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Line 202: − + − But events began to increase the tensions and put both sides on paths toward war. In 1770, in what became known as the "Boston Massacre," British troops shot and killed a colonial mob for throwing snowballs (some having rocks) at it. (The future President John Adams then served as the defense attorney for the British soldiers, and obtained "not guilty" (acquittal) verdicts for them because they were provoked into shooting.)+ + + + + + + + +
American History Lecture Two (view source)
Revision as of 19:56, August 25, 2008
, 19:56, August 25, 2008no edit summary
== American Revolution ==
== American Revolution ==
In 1770, the [[British Empire]] was the greatest in the world, and it continue to grow in power into the 1800s. The idea that 13 different colonies having a tiny army and a divided population, a large percentage of which were pacifist Quakers, could defeat the mighty British would have been considered absurd in 1770.
In 1770, the [[British Empire]] was the greatest in the world, and it continue to grow in power into the 1800s. The idea that 13 different colonies with tiny armies and a divided populations - a large percentage of which were pacifist Quakers - could defeat the mighty British would have been absurd in 1770. But, this unlikely victory came true. The story of the epic struggle for freedom is the story of the American Revolution.
Years before war broke out, tension was growing between England and her colonies. King George III controlled parliament much more than preceding monarchs, and his changes facilitated attempts to gain additional revenue from the colonies. This was accomplished through higher taxes and restrictive trade laws which oppressed the colonies.
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was an imaginary line through the Appalachian Mountains which colonists were not allowed to settle beyond. Soon, the British government funded a standing army and navy in America to enforce England's ever-stricter regulations. Then the [[Sugar Act]] forced colonists to pay duties on all the molasses they imported.
Colonists disliked these events, but only with the passage of the [[Stamp Act]] did they become truly angry. The Stamp Act was an undisguised attempt to bring the British more money, the first time Parliament directly taxed the colonies. The Act required that common items like newspapers, dice, documents, etc. have a stamp on them. The money gained by selling stamps went directly to the British government.
However, the British government appointed colonists to sell the stamps, imagining that intimidation would persuade them to do as the government asked. Instead, they simply didn't sell stamps, and the colonies kept doing business without them. Realizing that it had underestimated the colonies, Britain repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.
In 1770, in what became known as the "Boston Massacre," British troops shot and killed a colonial mob for throwing snowballs (some having rocks) at it. (The future President John Adams then served as the defense attorney for the British soldiers, and obtained "not guilty" (acquittal) verdicts for them because they were provoked into shooting.)
The first American act of aggression was by the "Green Mountain Boys": they captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 because Ethan Allen wanted to protect his land holdings in the disputed area that became Vermont.
The first American act of aggression was by the "Green Mountain Boys": they captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 because Ethan Allen wanted to protect his land holdings in the disputed area that became Vermont.