The Road to Revolution

1. The Road to Revolution APUSH Mrs. Hunt

2. Learning Target • I will identify circumstances that led to the colonial rebellion against Great Britain and the American Revolution.

3. I. Deep Roots • New World • The new world nurtured new ideas about the nature of society • Two new ideas began to form within the colonies • Republicanism • Radical Whigs

4. I. Deep Roots • New World • Republicanism • Used examples from Greece and Rome • All citizens submit self interest for the common good. • Radical Whigs • Opposed aristocracy from the beginning. • Warned citizens of a corrupt monarch who was a threat to liberty.

5. I. Deep Roots • New World • Distance weakened authority of the British • Salutary Neglect – British policy of ignoring or neglecting American colonies 1. Americans had grown accustomed to running their own affairs.

6. II. Mercantilism • Mercantilism • Great Britain truly never created any of the colonies • Eventually they began to embraced the idea of mercantilism.

7. II. Mercantilism • Mercantilism • What? • A country’s wealth could be measured by the amount of gold and silver it possessed. • Possessing the colonies increased the favorable balances of trade for England. • GB felt as though the colonists should provide cheap raw materials and follow the rules set forth by the British government.

8. III. Grievances • Colonial Problems • To enforce governmental policies, parliament began passing laws • Navigation Acts • Britain controlled all trade between the colonies and other countries • British controlled currency • Reserved the right to nullify colonial laws

9. III. Grievances • Merits of Mercantilism • Many made a fortune off of smuggling cheaper goods into colonies A. John Hancock became extremely wealthy smuggling cheaper goods from other countries.

10. IV. Stamp Act • Debt • French and Indian war left the British with a huge debt. • The British felt it was the responsibility of the colonists to pay that debt.

11. IV. Stamp Act • New Grievances • Sugar Act (1764) – tax (duty) on sugar • Quartering Act (1765) – colonists were required to house and feed British soldiers. • Stamp Act (1765) – Tax paid on all paper bought in the colonies • No Trial by Jury • No Taxation without Representation – colonies were not represented in the government.

12. IV. Stamp Act • Stamp Act Congress • First official group formed to oppose legislation passed by parliament and the king • Significant step towards intercolonial unity • Nonimportation agreements – a series of commercial restrictions adopted by colonists protest British revenue policies.

13. IV. Stamp Act • Sons of Liberty • Group who took the law into their own hands. • Helped to lead to the nullification of the stamp act. • Soon after the Declaratory Act was passed. A. Parliament had complete control over colonists.

14. V. Townshend Acts • Charley Townshend • Leader of the British ministry • Convinced Parliament to place a tax on several goods. • Colonists did not take tax seriously

15. VI. Boston Massacre • Unruly Colonists • King sent hundreds of troops to enforce policies and keep and eye on colonists. • British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists killing five. • Colonists called the event a massacre to sensationalize the event. • British soldiers were represented by John Adams.

16. VII. Committees of Correspondence • Propaganda • Committees of Correspondence – • Chief function was to spread the spirit of rebellion. • Produce propaganda to rally support for colonial rebellion. • Eventually led to the first American congresses

17. VIII. Problem with Tea • Tea Act • To save money, the British passed the tea act which allowed the British to ship tea without having to pay taxes.

18. VIII. Problem with Tea • Boston Tea Party 1. Boston Tea Party • To protest tea act and other unfair restrictions 100 members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Natives and tossed contents of a British tea ship into the Boston Harbor. • Many colonist applauded this act, British government felt differently.

19. IX. Intolerable Acts • Punishment • As a punishment, parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, focusing on Massachusetts. • Boston Port Act – closed Boston Harbor • Restrictions were placed upon town meetings • Quartering Act strictly enforced • Quebec Act – extended the border of Quebec.

20. X. Bloodshed • Continental Congress • Other colonies rallied around Boston. • Delegates met at the 1st Continental Congress • How to address grievances • Declaration of Rights • The Association • Did not call for independence, wanted parliament to reconsider

21. X. Bloodshed • Lexington and Concord • King George responded with attach upon colonists at Lexington and Concord. • This event is known as the “shot heard round the world” the first shot of the American Revolution.

22. XI. Strengths and Weaknesses • Great Britain • Strengths • Most powerful army in the world • Money (in GB) • Supplies (in GB) • Weaknesses • Brits felt sympathy for American Cousins • Second rate generals in the colonies • Distance from home

23. XI. Strengths and Weaknesses • Americans • Strengths • Outstanding leadership • Guerilla Warfare – using environment to your advantage. • Weaknesses • Economic difficulty • Disunity • Outnumbered.