What supplies did CT provide for the Revolutionary War?

• What nickname was CT given for the supplies that they sent?

• Who was the governor of CT?

• What was the “American Turtle”?