From Protest to Rebellion, the War Begins

Chapter 5.3-5.4

• To help British East India Co.

Hurt by colonial boycott

• Lowers $ of tea

EIC can ship directly to colonies w/out going thru GB

• Gives EIC a monopoly on selling British tea in colonies

monopoly = total control of a market for a certain product

• Hurts colonial merchants who sale Dutch tea, smuggling into colonies, & can’t compete with lower priced EIC tea.

• Tea Tax is STILL in effect!!!

12.16.1773Sons of Liberty

Prevent tea from being unloaded

Governor Thomas Hutchinson“Get that TEA unloaded!”

Large group disguised as Nativesthrow 342 cases of tea into harbor

90,000 lbs. of tea destroyed Thousands of $$$ lost!

• British response to Boston Tea Party

• Consists of 4 laws

1. Close Boston port until tea paid for

2. Increase Powers of Royal govt.

Abolish “upper house” of MA legislature

Cut power of town meetings

3. Anyone who murders British official will be tried in GB – not in colonies w/jury of peers

4. Quartering Act strengthened

•Establish govt. for the territory taken from France

•Claim land b/w Ohio R. & Missouri R. are part of Canada •Takes away western lands claimed by several

colonies•Block colonists from moving west

56 delegates (representatives) meet in Philadelphia

Samuel & John Adams; Patrick Henry; George Washington

Patrick Henry says no way to avoid a fight

September 5, 1774 – October 26, 1774

General Thomas Gage (new governor of MA) knows Minutemen are storing arms in Concord (20mi. From Boston)

Sends 700 troops to seize arms and capture important colonial leaders

Patriot warning signal goes off in steeple of Boston’s Old North Church

Paul Revere and William Dawes ride through the night to warn the minutemen!

77 Minutemen waiting when British troops arrive in Lexington

British commander orders Minutemen to go home – NO!

SHOT FIRED! - By who? Not a clue!

1st shot of American Revolution – War will gain world’s attention

British open fire – killing 8

400 Minutemen fight British, killing 3

British retreat towards Boston

4,000 Americans fire at them

300 British soldiers killed/wounded

Textbook Pages 154-155

Included: Thomas Jefferson (young Virginia lawyer); John Hancock (Boston Merchant); Benjamin Franklin (Philadelphia)

New England delegates – Let’s Declare Independence

Middle Colonies – Don’t be so drastic NE

Agree to form an Continental ARMY – George Washington to command

Loyalists are minority - Patriots gain control of governments

Leading merchants/land owners = Loyalists

Fear losing property if govt. changes

Gov’t officials = Loyalist

African American slaves side w/GB

Hope to gain freedom

Natives side w/GB

Afraid of losing land to colonists

“I do require every person capable of bearing arms to resort to His Majesty’s standard, or be looked upon as traitors to His Majesty’s Crown and government, and [be subject to] penalty… such as [loss] of life, confiscation of lands, etc. And I do hereby further declare all indentured servants, negroes, or others [in service to rebels] free that are able and willing to bear arms, they joining His Majesty’s troops as soon as may be…”

--from Proclamation of Lord Dunmore, Nov. 1775

Declaration of the Causes & Necessities of Taking Up Arms

Written after King George denied the Olive Branch Petition

Partially written by Thomas Jefferson

Declared colonists were prepared:

“to die freemen rather than to live as slaves”

King George doesn’t even respond to Olive Branch Petition.

Declares colonies “in open…rebellion”

Parliament votes to send 20,000 soldiers to end revolt in colonies

Battle of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775 – New York

Colonists make surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga (ti kahn duh ROH guh)

Fort protected water route to Canada

Ethan Allen (blacksmith) led the “Green Mountain Boys” in the attack

83 Patriots defeat 42 British troops

Significance

1. Fort controlled main route to Canada & Hudson River valley.

2. Fort held valuable weapons, especially cannons.

WINNER = PATRIOTS

Battle of Fort Ticonderoga

British General William Howe attacks Breed’s Hill.

American soldiers have little ammo – leader Israel Putnam

Americans wait till British are 150ft. away and then FIRE!

Hundreds of GB soldiers dead/wounded

Eventually, Americans start running out of ammo & retreat

GB wins battle – HUGE COSTS

More than 1,000 killed/wounded

Americans only 400 killed/wounded

Americans prove they can fight major world power of GB

Washington Takes BOSTON

Boston surrounded by American forces

Washington takes over army in July 1775

Cannons from Fort Ticonderoga brought to Boston

Drag on sleds across mts/forests 300mi. – took 3 months

Washington Takes BOSTON

Washington puts cannons on high ground over Boston

GB can’t defend city – they leave Boston!

British Advantages• Most powerful NAVY in world

• Blockading American ports

• Mercenaries – soldiers who serve another country for $$$