Chapter 6 Notes

Fighting for Control

 The French and Indian War began in 1754.

o The two main opposing sides were the French and the British. The Native
Americans fought for both sides, but mostly the French.
o A major cause for the war was that the French and British both claimed the same
lands in North America.
 In 1763, King George III made a proclamation, or public announcement.
o The proclamation was a British announcement that said that all lands west of
the Appalachian Mountains belonged to the Native Americans.
 Many colonists were angry about the proclamation and ignored it by
continuing to settle on the lands.
 Parliament, or the lawmaking branch of the British government, passed new taxes to
help pay for the war.
o The Sugar Act taxed sugar and molasses brought into the colonies from the West
Indies to raise more money for Britain.

Colonists Speak Out

 In 1765 Parliament approved another tax law called The Stamp Act.
 Colonists said that Britain could not tax them because they had no representation in
Parliament.
o Representation meant that they had a voice in the government.
 Colonists wanted Britain to take back the Stamp Act.
o They boycotted, or refused to buy, all British goods because of the stamp act.
 The Sons and Daughters of Liberty took action against the Stamp Act.
 In 1766 Parliament voted to repeal, or take back, The Stamp Act.
 Colonists decided to form Committees of Correspondence to spread information more
quickly.
 o The job of the committees of correspondence was to write letters to one
another and tell about what is happening in their town and colony.
 Colonists did not like the British imperial policies so they did things like boycotted British
goods, wove their own clothes instead of buying British cloth, chased British tax
collectors out of their towns, formed committees of correspondence, organized
protests, sent petitions to parliament, and formed militias.

Disagreements Grow

 In 1773 parliament passed the Tea Act.

o Colonists had to pay tax on tea or not drink tea.
 On December 16, 1773 members of the Sons of Liberty took part in what is now known
as The Boston Tea Party.
 In March 1774, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts.
o The Coercive Acts were a set of laws to punish the Massachusetts colonists.
o The Coercive Acts also became known as the Intolerable Acts.
 In September 1774, colonial leaders met in Philadelphia.
o This was the first meeting in North America and became known as the First
Continental Congress.
 The First Continental congress met to decide how to respond to British
policies and actions such as the coercive acts. It sent a petition to the
king, stating the Colonists rights. It agreed to stop most trade with
Britain. It also asked the colonies to form militias.
 Colonists formed militia units made up of Minutemen.
o Minutemen got their name because they were ready to fight at a minute’s
notice.
 In April 1775, General Gage sent 700 British soldiers to Lexington and Concord.
o The first shot fired at Lexington became known as “The shot heard ‘round the
world.”
 o This battles of Lexington and Concord were the start of a long war called the
American Revolution.

The Road to War

 The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on My 10, 1775.

o During the meeting, congress agreed that the colonies should prepare for war.
 Congress formed an army called the Continental Army.
o George Washington was the commander in chief, or leader of all military forces.
 Congress printed its own money, which was known as Continental currency.
 Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle of the Revolutionary War.
o Fought on June 17, 1775.
o The battle was much tougher than the British had expected.
o The Battle of Bunker Hill made the British realize fighting the colonists would not
be as easy as they thought.
o The battle further angered British leaders.
o After the battle, King George III promised to use stronger methods to crush the
colonial rebellion
 On July 5, 1775 congress sent King George III a peace petition.
o This petition became known as the Olive Branch Petition.

Declaring Independence

 Many people began to call for Independence, or the freedom to govern themselves.
 On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee decided that the colonies no longer owed loyalty to
the king.
o A committee was chosen to write a declaration to be sent to the king about their
independence.
 Thomas Jefferson was chosen by the committee to write the first draft.
o The preamble told why the declaration was needed.
o Jefferson included the rights of the people that the government cannot take
away.
 o Jefferson listed the grievances, or complaints, people had against King George III
and parliament.
 On July 4, 1776, congress voted to accept the Declaration.
 John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration.
 Signing the Declaration was dangerous and rebellious.
o King George III promised to do whatever was necessary to end rebellion.
 After accepting the Declaration, only white men who owned property were allowed to
vote.
o It took many years for women, African Americans, Native Americans, and others
groups to share the promise of the Declaration of Independence.
 In 1777, Congress approved the first plan of government for the United States called the
Articles of Confederation.
o The Articles were used to unite, or hold together, the nation during the
Revolutionary War.
 The Articles limited the powers of national government.

Important People

 Samuel Adams
o Organized the first committee of correspondence in Boston
o Was thought by many people to have planned the Boston tea party
 John Dickinson
o Head of the committee for the articles of confederation
 Thomas Jefferson
o Main author of The Declaration of Independence
 Richard Henry Lee
o Called for a resolution in the second continental congress for independence from
Britain
 George Washington
o Commander in chief of the continental army