Road to

Independence
And the shot heard
’round the world.
 th
Texas 8 Grade US History TEKS
• (1) History. The student understands traditional historical points of reference in U.S. history through 1877. The student is
expected to:
• (A) identify the major eras and events in U.S. history through 1877, including colonization, revolution, drafting of the
Declaration of Independence, creation and ratification of the Constitution, religious revivals, including the Second Great
Awakening, early republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, reform movements, sectionalism, Civil War, and
Reconstruction, and describe their defining characteristics causes and effects;
• (B) apply absolute and relative chronology through the sequencing of significant individuals, events, and time periods; and
• (C) explain the significance of the following dates: 1607, founding of Jamestown; 1620, arrival of the Pilgrims and signing of
the Mayflower Compact; 1776, adoption of the Declaration of Independence; 1787, writing of the U.S. Constitution; 1803,
Louisiana Purchase; and 1861-1865, Civil War.
• (4) History. The student understands significant political and economic issues of the revolutionary era. The student is
expected to:
• (A) analyze causes of the American Revolution, including the Proclamation of 1763, the Intolerable Acts, the Stamp Act,
mercantilism, lack of representation in Parliament, and British economic policies following the French and Indian War;
• 20 (C) analyze identify reasons for and the impact of selected examples of civil disobedience in U.S. history such as the
Boston Tea Party and Henry David Thoreau’s refusal to pay a tax.
 Pushing the Colonists Around
• The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited
colonists from moving west of the
Appalachian Mountains.
• The British keep 10,000 troops in the
colonies after the French & Indian War to
protect their interests.
• The colonists are alarmed. They fear that
the British will interfere with their liberties
and want them to leave.
 Massive Debt Means Taxes!!
• The French and Indian War left
Britain with a huge debt. Because
they were defending the colonists,
they believe the colonists should pay
the debt through taxes.
• The colonist believe because they do
not have representation they should
not have to pay the tax!
 Taxation Without Representation

• The British decided to put an end to

smuggling and declared no juries for
Americans accused of that crime.
• Using “Writs of Assistance”, British
customs officers search any location for
smuggled goods. What do we call those?
• Britain lowers tax in Sugar Act (1764) to
stop smuggling.
 Sons of Liberty Form
• The Stamp Act passed in 1765 requires a tax on
all printed materials. This tax affects almost “Is life so dear, or
every colonist. peace so sweet, as to
be purchased at the
• Patrick Henry convinces the Virginia House of price of chains and
slavery? Forbid it,
Burgesses to take action- saying only American Almighty God! I know
citizens have the right to tax themselves. “GIVE not what course others
may take; but as for
ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!” me, give me liberty or
give me death!”
• Samuel Adams starts the Sons of Liberty to
protest taxes by boycotts and attacks on British
tax collectors.
 More Taxation without Representation

• The Americans form the Stamp Act Congress and

send a petition to the King George III saying that
they should only be taxed by own assemblies.
They begin to boycott British goods. What’s
“boycott”?
• 1766 Stamp Act repealed. Same day England
passes Declaratory Act saying the king is the only
one who has the right to tax the colonies.
• In 1767, the Townshend Acts are passed placing a
tax on everyday items like glass, paper, tea & lead.
 NO TAXATION WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION!
• Outraged by ANY tax, the colonists
believed that only their own
representatives can tax them.
• American women form the Daughters of
Liberty and encourage women to make
their own products instead of buying
British-made items.
• “No taxation without Representation!”
becomes a rallying cry for colonists.
 The Boston Massacre
• British officials were fearful of an American
rebellion so they send two regiments of redcoats
to Boston.
• Colonists say they’ve gone too far.
1. The English passed laws that violated their
rights
2. A British army was now occupying the city
of Boston
• On March 5, 1770, angry colonists start throwing
snowballs, stones, oyster shells at redcoats
guarding a tax-collections building. They call them
names like “lobsterbacks”.
 Boston Massacre
• One soldier is knocked down and the rest
fire their guns at the colonists, killing five
of them, including the first to die: Crispus
Attucks.
• Americans called it the “Boston
Massacre”. The Sons of Liberty said it was
a “slaughter of innocent Americans by
bloodthirsty redcoats” and was used as
propaganda to rally the colonists against
the British. What’s “propaganda”?
 Great Britain Reacts
• The British Parliament repeals Townshend Acts
except on tea. Colonists feel they’ve won and end
the boycotts.
• The British soldiers of the Boston Massacre go on
trial and are found “not guilty”. They are defended
by John Adams.
• Committees of Correspondence are formed by the
Son’s of Liberty to keep a close eye on the British.
• With the Tea Act, the British East India Company,
partially owned by King George, bypasses taxes
and sells tea at a lower price. Americans feel this
is unfair and get angry.
 It’s a Tea Party!
• In 1773 the Sons of Liberty throw 342
chests of British tea into Boston Harbor-
this becomes known as the Boston Tea
Party. How much do you think the tea
was worth?
• A furious King George III passed the
Coercive Acts in 1774 (also called
Intolerable Acts) to punish the colonists
of Massachusetts. Here were some of its
terms:
 I Didn’t Say GOOD TERMS!
1) Closed Boston Harbor until
Tea was paid for
2) British officers accused of
crimes were tried in England
instead of the colonies
3) Banned colonial town meetings
4) Forced colonists to shelter
soldiers in their homes
https://youtu.be/t-9pDZ
MRCpQ
 The First Continental Congress
• In response to the Intolerable Acts, the
Americans form the First Continental
Congress and meet in Philadelphia (1774)
• Some of the delegates are Sam Adams,
John Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick
Henry, & George Washington.
• They drafted a statement of grievances
and asked for a repeal of the 13 acts
passed since 1763. What are
“grievances”?
• They called for Americans to arm
themselves and to form militias.
The Minutemen from
Massachusetts were ready.
• In Boston, British general Thomas
Gage learned that Americans were
hiding weapons in Concord and
orders his army to take the
weapons and arrest rebel leaders.
 The First Battles: Lexington and Concord
• In April of 1775, Paul Revere & William Dawes
rode to Lexington to warn Sam Adams & John
Hancock “the regulars are out.”
• The two sides met in Lexington first. Someone
fired a shot. Eight minutemen were killed, not
one British soldier was killed.
• The British marched on to Concord but still
didn’t find any weapons. They were attacked
by the Minutemen at the Old North Bridge and
all the way back to Boston.
 Shot Heard Round the World!

• By the time the British

returned to Boston, 174 were
wounded and 73 were dead.
• The “shot heard ’round the
world” had been fired and the
War for Independence had
begun. (Why is it called that?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Y6ikO6LMxF4
 And the fighting continues
• Benedict Arnold and the Green Mountain Boys take over the British
Fort Ticonderoga. Arnold will later become a traitor by joining the
British. Here, Arnold speaks to the people of Williamsburg, Virginia in
1781.
• Committees of Correspondence call for volunteers.
• June 1775- The Battle of Bunker Hill: The Massachusetts militia is
occupying two hills just outside of Boston. The British attack.
 • The colonists, low on ammunition are ordered “Don’t fire
until you see the whites of their eyes.”
• The Americans withdraw, allowing the British to take the hills
yet British suffered heavy losses in the victory. 268 British
soldiers and officers had been killed;
another 828 were wounded.
• Colonists now had to make a decision- loyalist or patriot.
Loyalist: American colonist who was loyal to
the British government.
Patriot: American colonist who believed the
colonies should be independent from the British.
 The Second Continental Congress
• May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress meets in
Philadelphia. John Hancock (chosen President), Washington,
Jefferson, Franklin, Lee, Henry, & the Adams are delegates.
• They begin to govern the 13 colonies.
1. They establish a post office with Franklin as postmaster
2. Create a committee to correspond with foreign nations
3. Establish the Continental Army and select George Washington as
Supreme Commander
 The Olive Branch Petition
• In a last attempt at peace with the
British, the Olive Branch Petition is sent
to King George asking for reconsideration
- He refused to look at it.
“We solemnly assure your Majesty, that we not only most ardently desire the former
harmony between her and these Colonies may be restored, but that a concord may be
established between them upon so firm a basis as to perpetuate its blessings,
uninterrupted by any future dissensions, to succeeding generations in both countries,
and to transmit your Majesty's name to posterity, adorned with that signal and lasting
glory that has attended the memory of those illustrious personages, whose virtues and
abilities have extricated states from dangerous convulsions, and, by securing
happiness to others, have erected the most noble and durable monuments to their own
fame.” (excerpt-Olive Branch Petition)
 It's just "Common Sense"

• George Washington went to Boston to prepare

those soldiers for battle.
• By March 1776 they are ready to fight. They
surround Boston and threaten to bombard the
city unless the British leave. Surprisingly, the
British leave.
• Washington enters Boston to a hero’s
welcome.
Meanwhile:
• Many Americans are still “sitting on the fence”,
that is, they can’t decide who to join. (neutral).
 Paine and Common Sense

• Thomas Paine writes his famous pamphlet Common Sense in

1776. He calls for complete independence and says it is
simply common sense to break from the “royal brute.” He
inspires thousands of Americans to become Patriots.
“Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been
the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of
Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from
the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which
drove the first emigrants from home pursues their descendants still. “
 To be or not to be… Independent!
• Should the colonists declare independence? It was the
main topic of conversation. Richard Henry Lee of
Virginia is first to propose independence.
• Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, with Franklin and Adams
to assist, is chosen to write a draft.
Resolved: That these colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states,
that they are absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political
connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally
dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for
forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to
the respective colonies for their consideration and approbation.
Richard Henry Lee, 1776, Philadelphia
 The Declaration if Written
• Locke says people are born with natural rights
like life, liberty & property and that people
formed governments to protect these rights,
not to violate them. People have the right to
overthrow the government if it fails.He is
inspired by ideas of natural rights from English
philosopher John Locke.
• Note: Jefferson had originally written an anti-slavery
passage but removed it after southern colonies
threatened to leave.
 The Declaration of Independence

• The Declaration of Independence is finally

approved on July 4, 1776
• There are four major sections to the
Declaration:
1. Explains why Americans are breaking
away
2. Discusses the natural rights they
should have
3. Details their complaints against King
George III (grievance)
4. Proclaims the creation of a new nation
 Colonists Grievances
• The Declaration lists 29 grievances against Britain.
Examples:
1. Cutting off trade with other nations (Navigation
Acts)
2. Taxing the colonists without representation in
Parliament
• (Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Sugar Act)
3. Illegal searches and seizures (Writs of Assistance)
4. Forcing Americans to house British soldiers
(Quartering Acts)
• The struggle for independence, the American
Revolution, had now truly begun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=uZfRaWAtBVg