Revolutionary War Era

British Economic Policies

•        Sugar Act (1764) – Lowered the tax on molasses imported by colonists. They hoped the colonists would pay the tax instead of smuggling.

•        Stamp Act (1765) – Placed a tax on almost all printed material in the colonies. It was later repealed (cancelled).

•        Declaratory Act (1766) – Stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies.

•        Townshend Acts (1767) – Placed a tax on all imported goods (glass, tea, paper and lead).

•        Tea Act (1774) – Gave the British East India Company the right to ship tea to the colonies without paying most of the usual taxes. Parliament did this to save the company. Colonists responded by boycotting the tea.

Colonists’ Reaction to the Tea Act

Boston Tea Party (1773) – The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Mohawk Indians, dump 342 chests of tea from three ships into Boston Harbor. The value of the tea in 1773 was $30,000. Today it would be worth $1.8 million.

•        Sons of Liberty (1765) – Led by Samuel Adams and founded in Boston, it began as a group of citizens who resisted the Stamp Act. Eventually, there was a chapter in every colony. At first, they were still loyal to England.

Intolerable (Coercive)  Acts 1774

•        Boston Port Act  – Closed Boston’s harbor until the ruined tea was paid for and banned most town meetings.

•        Massachusetts Government Act – Almost all positions in the colonial government were to be appointed by the governor or the king

•        Quartering Act –  Allowed for British troops to stay in the colonists’ homes (may be a myth)

•        Quebec Act -- Set up a permanent government for Quebec (Canada) and gave them territory west of the Appalachian Mountains where colonists could not go

The Colonists felt that ANY tax was unfair because they had their own governments in each of the colonies. Even though they were British, they didn’t think British Parliament had a right to tax them.

The Three Major Battles of the American Revolution

Beginning

The Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775) – Paul Revere and other Midnight Riders warn militias in Massachusetts that British troops are marching from Boston to Concord to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The colonial militia tries to slow down the British at Lexington and then defeat the British at Concord. The militias also kill 73 British troops who go back to Boston.

The Battle of Bunker Hill (1775) – The colonial militia surrounds Boston to keep the British there after Lexington and Concord. The battle is actually fought on Breed’s Hill.  The British win the battle, but now know that defeating the Americans will be neither quick nor easy.

Middle

The Battle of Saratoga (1777) – An American victory convinces the French to join the Revolution on the American’s side.

End

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) – Washington’s troops march from New York to Virginia and surprise the British. Trapped between Washington’s troops on land and the French navy at sea, the British surrender and end the war.

Important Documents

Declaration of Independence (1776) – July 4th, 1776 – Written by Thomas Jefferson, it announces the birth of the United States. Influenced by John Locke, who wrote that people were born with certain natural rights to life, liberty and property.

Parts of the Declaration of Independence

1. Preamble – Explains why the Continental Congress drew up the Declaration
2. Declaration of Natural Rights – Lists the rights of the citizens
3. List of Grievances – Lists the colonists’ complaints against the English government.  There were 40 different complaints.
4. Resolution of Independence – Declares the colonies were Free and Independent states

Articles of Confederation (1777) – The first U.S. Constitution. It provided for a central government, but still allowed the states to keep most of their “sovereignty, freedom and independence.”  In other words, the Articles allowed the states to have too much power.  This, among other things, would ensure it only lasted 10 years. It was replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

Congress was designed to weak under the Articles of Confederation and had few powers:

Congress could:

1.  Declare war

2.  Make treaties

3.  Manage Indian affairs

4.  Maintain an army and navy

5.  Coin and borrow money

6.  Regulate weights and measures

7.  Establish a postal service

Congress could NOT:

1. Regulate trade

2. Raise Taxes

Timeline Items for the Revolutionary War Era

First Continental Congress (1774) – 55 delegates from every colony except Georgia arrive in Philadelphia, Pa. to establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British control. Where the Albany Plan of Union failed, the Continental Congress succeeded. They agreed to boycott all British goods and organize militias.

Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775) – The first battle of the Revolutionary War. The shots fired at Lexington is referred to as the “shot heard ‘round the world.” British troops, who were on their way to Concord to seize Colonial weapons, were defeated there and attacked as they retreated.

Second Continental Congress (1775) – Delegates created the Continental Army and chose George Washington as commander-in-chief.  Also sent the Olive Branch petition to England, which would prevent an all-out war. King George III refused. They also decided to declare independence.

Declaration of Independence (1776) – July 4th, 1776 – Written by Thomas Jefferson, it announces the birth of the United States. Influenced by John Locke, who wrote that people were born with certain natural rights to life, liberty and property. The idea that “all people are created equal” came from the 1^st Great Awakening.

Articles of Confederation (1777) – The first U.S. Constitution. It provided for a central government, but still allowed the states to keep most of their “sovereignty, freedom and independence.”  This, among other things, would ensure it only lasted 10 years.

Battle of Saratoga (1777) – An important American victory that convinced the French to assist the colonists in the war against England.

Valley Forge (1777) – Winter campsite of the Continental Army. On December 19, 1777, when Washington's poorly fed, ill-equipped army, weary from long marches, struggled into Valley Forge, winds blew as the 12,000 Continentals prepared for winter's fury.

Battle of Yorktown (1781) – American and French forces defeat British forces in the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris (1783) – The British recognized The United States as an independent nation and promised to withdraw all troops.  U.S. territory now extended from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the Mississippi River.

Important People

Samuel Adams – Leader of the Sons of Liberty in Boston. Organized protests over the Stamp Act and used propaganda to his advantage. Attended the First and Second Continental Congresses

Paul Revere – A Boston silversmith and member of the Sons of Liberty.  He’s most famous for his “Midnight Ride” to warn local militias as well as Samuel Adams and John Hancock of British troop movement. Revere become famous because of the poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” while another rider, William Dawes, does not become famous.

Thomas Paine – Wrote a pamphlet called “Common Sense” that captured the attention of American colonists.  Paine called for complete independence from England.

Thomas Jefferson – Writer of the Declaration of Independence; will become our 3rd President and help acquire the Louisiana Purchase.  He was inspired by English philosopher John Locke.

Marquis de Lafayette – A French nobleman who traveled to American on his own and became a trusted aide to George Washington at Valley Forge.