American Revolution

American Revolution

America's Road to Independence

13 Colonies

Remember these are the American Colonies that will be fighting against the British. They are British colonies that have grown further apart from their Mother Country. Due to england's Salutary Neglect(allowing the colonies to do as they please for so long) the Colonist do not want to abide by new British Laws like taxes.

French and Indian War

• French & Indians vs. British and Colonist

• British defeat the French in this War(also called the 7 Years War) and gain huge amounts of French Territory.

• Proclamation of 1763 forbade the colonist from moving onto the new acquired land in order to try and salvage a relationship with Native Americans (British needed to be able to trade for furs with Native Americans)

French and Indian War Effects

• Left the British with a HUGE war debt so they had to start taxing their colonies.

• British felt it was only natural that the colonies should pay more taxes since they fought a war protecting them.

• Colonist felt they had no representation in the government enforcing these new laws on them so they began to rebel.

Stamp Act

Tax on paper goods.

Sugar Act

Tax added to any sugar that came from somewhere other than Britain.

Quartering Act

• Colonist were required to provide shelter and food for British Soldiers.

• This was a way for the British government to save money.

• Colonist became very upset over having to house and care for British soldiers.

American Advantage

Knew their territory much better than the British, Practice guerrilla warfare, & had something worth fighting for(freedom).

British Advantage

• Better Military

• More Supplies

• More Soldiers

• Better Navy

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Pamphlet that stated that it was "common sense" for Americans to reject British rule since they had no representation in British Parliament. Thomas Paine had a clear dislike for British Monarchy and felt government's power came from the people not a king.

Olive Branch Petition

Continental Congress wrote a letter to KIng George III professing the 13 colonies would stay loyal to him as long as he withdrew British Soldiers and stopped the taxes and harsh policies he had enacted on them. The King ignored the letter!

Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson is the main author

• He included a part about abolishing slavery and the king being like a slave owner... later removed because southern states would not sign it.

• Listed the reasons why the colonist were rejecting British rule: Ex government abusing their people so the people have a right to abolish that government and start a new one.

• Listed grievances(complaints) about the king

• Colonies officially declare themselves independent from Great Britain and a New Nation.