Ch. 7 Road to Revolution

1. Ch. 7 Road to Revolution AP U.S. History Mrs. Michaud

2. "Salutary Neglect" (beginning about 1713) Between 1713 - 1763 American colonials saw reduced govt intervention in colonial affairs. 13 separate colonial governments emerged; often undermined authority of Parliament. Americans became used to regulating their own affairs without significant interference. Smuggling became rampant as British policy (Navigation Laws) became lax in 18th century. Ch. 7 – Road to Revolution

3. Mercantilist System Mercantilism: Colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country; allow empire to become wealthy & self-sufficient. Ensure British naval supremacy by providing ships, ships' stores, sailors and trade. Provide raw materials: tobacco, indigo, lumber, fish, etc. Provide a large consumer market for British goods. Keep gold & silver (bullion) in the empire through economic self-sufficiency. Britain would not need purchase good from foreign countries. Navigation Laws Purpose: enforce the mercantilist system. Restricted commerce to and from the colonies to English or American vessels. Certain"enumerated" articles like tobacco couldn’t be shipped to any other foreign market except England, despite higher prices in other markets. All European goods going to America had to go through England first. Road to Revolution

4. Road to Revolution • End of "salutary neglect" • The year 1763 marked a new era in relations between England and the colonies. • George Grenville new Prime Minister, sought to enforce Navigation Acts. • British debt from the Seven Years' War was enormous. • Half the debt due to protection of the colonies • British thought colonists should pay 1/3 of cost to maintain 10,000 British soldiers to protect against Indian uprisings. • King George III • Extremely stubborn, sought to exercise increased control over colonies. • Infuriated colonials when he prohibited expansion west of Applachain Mtns w/ Proclamation of 1763.

6. Sugar Act (1764) First act ever passed specifically that raised revenue for the crown. Aimed to regulate the illegal triangular trade by collecting duties that colonists had not paid for years. Quartering Act (1765) Certain colonies required to provide food & quarters for British troops. Some colonial assemblies refused to cooperate. Road to Revolution

7. Stamp Act (1765) Purpose: Raise revenue to support new military force in colonies. English parliament imposed tax on all documents and printed items sold in American colonies. Stamp was placed on items to prove tax had been paid. Both Sugar & Stamp Acts tried offenders in admiralty courtsby a single judge, not a jury sympathetic to colonists. Grenville’s view: Stamp Act was reasonable and just. Only required colonials to pay their fair share for colonial defense. Stamp Act in Britain had been much heavier and in effect for 2 generations. Road to Revolution

8. Road to Revolution • Stamp Act Congress (1765) • Angry colonists & merchants agreed to on Non-importation agreements against British goods (boycott). • Sons of Liberty led by Samuel Adams violently enforced non-importation agreements against violators; (tarring & feathering). • Houses of pro-British officials were vandalized, theft occurred, warehouses where stamps were stored were destroyed. • All stamp act agents forced to resign; no one risked selling stamps. • “No taxation without representation” became a rallying cry throughout colonies. • Stamp Act repealed in 1766.

9. Tar and Feathering

10. Road to Revolution • Townshend Acts(1767) • Charles Townshend took control of Parliament and sought to punish the colonies for Stamp Act uprising. • Taxed goods imported into the colony from Britain, such as lead, glass, paint, paper. Also taxed tea, the most popular drink in the colonies. • Revenues from taxes to pay salaries of royal governors and judges • Non-importation agreements pinched British manufacturers. • Townshend Acts repealed in 1770 • Three-pence tax on tea remained to demonstrate Parliament's right to tax. • Taxed tea still cost less than smuggled tea.

11. Road to Revolution • Boston Massacre (1770) • Angry colonists taunted British soldiers. British fired, killed five colonists. Sons of Liberty made sure depictions of massacre (grossly exaggerated) printed in newspapers throughout the colonies. • Used as anti-British propaganda.

12. Committees of Correspondence(1772-1773) Purpose: Warn neighboring colonies about incidents with GB and broaden resistance movement through the interchange of letters. Samuel Adams & Sons of Liberty used propaganda to whip up colonial resentment. Road to Revolution

13. Boston Tea Party (1773) Protesting the tea tax, the Sons of Liberty dressed as “Indians” & dumped 18,000 lbs. of British tea into Boston harbor. Road to Revolution

14. The Intolerable or Coercive Acts (1774) King George III tightened control over colonies in response to American actions. Boston Port Act - closed Boston Harbor until damages paid and order restored. Enforcing officials who killed colonists could now be tried in England instead of the colonies (thereby avoiding colonial justice). Quartering Act: Provided for the quartering of troops once again in Boston. Road to Revolution

15. Quebec Act (1774) -- coincidentally accompanied "Intolerable Acts"; not intended to punish the colonies French in Canada were guaranteed right to practice Catholicism. Quebec territory was extended down to the Ohio river, next to NY & PA. French allowed to keep old customs and institutions which did not include a representative assembly or trial by jury in civil cases. Colonial reaction: Viewed act as insidious attempt to create a new French Canadian & Indian threat in the Ohio Valley region. Anti-Catholic sentiment arose; seen as an attack on Protestantism. Road to Revolution

16. First Continental Congress (1774) Formed by colonial leaders in response to Intolerable Acts. Drew up declaration of colonial rights known as Suffolk Resolves: Urged colonies to organize militia for defensive purposes. Called on colonies to suspend all trade with rest of British empire. Urged citizens not to pay taxes. Main purpose: Petition for redress of grievances (Declaration and Resolves) Gave colonists the legal right to assemble in order to seek redress. Yet, Congress restated allegiance to the King. No real desire to independent; merely wanted grievances redressed. King and Parliament did not respond to Declaration and Resolves. Would have recognized Congress’ right as a legislative body. Road to Revolution

17. Fighting at Lexington & Concord (April 1775) GB General Gage & British troops marched toward Concord, Massachusetts to seize illegal weapons stockpiled by colonists. Also intended to arrest leaders of rebellion (Sam Adams & John Hancock). April 18, 1775 - Paul Revere & others rode out to spread the word that British were coming. British soldiers fought w/ colonial militia at Lexington & Concord. Began when Minutemen refused to disperse on the Lexington Green and shots were fired. Concord -- British forced to retreat by American reinforcements. Militia picked-off British soldiers as they retreated to Boston. By day’s end, 273 British casualties; 95 American casualties. Minutemen encamped outside the city and lay siege to Boston. First battles of the American Revolution. Road to Revolution

18. The Shot Heard ’Round the World! Lexington & Concord – April 18,1775

19. Second Continental Congress (1775) Colonial leaders met again in May 1775. Agreed to recognize colonial militia as the Continental Army & appointed George Washington as its commander Road to Revolution

20. Outstanding leadership (George Washington; Benjamin Franklin [diplomat]) Economic aid from France at the outset; later military aid was decisive. Defensive military tactics worked to their advantage Agriculturally self-sustaining Colonials were competent marksmen; better than the redcoats Moral advantage from belief in a just cause American Strengths

21. Badly organized for the war, lacked unity from the beginning Continental Congress was weak and ineffective Fought almost the entire war without a constitution Jealousy among colonies Regarded themselves as sovereign, resisted Congress' to exercise its weak power Quarrels over the appointment of military leaders Economic difficulties Little metal money, paper money was nearly worthless Only a select minority of Americans truly committed themselves to the cause (1/3 Patriots). American Weaknesses

22. Population favored Britain: 7.5 million to 2.5 for the colonies Superior monetary advantage and best navy in the world 20,000 slaves in Carolinas and Georgia joined British British promised slaves freedom if they fought on their side Many fled with the British after the war and left the country Many Indians also sided with Britain and attacked Americans along the frontier British represented last hope for keeping land-hungry colonists out Britain possessed a 50,000 man professional army King George hired an additional 30,000 German "Hessians" as mercenaries. British also enlisted about 50,000 loyalists British Strengths

23. Enormous distance from England to the Colonies Communication was inefficient to meet the need for immediate action America too large a region for Britain’s army to effectively occupy; population was too dispersed British generals in America were poor leaders Many British soldiers did not want to kill Americans, whom they saw as their countrymen Provisions for the army were poor France was waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge London govt was ineffective; King George & Lord North inadequate Whig factions in Parliament cheered American victories at the outset British Weaknesses