THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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Section 1: What led to the American Revolution?
The French and Indian War
Pontiac's Rebellion
Proclamation of 1763
The Sugar Act
The Quartering Act
The Stamp Act
Declaratory Act
Townshend Acts
Boston Massacre
Tea Act
Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts
1st Continental Congress
Lexington & Concord
2nd Continental Congress
Battle of Bunker Hill
Olive Branch Petition
Common Sense
The Declaration of Independence
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Road to Revolution
Road to Revolution
American Revolution
American Revolution
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Worksheets
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Liberty Kids Series
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, part of the larger Seven Years' War, was caused by competing claims between Britain and France over land and resources in North America. The main area of contention was the Ohio River Valley, which both nations viewed as crucial for expansion and trade. The conflict began in 1754 when British forces, led by George Washington, engaged French troops at Fort Duquesne. Additionally, both powers sought to ally with various Native American tribes, further complicating the struggle for dominance in the region. The war eventually expanded to involve numerous European powers.
Pontiac's Rebellion
Pontiac's Rebellion, also known as Pontiac's War, occurred in 1763. It was a conflict initiated by a coalition of Native American tribes primarily from the Great Lakes region, the Illinois Country, and Ohio Country, who were dissatisfied with British policies after the French and Indian War. The rebellion was named after Pontiac, the Ottawa leader who played a significant role in the uprising.
Pontiac's Rebellion highlighted the tensions between Native American tribes and European settlers, underscored the complexities of colonial and Native American relations, and set the stage for future conflicts and negotiations in North America.
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III, the Proclamation of 1763 aimed to stabilize relations between Native Americans and British settlers after the French and Indian War. It established a boundary, known as the Proclamation Line, along the Appalachian Mountains, beyond which colonial settlers were prohibited from moving. It reserved land west of the Appalachian Mountains for Native Americans to prevent conflicts over territory. It regulated trade with Native Americans to reduce exploitation and ensure fair practices. It limited colonial expansion to control and manage settlement patterns. The Proclamation of 1763 was a significant step in managing colonial expansion and Native American relations, influencing subsequent policies and contributing to the causes of the American Revolutionary War.
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1764 to raise revenue from the American colonies and reduce the debt from the French and Indian War.
The Sugar Act played a crucial role in escalating colonial discontent, leading to organized resistance and contributing to the revolutionary movement.
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1765 and amended in 1774 to provide housing and accommodations for British soldiers stationed in the American colonies.
The Quartering Act exemplified the tensions between British authority and colonial self-governance, playing a significant role in the path to American independence.
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1765 to raise revenue from the American colonies by requiring them to purchase and use stamped paper for various documents.
The Stamp Act was a significant turning point in the relationship between Britain and its American colonies, highlighting issues of taxation and representation that fueled revolutionary sentiments.
The Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was passed by the British Parliament on March 18, 1766, the same day the Stamp Act was repealed. Its intent was to affirm Parliament's authority to legislate for the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
The Declaratory Act highlighted the fundamental disagreement over governance and representation that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.
The Townshend
Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of measures passed by the British Parliament in 1767 to raise revenue from the American colonies and assert British authority.
The Townshend Acts played a crucial role in intensifying colonial resistance and fostering unity among the American colonies against British policies.
The Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, in Boston, Massachusetts, outside the Customs House, a confrontation occurred between British soldiers and American colonists that escalated into violence.
Growing unrest due to British policies and the presence of British troops in Boston fueled tensions. Colonists harassed a British sentry, leading to reinforcement by additional soldiers. The crowd threw snowballs, rocks, and other objects. British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists, including Crispus Attucks, often considered the first casualty of the American Revolution. Crispus Attucks was an African-American.
The Boston Massacre was a pivotal event that galvanized colonial opposition to British rule and contributed to the escalation toward the American Revolution.
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1773 to aid the financially struggling British East India Company by granting it the right to ship tea directly to the colonies, bypassing colonial merchants, and to reaffirm Parliament's right to tax the colonies.
The Tea Act and the subsequent Boston Tea Party significantly escalated tensions between Britain and the American colonies, contributing to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.
The Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773 at Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, American colonists engaged in a political protest against British taxation policies was by throwing tea into the Boston Harbor.
The Boston Tea Party was a defining moment in American history, marking a clear and dramatic act of resistance against British authority and contributing to the growing momentum toward independence.
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were passed by the British Parliament in 1774. Its purpose was to punish the Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party and to restore British authority in the colonies.
The acts unified the colonies in opposition to British rule, leading to the formation of the First Continental Congress. The harsh measures intensified anti-British sentiment and mobilized colonial resistance. The Intolerable Acts were a direct catalyst for the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, as they galvanized colonial opposition and led to organized efforts to resist British control.
1st Continental Congress
On September 5 to October 26, 1774 at Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the 1st Continental Congress went into session. Its purpose was to address a response to the Intolerable Acts which specifically addressed colonial grievances and to organize a response to the British-imposed Intolerable Acts. They coordinated a collective colonial response and discussed the colonies' future relations with Britain.
They agreed to a boycott of British imports and a ban on exports to Britain if the Acts were not repealed. They sent a petition to King George III, seeking redress of grievances and hoping to avoid further escalation.
This set the stage for the Second Continental Congress and the eventual move toward independence.
The First Continental Congress was a pivotal step in the colonies' path to independence, uniting them in opposition to British policies and setting the stage for the American Revolution.
Lexington & Concord
On April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts British troops, under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, marched to Concord to seize colonial military supplies. British forces encountered a small group of colonial militia on Lexington Green. The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, resulting in a brief skirmish and several colonial casualties. British troops continued to Concord, where they encountered stronger colonial resistance at the North Bridge, resulting in a firefight. As the British retreated to Boston, they faced continuous guerrilla attacks from colonial militias along the route.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord set the stage for the American Revolutionary War, uniting the colonies in their fight for independence and demonstrating the effectiveness of colonial militia forces against the British Army.
The 2nd Continental Congress
On May 10, 1775 - March 1, 1781 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the 2nd Continental Congress went into session to address a continued Response to British Policies: Convened after the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord to coordinate the colonial war effort and manage relations with Britain.
They moved for the formation of the Continental Army: Established a unified colonial military force, appointing George Washington as its commander-in-chief. They sent a final petition to King George III in July 1775, seeking reconciliation while affirming loyalty to the Crown. The petition was rejected. They Drafted and adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, formally breaking from British rule. And they oversaw the Revolutionary War, coordinating military strategy, diplomatic efforts, and financial matters.
The Second Continental Congress played a crucial role in leading the American colonies through the Revolutionary War and towards independence, making pivotal decisions that shaped the future nation.
The Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 17, 1775 at Charlestown, Massachusetts, primarily on Breed's Hill, Colonial forces fortified Breed's Hill to preempt British control of the Charlestown Peninsula. British troops, led by General William Howe, launched frontal assaults on the fortified positions. Colonial forces, commanded by Colonel William Prescott, repelled initial British attacks but were eventually overwhelmed due to ammunition shortages. Despite taking the hill, British forces suffered heavy casualties, with over 1,000 killed or wounded compared to the colonists' roughly 400.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a pivotal early conflict that showed the determination and resilience of the colonial forces, despite ultimately being a British tactical victory.
The Olive Branch Petition
On July 5, 1775, the Second Continental Congress made an attempt to avoid a full-blown war with Great Britain and to reconcile with King George III with the Olive Branch Petition.
The petition professed loyalty to the Crown and requested the King's intervention to address colonial grievances and restore harmony. It represented the last major effort by the colonists to avoid war and seek a peaceful resolution. King George III refused to receive the petition, instead declaring the colonies in a state of rebellion. The Olive Branch Petition is a crucial historical document that underscores the colonists' initial desire for peace and the eventual inevitability of the Revolutionary War.
Common Sense
On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense, in an effort to advocate for American independence from British rule. He argued that monarchy and hereditary succession were unnatural and unjust. He urged the colonies to declare independence, emphasizing the absurdity of a vast continent being governed by a distant island. He highlighted the economic advantages of independence, including free trade and the ability to form alliances. He advocated for the establishment of a republic with elected representatives, ensuring governance by the people.
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" was a pivotal work that articulated the case for American independence, influencing public sentiment and political discourse in the colonies.
The Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was a formal declaration of the American colonies' independence from British rule and outlined the reasons for the separation.
The Declaration of Independence is a seminal document in American history, symbolizing the birth of the United States and its core values of liberty and equality.
Sources and References:
Bailyn, Bernard (1992). The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Berkin, Carol (2006). Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America's Independence. New York: Vintage Books.
Calloway, Colin G. (1995). The American Revolution in Indian country : pcrisis and diversity in Native American communities. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.
Canny, Nicholas (1998). The Origins of Empire, The Oxford History of the British Empire Volume I. Oxford University Press.
Crow, Jeffrey J.; Tise, Larry E., eds. (1978). The Southern Experience in the American Revolution. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
Ferguson, Robert A. (2000). "The Commonalities of Common Sense". The William and Mary Quarterly. 57 (3): 465–504. doi:10.2307/2674263.
Fifth Virginia Convention (1776). "Preamble and Resolution of the Virginia Convention, May 15, 1776". New Haven, CT: Lillian Goldman Law Library.
Greene, Jack P.; Pole, J.R., eds. (1992). The Blackwell Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Limited.
Greene, Jack P.; Pole, J.R., eds. (2003). A Companion to the American Revolution. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Limited.
Greene, Jack P. (2000). "The American Revolution". The American Historical Review. 105 (1): 93–102. doi:10.2307/2652437.
Hull, N.E.H.; Hoffer, Peter C.; Allen, Steven L. (1978). "Choosing Sides: A Quantitative Study of the Personality Determinants of Loyalist and Revolutionary Political Affiliation in New York". Journal of American History. 65 (2): 344–366. doi:10.2307/1894084.
Jensen, Merrill (2004). The Founding of a Nation: a History of the American Revolution, 1763–1776. Indianapolis, Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company.
Kerber, Linda K. (1997). Women of the Republic: Intellect and Ideology in Revolutionary America. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
Klos, Stanley L. (2004). President Who? Forgotten Founders. Pittsburgh: Evisum, Inc.
Lowell, Edward J (1884). The Hessians and the other German Auxiliaries of Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square, New York.
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Maier, Pauline (1997). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Maier, Pauline (1991). From Resistance to Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1765–1776. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc.
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Shy, John (2008). Toward Lexington: The Role of the British Army in the Coming of the American Revolution. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Warren, Charles (1945). "Fourth of July Myths". The William and Mary Quarterly. 2 (3): 237–272. doi:10.2307/1921451.
Wood, Gordon S. (1966). "Rhetoric and Reality in the American Revolution". The William and Mary Quarterly. 23 (1): 3–32. doi:10.2307/2936154.
Wood, Gordon S. (1993). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. New York: Vintage Books.
Wood, Gordon S. (2003). The American Revolution: A History. New York: Modern Library.