Road to Revolution

DemocracyGovernment derives its authority from its citizens

Comes from the Greek: 1.Demos (people) 2.Kratos (authority)

Thus Democracy means government by the people

American Democracy Our democracy is known as representative democracy (A

Republic)

Those in power get their authority from the people

We vote for them, and then they are supposed to fulfill the will of the majority

Where did all the Trouble Begin?? Before we were the United States of America we are a

collection of British colonies

Now, read this…

How did the colonists respond? The colonists in America began to boycott the Stamp Act,

especially in Boston

They would debate this new tax in colonial legislatures

Some stamp collectors were harassed

This was when the concept of “No taxation without representation” first appeared

Townshend Acts 1767 Indirect tax on imported goods, such as glass, lead, and

paint

There was also a tax on tea, the most popular drink in the colonies

The British also begin stationing “Redcoats” (British Soldiers) in Massachusetts

Boston Massacre 1770 British soldiers start taking jobs from colonists on their off

duty time b/c they were paid so little.

Colonists are angered b/c the redcoats are taking jobs away from them

What happens? Watch this clip…

Tea Act 1773 British East India Company was allowed to sell tea to

colonists without paying the tax

Therefore the cheapest tea becomes British Tea

What is the result of this?

The Boston Tea Party (Dec. 1773) In protest, colonists led by The Sons of Liberty, dump 18,000

lbs. of British Tea into Boston Harbor

Now, watch this…

The Intolerable Acts These were passed by British Parliament by the urging of

King George III b/c of the rebellious actions in Boston…

Shut down Boston Harbor Housed British soldiers in homes of Bostonians Appointed a British Governor as the head of Mass. (Thomas

Gage) Boston was placed under martial law

First Continental Congress (1774) 56 delegates (representatives) meet in Philadelphia to create

a declaration of colonial rights

The king ends up denying these rights

The delegates then decide to meet again

Second Continental Congress (1775) Before the this congress meets, British soldiers clash with

the minutemen in Lexington and Concord, Mass.

This was the first fighting between British soldiers and American colonists

The 2nd continental congress sends an olive branch petition to King George III (one last opportunity to allow the colonies representation)