The american revolution

The American Revolution

SS8H3 – The student will analyze the role of Georgia in the American

Revolution

Causes of the Revolution

• There are several factors that lead to the American Revolution:– The French & Indian War– The Proclamation of 1763– The Stamp Act– The Intolerable Acts

The French & Indian War

• 1754-1763• The war was caused

because of tension (problems) between Great Britain and France

• Who fought whom?– Great Britain was on one

side– The French became

allies (friends) with the Native Americans

VS

Outcome of the French & Indian War

• Great Britain won the war• The war had several positive results for Georgia:– Georgia grew! The Mississippi River became

Georgia’s new western border– Georgia was more secure! Great Britain gained

control of Florida, meaning the colonists in Georgia didn’t have to worry about the Spanish anymore

• Great Britain incurred lots of debt (owed money to other countries)

The Proclamation of 1763

• Because Great Britain incurred a lot of debt fighting for the colonists, King George III thought that he and Parliament (GB’s legislative branch) should have more of a say in what happened in the colonies the King ended the practice of salutary neglect (letting the colonies govern themselves)

The Proclamation of 1763

• The Proclamation of 1763 did two things:–Created 4 new colonies–Prohibited American colonists from

settling west of the Appalachian Mountains (King George did this to help make peace with the Native Americans)

The Proclamation of 1763

• How did the colonists react to the Proclamation of 1763?–The colonists thought that the

Proclamation of 1763 was unfair because it limited their personal freedoms and economic opportunities (a chance to make more money)

The Stamp Act

• After the French & Indian War, Great Britain needed to make money to pay off its debts

• The most common way that governments raise revenue (income) is to tax their citizens

• The Stamp Act was passed in 1765• It placed a tax (money that an individual must

pay to the government) on all legal documents, newspapers, licenses, and other things necessary to do business

Look at the political cartoon on the right. What do you think was the colonists’ opinion of the Stamp Act?

These are examples of what a Royal Stamp would have looked like.

A political cartoon showing the colonists’ reaction to the Stamp Act.

Effects of the Stamp Act

• Many colonies selected delegates to represent them at the Stamp Act Congress Georgia did not because its assembly was not in session

• The Stamp Act Congress decided that each colony should boycott (refuse to buy) any good that required a government stamp

• Georgia was the only American colony to ever sell any stamps a few were sold in Savannah

• Parliament eventually repealed (did away with) the Stamp Act

The Intolerable Acts

• After the Stamp Act, Great Britain issued a tax on tea In 1773, a group of Bostonians (people from Boston) dumped a lot of tea into Boston Harbor in protest against the Tea Act

• As a result of the Boston Tea Party, King George III and Parliament passed several new laws in 1774:– Placed a military governor in charge of Massachusetts– Closed Boston Harbor– Took away land from several colonies– Enacted (made a law) the Quartering Act

The Quartering Act

• The Quartering Act forced all of the colonists to house (give shelter to) any British soldier if the soldier asked

• The owner of the house had to pay for all of the soldiers expenses out of his own pocket

• This upset all of the colonies, including Georgia

Effects of the Intolerable Acts

• The colonies created the First Continental Congress Georgia was the only colony that did not send delegates (representatives)

• The First Continental Congress sent a message to the King that the colonists believed they should live by their own laws because they weren’t represented in Parliament

What about Georgia?

• Georgia was the youngest of the American colonies, and still depended very heavily on aid from Great Britain

• They didn’t want to do anything to upset the King

“Join, or Die” by Benjamin Franklin1. What do you know about Benjamin Franklin?2. What colony is missing from the snake?3. What do you think Franklin meant by “Join, or Die?”

Declaration of Independence

• Signed on July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress

• Georgia only sent 1 unofficial delegate (representative) to the start of the congress Abraham Baldwin

• Georgia sent 2 more delegates for a total of 3 William Few, and Button Gwinnett

The Revolutionary War

• The war was fought between Great Britain and the American Colonists

• Patriots were colonists who were opposed to (against) Great Britain

• Tories were colonists who were loyal to (on the same side as) Great Britain

• The American Revolution lasted from 1775-1781

The War in Georgia

• Georgia was the site of 2 major battles during the American Revolution:– The Battle of Kettle Creek– The Siege of Savannah

This historical marker marks the site of the Battle of Kettle Creek

The Battle of Kettle Creek

• February 1779• Colonel Elijah Clarke led Georgia’s militia

(soldiers who only fight during a war) to a victory over 700 British soldiers

• The Patriots got weapons and supplies from the defeated British

• The victory lifted the morale (good feelings) of the patriots in Georgia

• Slave who fought in his master’s place

• Wounded during the Battle of Kettle Creek

• Awarded freedom and land for his service during the Revolutionary War

• Was a Patriot spy during the Revolutionary War

• Sometimes dressed like a man and went into loyalist (Tory) camps to get information

• One legend says that she held a group of Tories at gunpoint until help arrived

Nancy HartAustin Dabney

The Siege of Savannah

• Fall 1779• 1,500 Patriots and 4,000

French troops tried to recapture Savannah from the Tories

• On October 9, the Patriots and French attacked the British

• The Patriots were defeated

The War Ends!

General Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington on October 19, 1781. The Treaty of Paris officially ended the war 2 years later in 1783.

THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS, & GA’S CONSTITUTION

GA’s Constitution of 1777

• Based on the ideas of natural rights (rights that were given to humans from birth) and governments having power by the consent of the governed (the people being ruled give power to the rulers)

• Created three branches of government in Georgia Executive Branch (Governor); Legislative Branch (unicameral, or “one house”, Assembly; Judicial Branch (state courts)

• Because the people of Georgia did not want one person to have too much power, the Constitution gave most of the power to the Legislative Branch

The Articles of Confederation

• Ratified (voted on and approved) in 1781• The Articles gave the individual States too much power, and

did not give the Federal (National) government enough power

• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:– States could print their own money– Federal government could not levy (create) taxes had to

ask the States for money– Federal government could not have a standing army or

navy– Federal government could not pass laws unless 9 out of 13

States agreed with the law

The Constitutional Convention

• Georgia sent 2 delegates to the convention Abraham Baldwin and William Few

• During the Convention, 2 versions of the Constitution were created The Virginia Plan (favored large Southern States) and The New Jersey Plan (favored small Northern States)

• The delegates voted on the