Chapter 7 The Road to the American Revolution Standard 8-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes of the American Revolution and the beginnings of the new nation, with an emphasis on South Carolina s role in the development of that nation. Indicators 8-2.1 Explain the political and economic consequences of the French and Indian War on the relationship of the South Carolina colonists with Native Americans and England. 8-2.2 Summarize the response of South Carolina to events leading to the American Revolution, including the Stamp Act, the Tea Acts, and the Sons of Liberty. American Revolution the war fought between Britain and America for American independence Revolution a sudden change overthrowing the government by the people. Independent To have freedom to be on your own and make your own laws/decisions Liberty Freedom Boycott Propaganda To stop buying or using a product to affect change information that is deliberately spread to try to persuade someone. Repeal to take back such as a law or tax to make null or void Tyranny Being ruled by someone with too much power (a tyrant) Tax Money the gov t collects from its citizens and then uses to benefit society. Duty a tax that is placed on an import or export. Representation the right of being represented by a delegate who has a voice or vote in gov t. Sons of Liberty a group of men that was created to fight for their rights as English citizens. 1
1. What did the American Revolution create? 2. Most colonists considered themselves citizens of what country? 3. What did the colonists begin to desire? The Proclamation of 1763 4. How did the British help the colonies win the French and Indian War? 5. What did the Proclamation of 1763 say? 6. Why did the colonists believe the British should not make laws for them? 7. Why did King George III think the colonists should pay for the French and Indian War? 8. What 2 reasons did the colonists feel they should not have to pay taxes for the war? The Age of Revolution The American Revolution was one of the most important events in American History. Not only did it create a new and independent nation, but it was also the basis of many of our beliefs today liberty, equality, pursuit of happiness. The end result of this war will be the creation of the United States of America_. The Proclamation of 1763 At the end of the French and Indian War in America, most people who lived in the colonies considered themselves loyal subjects of England. However, the colonists began to desire more freedom to make decisions for themselves. They had become independent. The actual break from Britain started after the French and Indian War. The British gov t sent soldiers to the colonies to fight in the French and Indian War and the British won. When the war was over, many colonists moved into the new area only to be told by the King that they could not live west of the Appalachian Mts. This law was called the Proclamation of 1763. The colonists saw the law as a limit to their freedom and they had no vote in British gov t to make that decision since they had no representation in Parliament. George III wants the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War When George III became King, he felt like the French and Indian War had been fought to protect and benefit the colonists, so he believed that America should help pay the debt the war left with. The colonists did not feel like they should have to pay taxes for a war they gained nothing from. Remember, the Proclamation of 1763 did not even let them use the land they fought for. They also had no representation in the British gov t, so they didn t think it was fair for them to be taxed without representation. The only taxes the colonists felt like they should have to pay were the ones that their own colonial government assemblies agreed to pay. 2
New Taxes for the American Colonies 9. What 2 things did the Sugar Act tax? 10. What did the Stamp Act tax? 11. How did officials know if you paid the tax? American Reaction to the New Taxes 12. These taxes began to make the colonists angry. What became a popular slogan of the day? 13. How else did the colonists protest the Stamp Act? New Taxes for the American Colonies The King decides to tax the colonists anyway. Here come the first of those taxes The Sugar Act taxed sugar and molasses. The colonists resisted by smuggling the taxed goods into the colonies. Stamp Act A tax that had to be paid for all legal documents and many paper products, like newspapers, playing cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc. All of these items had to be stamped to show the tax was paid. American Reaction to the New Taxes The American people were angry about these taxes and felt like the British gov t was not looking out for their needs. They felt this way because they did not have representation in the British Parliament who was passing these taxes. The slogan often heard on the streets was No taxation without representation_ As in many big cities, the colonists in Charleston protested the Stamp Act. The Carolina Gazette newspaper began to print propaganda and articles protesting the new taxes. This began to change the attitudes of many minds in the _Low Country. 14. Why do you think the Carolina Gazette articles did not change many attitudes in the Back Country? Stamp Act Congress 15. What was the purpose of the Stamp Act Congress? Stamp Act Congress In October of 1765, the Stamp Act Congress met in New York to boycott English goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. From South Carolina, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, and Thomas Lynch were elected delegates to the Stamp Act Congress. They all agreed to the boycott English goods. This led to the repeal of the Stamp Act, but not an end to the anger and frustration. 16. Who were the 3 delegates from SC? Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty 17. What group formed in many large cities to protest British laws? 18. Who was the leader of the Sons of Liberty in SC? 3 Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty Groups of men in many of the bigger cities, including Charles Town, formed groups called the Sons of Liberty_. They began to protest in the streets and spread _propaganda. Christopher Gadsden, a wealthy merchant from Charleston, was the spokesman for Sons of Liberty in Charles Town. He organized protests in the city and he spoke about
19. What did Gadsden encourage settlers to fight for 20. Give 3 examples of some of the ways the colonists protested. 21. What group did many of the women form? 22. Why could women not protest outwardly? More Laws and Taxes Passed by the King 23. What law stated that British Parliament could declare laws for the colonies? how the taxes were a way for Britain to have _power_ over the colonies and the colonies should not allow it. He encouraged the people of South Carolina to stand ready to fight for their liberty. Some ways the colonists protested They burned effigies of tax collectors Harassed tax collectors Intimidated those who tried to follow the British laws Wrote articles /letters in the newspaper Made posters that were hung around the city in protest Made speeches They carried a coffin labeled American Liberty through the city and buried it. What is the symbolism of this coffin? Women were not expected to protest as boldly as the men because it would not have been the behavior of a lady. The women did, however begin the Daughters of Liberty. Their protests were usually a little more subtle; for example, serving coffee at a party instead of tea to protest the tax on tea. More Laws and Taxes Passed by the King Declaratory Act stated that Parliament had the right to pass laws for the colonies again the colonists were not happy because they have no representation in the British gov t to help make these laws. Townshend duties taxed paper, glass, paint, lead and tea. 24. What did the Townshend Duties tax? FYI--The Regulator movement that we learned about was going on about the same time the Townshend Duties were passed. Boston Massacre 25. How did the Boston Massacre begin? 26. Why did the soldiers shoot into the mob? Boston Massacre In 1770, a mob of angry citizens in Boston insulted and began throwing snowballs & ice chunks at British soldiers standing guard. The soldiers panicked and opened fire on the mob killling five people and wounding six others. Using propaganda, the newspapers, blew the event out of proportion. The event was called the Boston Massacre and the colonists cried out for justice for the colonies. 27. Explain why this was not really a massacre and why it became known as one. 4
The Controversy Over Tea and the Boston Tea Party 28. By 1770, what product had the King not repealed the tax from? 29. How did the boycott affect the British East India Tea Company? 30. Under the tea act, who had a monopoly in the tea market of the colonies? 31. Even though the Tea Act was not a tax and it lowered the price of tea, why were the colonists still angry about it? 32. The people of Boston continued to boycott English tea. In 1773, when the ships arrived with tea, what did the Sons of Liberty do? 33. What two locations in SC also had tea parties? The Controversy Over Tea and the Boston Tea Party By 1770, the King had repealed almost all of the taxes except for the one on tea. The colonists were pleased, but they still boycotted English tea. Three years of boycotts went by and Britain s East India Tea Company was nearly bankrupt. To encourage the colonists to buy English tea, the King passed the Tea Act which was not a tax. It actually cut the price of tea so much that even with the tax, it was still cheaper than the smuggled tea. This act gave the British East India Company exclusive rights to sell tea in the colonies (a monopoly). Parliament passed the Tea Act to try to help_ the company. Colonists were still angry though and the Sons of Liberty feared that the availability of cheap tea would threaten the effectiveness of the boycott. That, in turn, would make the colonists less likely to fight for their equal rights and for representation. The Boston Tea Party In 1773 several shiploads full of millions of dollars worth of tea came into the Boston Harbor to be unloaded. The ships were told by the Sons of Liberty to leave or else. After the deadline was up, and the ships were still sitting in the Harbor, the Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans, snuck onto the ships and dumped the tea into the ocean. This was known as the Boston Tea Party_. The Charles Town and Georgetown Tea Parties While the people of Boston protested with the Boston Tea Party, Charles Town and Georgetown, SC were involved in one of their own. When ships arrived in the two SC harbors loaded down with chests of tea, the Sons of Liberty hosted their own tea parties here as well. The Colonists in Charles Town stole the tea and hid it in the Old Exchange Building. They sold the tea for weapons during the American Revolution. 34. What happened during the Charleston Tea Party? The King Reacts to the Boston Tea Party with the Intolerable Acts 35. What 2 reasons was the King furious with the tea parties? 36. For what reason did the King pass the Intolerable Acts? The King Reacts to the Boston Tea Party with the Intolerable Acts This tea was worth millions and the king was furious not just because of the money, but also because the colonists were getting out of hand and not respecting English law_. He passed the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonists. 5
The Americans Summon a Continental Congress 37. Who were the SC delegates for the First Continental Congress? 38. What group was created to be the law in SC since the colony had chosen to no longer maintain loyalty to the King. 39. How did the SC delegates feel about independence? 40. What 2 things did the First Continental Congress decide we needed to do just in case of war? 41. To boycott British goods, they passed what 2 agreements? The Americans Summon a Continental Congress In 1774, colonial leaders met in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. Representatives from SC met in Charles Town and choose the SC delegates to the Continental Congress. Christopher Gadsden and Edward Rutledge were chosen as our representatives. The group also established a General Committee of 99 to govern SC. This group would be the government of SC for the time being since they were defying the King s authority. At the First Continental Congress, the discussion of independence_ began and the men from SC were in supuport of independence from the British government. At this meeting, several decisions were made, but two key decisions were 1. To begin forming an armyof some sort and begin stockpiling weapons just in case they ended up at war. 2. The continuation of the boycott on English goods, by creating the non-importation and non-exportation agreement. This simply meant that the colonies would not import or _export goods to or from England. Gadsden and Rutledge argued that SC rice should be removed from the list of forbidden exports because rice was essential to the survival of SC. The Continental Congress allowed SC to continue the rice trade. In the next chapter, we will see how the war actually began. 42. What product did SC want to continue to export? 43. Why did SC feel they needed to continue the export of rice? 6