America moves towards revolution Settlement in the thirteen colonies had been going on since 1607.

Many settlers felt more American than British as they were there for a long time, in 1750

The French and Indian war (the Seven Years War) In 1756, war broke out between the neighboring French and Indian settlements over land Britain sent over large numbers of troops to assist the colonists In 1763 the war was won by Britain and Britain took over the French lands. The war had cost Britain double the normal cost of running the country. Causes of The American War of Independence King George thought it was only fair to make the colonists pay the cost of winning the French and Indian War Britain needed raw materials for its industry from America They wanted to prevent from competing against for sales to the rest of the world Britain hoped to use America as a ready market for its items The Navigation Acts forced the 13 colonies to sell certain products to Britain alone. They were prevented from building their iron industry as it might rival Britains. America was to buy certain products from Britain alone. Most Americans put up with this in return for the protection of the RedCoats The Stamp Act in 1765 placed taxes on many items such as documents, newspapers, certificates, playing cards, wills etc. The Quartering Act in 1765 required them to pay extra taxes to cover the cost of keeping the Redcoats in America The Townshend Acts in 1767 imposed taxes on imported goods such as lead, glass, paper, tea. Anger among Americans 1. some colonists took to violence and attacked tax collectors. Example the sons of liberty formed by Samuel Adams 2. Some refused to buy goods from Britain 3. no taxation without representation British reaction The Stamp Act was removed A declaratory act was passed in 1766 saying the British had full authority to make laws and impose taxes

The Boston Massacre: march 1770, five American demonstrators were shot dead by the Redcoats Boston Tea Party A Tea Act was passed in 1773 allowing the East India Company to sell its tea duty-free in the American colonies December 16, 1773: about 1000 colonists, some dressed as Mohawk Indians entered three English tea ships and dumped the chests containing tea into the sea The intolerable acts Passed in 1774 closed down Boston Harbor until Britain was compensated for the lost tea The representatives of the thirteen colonies got together and formed a sort of American Parliament called The First Continental Congress The Congress Met at Philadelphia and declared its opposition to the British rule Prepared to resist British using force and weapons began to be stockpiled in hiding place Part time militias set up in each colony to prepare for war April 18, 1775 Paul Revere, member of the Sons of Liberty, was informed that General Gage and his troops were going to capture the weapons store in Massachusetts. Revere rode through Lexington and raised and alarm 8 Americans were killed by the British in Lexington on their way to Concord. In Concord they were ambushed by Americans and 273 were killed Second Continental Congress met and named George Washington to take charge of the American Continental Army Days later, the Americans were defeated by the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill, but three times more British than Americans died Independence Declared Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense calling Americans cowards if they did not fight back On 4 July 1776, the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, which was largely the work of Thomas Jefferson

George Washington (1732-99)

Born in Virginia in 1732, he was a surveyor in his early years he inherited his familys 3200 hectare estate and married a widow who owned about 6000 hectares, making him one of the richest men he fought in the French and Indian War

in 1774, he was chosen as one of Virginias seven delegates to the First Continental Congress and to the Second Continental Congress Mixed fortunes the American continental army under him was led to victory in Boston were General Howe was driven and much needed equipment was taken he failed to take over New York, where his 25,000 men and 30 warships were bombarded by American cannons which occupied the high ground at White Plains minor victories at Princeton and Trenton in 1777, Howes army of 18000 reinforced by German Hessians attacked Philadelphia, and Washington was easily defeated with much better equipment the congress had to flee at the Battle of Saratoga, Americans led by General Horatio Gates defeated the English force of 8,000 men Washington at Valley Forge Washington and his forces camped at Valley Forge, a desolate spot, north of Philadelphia However, congress began to lose faith in him, and many men died from hunger and the harsh winter His weak and demoralized force received a welcome boost with the arrival of a German baron, Frederick von Steuben, a former captain (February, 1778). Von Steuben organized the men into a fully organized army, and disciplined army French help the French had provided the Americans with gunpowder, muskets and other supplies in 1778, February they joined the war on Americas side on land, the combined force of the French gained the upper hand over the next two years in mid 1781, general Cornwalliss men were surrounded at York town a French fleet prevented the British escaping by sea in October, Cornwallis surrendered peace negotiations began in Paris between British and American representatives in September 1783, Britain recognized Americas independence and agreed to withdraw all troops from American soil once war was over, Washington resigned and was given a grant of land and money as a token of gratitude he later became USAs first president

after

the war US congress, based in Washington, named after G. Washington Divided into Senate and house of representatives During 19th century Louisiana Purchase from France for 27m dollars