Title: The Road to Revolution
1The Road to Revolution (1763-1776)
2Objective 1
- Examine the efforts by England to manage the
economies of its North American colonies through
mercantilismand examine colonists response to
these efforts.
3Objective 2
- Examine the course of English colonial policies
following the Treaty of Paris, including the
Proclamation of 1763, the Stamp Act, Declaratory
Act, Townshend Acts, Quartering Act and
Intolerable Acts, and the colonists response to
these policies, as expressed by the Boston Tea
Party, and at Lexington and Concord.
4Objective 3
- Examine the philosophical and practical arguments
for American independence, as expressed by
members of the Continental Congress including
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock
Thomas Paines Common Sense and Thomas
Jeffersons Declaration of Independence.
5Republican and Whig Ideologies
- Republicanism A just society is one in which all
citizens willingly subordinate their interests
for the common good - Against hierarchy and aristocracy
- Whigism The arbitrary power of monarchs and his
ministers can pose a threat to liberty and
corruption - Together Colonists are on alert against any
threat to their liberties.
6Mercantilism
- Colonies existed to supply raw materials and
markets for English manufacturing. - History of regulating the colonies for benefit of
England - Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1663 are examples
- Colonists felt this system stifled their economy
and gave England advantage - But, most of these laws were loosely enforced
- There was a history of salutary neglect
7French and Indian War
- Left England in major debt
- Also have to patrol the frontier against Native
attacks - Prime Minister George Grenville strictly enforces
navigation acts - Need sources of revenue.
8Sugar Act (1764)
- Also called Revenue Act of 1764
- Tax on sugar, molasses and other luxuries
- First attempt by Parliament to raise tax revenue
on colonies for crown - Actually lowered previous taxes, but more
strictly enforced - England set up admirality courts to enforce (no
juries) - Virtual representation
9Currency Act (1764)
- Colonists could not issue paper money
- Colonies had issued paper money during economic
downturn after war - Tried to make up for amount of hard currency
leaving the colonies to England (we bought more
than we sold) - It quickly depreciated which could have hurt
colonial and English economies - Colonists feel Parliament is overstepping its
power
10Stamp Act (1765)
- Already imposed in England
- English taxation rate 25 times higher than rate
in colonies - First direct tax on colonies
- Was to help pay for military in colonies
- Virginia House of Burgesses formally protests the
tax - Tried in Admiralty Courts
11Sons (and Daughters) of Liberty
- Led protests in NY and Rhode Island to protest
taxes - Some violence (tar and feathering, raiding of
homes, etc.) - Stamp Act Congress delegates from 9 colonies
decide to protest tax collectively - Boycott British goods
- Nonimportation agreements united American people
- Stamp Act repealed in 1766
12More Taxes
- Declaratory Act (1766) Parliament has the power
to enact laws as they see fit - In response to American defiance to Stamp Act
- Townshend Acts (1767) Indirect duties (paid at
American ports) on colonial imports, including
tea, glass, paper, paint, etc. - Specifically to pay for British officials in
colonies - More colonial boycotts (nonimportation)
- Increase in colonial smuggling
- Townshend Acts actually cost England money
- British troops sent to enforce the Acts and
search for smuggled goods - Repealed in 1770 (except tax on tea)--same day as
Boston Massacre
13The Boston Massacre (March 5,1770)
14Committees of Correspondence
- Organized in Boston by Samuel Adams in 1772
- Purpose ? warn neighboring colonies
about incidents with Britain ? broaden
the resistance movement. - By 1773, each colony had a committee
- Virginias committee was actually a standing
committee in the House of Burgesses.
15Tea Act (1773)
- British East India Co.
- Monopoly on Br. tea imports in colonies to help
it fend off bankruptcy. - Many members of Parliament held shares.
- Permitted the Co. to sell tea directly to
colonies without English middlemen (cheaper
tea!) - Britain would still get tax from Townshend duties
- Assumed colonists would choose
cheaper tea.
16Boston Tea Party
- Colonists refuse to allow ships on shore
- Governor Hutchinson refused to allow ships to
return to Britain - Colonists board ships and dump tea in Boston
Harbor
17Tar and Feathering
18The Coercive or IntolerableActs (1774)
- Closed harbor until tea paid for (Boston Port
Act) - Limits put on Town Meetings (Massachusetts
Government Act) - British troops immune to colonial law
- Changed power of local assemblies
- Quartering Act
Lord North
19The Quebec Act (1774)
20First Continental Congress (1774)
55 delegates from 12 colonies (no GA)
Agenda ? How to respond to the Coercive Acts
the Quebec Act?
1 vote per colony represented.
21Continental Congress Continued
- Said if Intolerable Acts were not repealed by end
of 1774, English goods would be boycotted - Created The Association nonimportation,
nonexportation, nonconsumption of British goods - Parliament rejected
- Militias and illegal local governments formed
- Agreed to meet again in May, 1775 if colonial
grievances were not redressed - Bostonian movement spreads across the colonies
22The Final Rupture
- Thomas Gage had 4000 Red Coats in Boston
- April 1775, he sent 700 troops to seize arms and
munitions in Concord, Mass. - Also arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock
23The British Are Coming . . .
Paul Revere William Dawes make their midnight
ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British
soldiers.
24The Shot Heard Round the World!
Lexington Concord April 18,1775