Revolutionary War Cloze Notes

It all started in 1754………..

65 years of disputes between France and Great Britain caused the French and Indian War. Both England and France wanted to control land in North America. With the help of the colonists, the British won the war against France. They now controlled more land in North America.

Before the French & Indian War

After Proclamation of 1763

North America: Before and After

French and Indian War Ends……………

Georgia did not take part in the war but it was helped by it. After the war, Georgia’s western boundary stopped at the Mississippi River. But a few months later, King George II issued the Proclamation of 1763. (1) It moved the state’s southern boundary to the St. Mary’s River. (2)Forbade colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. (3) Britain placed 10,000 troops along the line to enforce the law

Georgia’s New Borders

Victory has a cost!!

The French and Indian War left Britain greatly in debt.

King George III raised money to pay back Britain’s war debt by taxing the colonists.

However, the colonists did not have representatives in Britain’s government.

Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes

In 1764, Parliament issued the Sugar Act which placed a tax on sugar and molasses imported.

The Stamp Act was issued in 1765 in another attempt to raise money for the war debt. This act placed a tax on newspaper, legal documents, and licenses.

Townshend Acts of 1767 placed import taxes on tea, paper, glass, and coloring for paints .

No Taxation Without Representation

Colonists also stop using and buying all items that had an extra tax.

“No Taxation without Representation:” when British officials attempted to collect taxes they were met by resistance; The British wondered why Americans were so upset? Because they had no say in what they were being taxed for.

Famous Revolutionary protest include the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre.

Intolerable Acts

The British were outraged about the events in Boston. To punish the colonists, Parliament created the Intolerable Acts in 1774. It included fours laws that colonists thought were harsh. (1) It shut down the port of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea. (2) Forbade Massachusetts colonists from holding town meeting without the governor’s permission. (3) British officers and other officials charged with crimes could only be tried in Great Britain. (4) Quartering Act stated that citizens of all colonies had to house and feed British soldiers at their own expense.

In Sept. 1774, colonial leaders met in Philadelphia, delegates from 12 colonies gathered in what became known as the 1st Continental Congress, only Georgia did not send representatives. The First Continental Congress agreed to stop all trade with Great Britain and wanted each colony to set a committee to enforce boycotts.

Response to the Intolerable Acts

“The British are coming”……War Begins

The first battles were at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The British planed a secret late night attack to capture weapons. Paul Revere and other riders warned colonists. The British lost both battles.

Declaration of Independence

The Second Continental Congress set up a committee to write a declaration for freedom to King George II. Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent states,” on July 4. The Declaration consists of a preamble (introduction) followed by three main parts.

First part of the Declaration stresses the idea of natural rights, or rights that belong to all people from birth. The second part lists the wrongs committed by Britain and the King. The third part announces that the colonies declare their independence.

Georgia Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Lyman Hall, George Walton and Button Gwinnett

War in Georgia

Battle of Kettle Creek took place near Washington, GA. It was led by Colonel Elijah Clarke. He defeated 800 British troops. Clarke County is named after him. The militia was able to take needed weapons and supplies from the British.

Austin Dabney was a former slave who was injured during the Battle of Kettle Creek after saving Elijah Clarke’s life.

Throughout the war, Savannah was controlled by the British. In early September 1779, 15,000 Americans and 4,000 French laid tried siege or tried to gain back Savannah. But colonists and French were unsuccessful. The British controlled Savannah until the end of the war in 1782.

After the Battle of Kettle Creek five soldiers came into Nancy Hart’s home demanding she cook them a meal. The soldiers began to brag about the murder of Colonel John Dooley, which they committed. Hart took their rifles away. She was able to kill one of them and held the other 4 at gunpoint until help arrived. Hart County is named in her honor. It is the only county named after a woman.

War in Georgia

In October 1781, with the help of France forces, General George Washington defeated the British at the Battle of Yorktown. British General Cornwallis surrendered to American forces.

The Last Stance…………

The War End……..INDEPENDENCE!!!

Under the Treaty of Paris the British recognized the United States as an independent nation. The borders of the new nation extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The southern border stopped at Florida. Americans agreed to pay Loyalists for property they lost in the war.

Reasons for American Victory: difficult for Britain to send troops and supplies to America; when British forces took a city the Americans moved inland: Americans also knew the best roads and places to fight; America also got assistance from Spain and France.