Toward Independence

•1600s & 1700s-British followed the mercantilism policy•Believed this would make the British

very wealthy•Wealth would be used to develop

industry and navy•America would provide a cheap source

of raw materials for the policy

British Taxes•King George III wanted to get as much wealth from America as he could•Parliament required the colonies to sell raw materials to Britain at low prices, but buy British products at high prices•Killed colonial business

• To pay debts from a war with France, Britain levied heavy taxes on the American colonies•1764- Sugar Act passed- tax on sugar,

coffee, and other imported goods•1765- Stamp tax passed- tax on all

printed materials and legal documents•1777-Townshend Acts- tax on all

imports, including a 3 penny tax on tea

• Resented the taxes, because no representation for the colonists in parliament• Boycotted British goods (Boston Tea Party)• Parliament repealed the tax laws

Intolerable Acts• Passed by parliament after they repealed

the taxes to show the Americans they were still in control• Shut down Boston Harbor because the

colonists refused to pay for the destroyed tea• Restricted colonists rights -no trial by jury -allowed British soldiers to search and live

in colonists’ homes (Quartering Act)

Discussion

• From what you know of colonial history, why did the colonist want to break away from England? Give at least 3 reasons.

Move towards Independence

•Colonial governments banded together to fight the Intolerable Acts

First Continental Congress• 1774- colonies (except Georgia) sent

delegates to Philadelphia• -56 delegates sent a document to King

George III• asked for rights of “life, liberty, and

property”• Extended the boycott of British goods• Decided to meet again 1 year later if

demands went unmet

•King George refused to the demands •Ordered the military to use force against the colonists•Fight between the soldiers and colonists in Lexington, then, Concord

Second Continental Congress•1775- met in Philadelphia•Not all delegates favored

independence•1776- more than ½ the delegates

favored independence•Committee appointed to write a

document that announced America’s independence

The Declaration of Independence• Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority• Explanation of why Americans had the right

to be independent• Took ideas from Rousseau and John Locke• Argued that Britain did not look out for the

colonists’ interest nor protect their rights

•Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776•American colonies were now independent states•Video about the declaration.•Write down a few thing that stuck out to you.

Discussion

• How much influence should a taxpayer have? Explain.