Causes and Start
French and Indian War
In the 1750s, France and England were competing to set up forts and colonize the Ohio River Valley. During this time, the colonists still viewed themselves as British. The French controlled the territory in the Ohio River Valley, but their populations were slim when compared to the British. As the colonists began to spread into the French territory, a conflict broke out that lasted for nine years and involved the American Indians. This conflict was the first step on the road to the American Revolution. In this interactivity, you will learn about the French and Indian War. Click the player button to begin.
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The War for Independence Begins
After the French and Indian War, the British were deeply in debt. In order to replace the money they spent in the war, the British enacted a number of new taxes and restrictions on the American colonies. This upset the colonists. The British felt that the taxes and restrictions were necessary because they helped to pay for the protection of the colonies. The tensions between the colonists and the British increased until the colonists decided to fight the British for their independence. In this interactivity, learn about the events that led to the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Click the player button to begin.
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Second Continental Congress
Since the British government had not repealed the Intolerable Acts and had engaged in armed conflict with American colonists, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia starting in May of 1775. All 13 colonies sent representatives. This body would lead the colonial government during the American Revolutionary War. They selected George Washington to be the commander in chief of the Continental Army, and they debated and eventually decided on the issue of independence from Great Britain when they voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence.
Join, or Die.
The political cartoon shown to the right originally appeared during the French and Indian War. It was used again to encourage the American colonies to fight against the British. The original was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. It is believed to be the work of Benjamin Franklin, as Franklin ran the Pennsylvania Gazette. Do you notice anything missing from this cartoon? If you look closely, you will see that both Delaware and Georgia are missing. New England, which contains four colonies, is abbreviated N.E. This political cartoon was the first of its kind in America.
What does the cartoon mean? The cartoon shows a severed snake representing eleven of the thirteen colonies. A myth at the time stated that a severed snake could come back to life if the pieces were put together before sunset. It is clear the Benjamin Franklin used this piece of propaganda to address the need for colonial unity.
Choosing Sides
As tensions grew between the colonies and the British, colonists had to make a difficult decision: they had to choose a side. Colonists could rebel against British control, remain neutral, or stay loyal to Britain. The political decision a colonist made was based on factors such as wealth, religion, and family. During the American Revolution, the colonists were divided into three different groups. In this interactivity, learn about Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutrals. Click the player button to begin.
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Causes and Start Review
Now that you have learned about the cause and start of the Revolutionary War, complete this activity to check your knowledge. In this non-graded interactivity, read each question and select the correct response. Click the player button to get started.