tensions build between Great Britain and her North American Colonies - from 1763 to April, 1775

1. Building TensionsBuilding Tensions
England and the Colonies from 1763England and the Colonies from 1763
to April, 1775to April, 1775

2. Aftermath of the French andAftermath of the French and
Indian WarIndian War
Intense and expensive war between BritishIntense and expensive war between British
on one side, French and Indian allies on theon one side, French and Indian allies on the
other.other.
Having won the 7 Years War, England mustHaving won the 7 Years War, England must
organize empire, cut costs and pay backorganize empire, cut costs and pay back
debt.debt.
Since colonies benefited, they wereSince colonies benefited, they were
expected to pay their share of the costsexpected to pay their share of the costs
one way to cut costs was to minimize theone way to cut costs was to minimize the
need for military protection from Nativeneed for military protection from Native
AmericansAmericans
∴∴ Proclamation of 1763 - a line not to beProclamation of 1763 - a line not to be

3. Proclamation line of 1763Proclamation line of 1763

4. other Acts unpopular as wellother Acts unpopular as well
Navigation Acts limit colonialNavigation Acts limit colonial
merchants to trade with Englandmerchants to trade with England
onlyonly
Stamp Act of 1765Stamp Act of 1765 [ first[ first directdirect taxtax
on colonies ]on colonies ]
colonists boycott British goods;colonists boycott British goods;
riots and violent protestsriots and violent protests
9 colonies unite in response9 colonies unite in response
with Stamp Act Congress [firstwith Stamp Act Congress [first
unified action against Britishunified action against British
authority]authority]
Parliament repeals the Act, but . .Parliament repeals the Act, but . .
Passes the Declaratory Act thePasses the Declaratory Act the
next daynext day

5. Tension mountsTension mounts
Sons of Liberty in all coloniesSons of Liberty in all colonies
Townshend Acts 1767 - additional duty onTownshend Acts 1767 - additional duty on
importsimports
• amounts to “taxation without representation”amounts to “taxation without representation”
• protests and boycotts, againprotests and boycotts, again
leads to the “leads to the “LibertyLiberty Incident” in 1768Incident” in 1768
• Hancock suspected of smuggling [he was]Hancock suspected of smuggling [he was]
• ship seized; colonists protestship seized; colonists protest

6. Heading toward a flashpointHeading toward a flashpoint
The Boston Massacre - March 1770The Boston Massacre - March 1770
• mob outside Customs House baits guardsmob outside Customs House baits guards
• shooting starts, 5 dead including Crispus Attucksshooting starts, 5 dead including Crispus Attucks
• Boston in an uproarBoston in an uproar
• propaganda opportunitypropaganda opportunity
• John Adams successfully defends the British soldiersJohn Adams successfully defends the British soldiers
• for some, this is an indication that England will neverfor some, this is an indication that England will never
give ingive in

7. What’s wrong with this picture?What’s wrong with this picture?

8. TheThe GaspeeGaspee Affair 1772Affair 1772
• English armed cutter Gaspee runs aground and isEnglish armed cutter Gaspee runs aground and is
attacked and burned by Rhode Island colonistsattacked and burned by Rhode Island colonists
• colonists upset at the idea that any caught would havecolonists upset at the idea that any caught would have
to stand trial in Englandto stand trial in England
• first planned attack by colonists and first shot aimedfirst planned attack by colonists and first shot aimed
at a British officerat a British officer
Committees of CorrespondenceCommittees of Correspondence
• quickest communication of the dayquickest communication of the day
• all 13 colonies have them - colonies beginning to act inall 13 colonies have them - colonies beginning to act in
unison against British ruleunison against British rule
• will constitute a “shadow” government on which thewill constitute a “shadow” government on which the
First Continental Congress will be based in 1774First Continental Congress will be based in 1774

9. The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party Dec.The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party Dec.
16, 177316, 1773
designed to help British East India Co. by selling surplusdesigned to help British East India Co. by selling surplus
tea direct to colonies at bargain pricetea direct to colonies at bargain price
reduced tax, but would amount to recognition ofreduced tax, but would amount to recognition of
Parliament’s right to tax the coloniesParliament’s right to tax the colonies
Tea refused in all colonies; in Boston the Sons of LibertyTea refused in all colonies; in Boston the Sons of Liberty
stage a raid, and pitch crates of tea into the harborstage a raid, and pitch crates of tea into the harbor

10. King George III says, “Enough!”King George III says, “Enough!”
King and Parliament pass the Coercive Acts - known in theKing and Parliament pass the Coercive Acts - known in the
colonies as the Intolerable Acts in May and June of 1774 -colonies as the Intolerable Acts in May and June of 1774 -
aimed at Boston and Massachusetts Colonyaimed at Boston and Massachusetts Colony
• Administration of Justice Act - crown officials to be triedAdministration of Justice Act - crown officials to be tried
in Englandin England
• Mass. Gov’t Act - virtual elimination of self- gov’t ;Mass. Gov’t Act - virtual elimination of self- gov’t ;
imposition of martial law by new military governor Gen.imposition of martial law by new military governor Gen.
GageGage
• Quartering Act - private homes now required to put upQuartering Act - private homes now required to put up
soldiers [ applied to all colonies ]soldiers [ applied to all colonies ]
• Boston Port Act - port closed down until price of tea paidBoston Port Act - port closed down until price of tea paid
• conditions in Boston become horrific with lack ofconditions in Boston become horrific with lack of
supplies and spread of diseasesupplies and spread of disease
11stst
Continental Congress convenes, Sept. 5,Continental Congress convenes, Sept. 5,
17741774

11. 1st Continental Congress1st Continental Congress
Sept. 5, 1774Sept. 5, 1774
North Carolina precedes this act with 1North Carolina precedes this act with 1stst
ProvincialProvincial
Congress in Wilmington in Aug., 1774Congress in Wilmington in Aug., 1774
all colonies but Georgia meet in Philadelphia, PAall colonies but Georgia meet in Philadelphia, PA
Organization of colonies-wide boycott of imports.Organization of colonies-wide boycott of imports.
Boycott on exports to follow by Sept. 1775Boycott on exports to follow by Sept. 1775
provision made for 2provision made for 2ndnd
Congress the following MayCongress the following May
if things did not improveif things did not improve
[ they won’t ][ they won’t ]

12. The Shot Heard ‘round the WorldThe Shot Heard ‘round the World
April 19, 1775 fighting begins at LexingtonApril 19, 1775 fighting begins at Lexington
and Concord, Mass.and Concord, Mass.
Gen. Gage sets out from Boston to captureGen. Gage sets out from Boston to capture
arms, Sam Adams and John Hancock inarms, Sam Adams and John Hancock in
ConcordConcord

13. Paul Revere, William Dawes and SamuelPaul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel
Prescott raise the alarmPrescott raise the alarm
Alerted by pre-arrangedAlerted by pre-arranged
signal to ride and warnsignal to ride and warn
the Minutemen that thethe Minutemen that the
“regulars are coming!”“regulars are coming!”
successful in that militiasuccessful in that militia
are ready at Lexingtonare ready at Lexington
and Concordand Concord
Revere warns Adams andRevere warns Adams and
Hancock in timeHancock in time

14. Fighting at Lexington Green and ConcordFighting at Lexington Green and Concord
BridgeBridge
Patriots confronted at Lexington Green - no one knowsPatriots confronted at Lexington Green - no one knows
who fired firstwho fired first
Regulars push on to Concord and fight their way acrossRegulars push on to Concord and fight their way across
the bridgethe bridge
arms and rebel leaders are gonearms and rebel leaders are gone
Regulars are harassed all the way back to Boston,Regulars are harassed all the way back to Boston,
suffering heavy casualtiessuffering heavy casualties