The Revolutionary War broke out in the 1770s as American colonists rebelled against British taxation and control over the colonies. Events like the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party increased tensions, as the British imposed taxes without representation and closed Boston's port after the tea was destroyed. The British refusal to compromise led the colonies to form the Continental Congress and eventually declare independence, starting the Revolutionary War. Though the British army was better equipped, colonists received aid from the French and used innovative tactics under George Washington to overcome the British forces through guerrilla warfare and ambushes.

1. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR A Little Bit of Background

2. The Two Sides Exploding in the 1770’s over taxes, economic monopoly, and lack of political representation, the Revolutionary War was the end result of Great Britain’s repeated attempts to control its colony in North America.

3. The Two Sides American colonists, the middle class in particular, did not like the idea of being taxed without any say-so. In response to taxation without representation, colonists rebelled in the form of boycotts and protests.

4. Such as… In this image, American colonists are shown tarring and feathering a British tax man, as well as dumping British products overboard.

5. Soon to be followed by… The Boston Massacre of 1770, wherein British troops opened fire on American protesters, killing 5 people. Afterwards, the Brits repealed all taxes except a tax on tea.

6. During the Boston Massacre…

7. One of the first “patriots” to be killed was a black man named Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave who became a dock worker in Boston.

8. Shortly following… The British tax on tea was turned into a monopoly for Britain’s East India Company after the Tea Act of 1773. The Tea Act refunded 4/5 of the taxes that the East India Co. paid, and allowed them to sell directly to shopkeepers, bypassing American merchants. Because of this, the East India Co. was able to sell their tea for a much cheaper price, thus monopolizing the business.

9. And bang, zoom, the Boston Tea Party!

10. This was the last straw… The British were fed up and began to further limit colonist political mobility, close down Boston’s ports until repayment was made for the destroyed tea, and station an additional 2,000 troops in New England. Many wealthy colonists saw this as a complete violation of their rights, and in a need to have a political say, created the Continental Congress - an early attempt at self-government without British interference.

12. British refusal to back down… Would ultimately lead to a revolution staged by American colonists demanding the right to govern themselves and not be slaves to the King. (See Declaration of Independence PowerPoint)

14. A Battle on Many Fronts Colonists would receive aid from the French, who wanted pieces of the British empire, and the War would be fought up and down the East Coast of what would soon become the United States.

15. In the end… It was the French assistance, guerrilla tactics of hiding and ambushing, and daring new tactics employed by General George Washington that would overcome the better equipped, better financed, British Army.

17. George Washington… Used spies to help gather information on the British. Conducted a mid-winter attack on the Brits, something not done before during wartime. And, owned slaves.