The American Revolution(War for Independence)

Who ruled?

• Followed English law• Read English

literature• C. 1750 America was

not a hot bed of discontent. Discontent leads to…?

French and Indian War (1754-1764)

• French and Indians vs. Spanish vs. British.

• European powers fighting for spoils of North America.

The Seven Years’ War (1757-1764)

• War in Europe rages as nations fight for dominance.

• War involves England.• Britain needs to pay for

the war.• North America is still a

colony of England.• Good source of money.

England’s new economic policies

• To pay for wars.• The Sugar Act (1764).

– The first tax imposed on colonies by English Parliament to raise revenue.

• American Colonists claim “no taxation without representation!”

England’s new economic policies, cont.

• The Stamp Act (1765)• The Quartering Act

(1765)• The Townshend Act

(1767)• The Tea Act (1773)

The Boston Massacre• March of 1770.• Demonstration• Colonists hurled insults at

Redcoats.– “Lobster Backs”

• In front of the crowd was a free black man named Crispus Attucks.

• Who started it?• Five martyrs to the cause

of American Independence.

Boston Massacre cont.• English soldiers put

on trial.• Future President John

Adams represented them! Claimed self-defense.

• Light punishment for two soldiers.

• Colonists outraged, violence spreads.

Boston Tea Party• December 16, 1773.• Dressed up like Indians.• Raided tea boats.• 15,000 lbs. of tea thrown

overboard.• Benjamin Franklin

suggested America pay for the loss!

• English King George III declares “submit or triumph.”

Revolutionary War!