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The American Revolution

This text explores the early clashes between the American colonists and the British government, focusing on the Revenue Act of 1764 (Sugar Act) and the Stamp Act Crisis. It also discusses the disintegration of British authority from 1765 to 1774, including the Quartering Act, Townshend Acts, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, Coercive Acts, and Quebec Act. The text highlights the patterns of escalation and mutual misperceptions that led to the American Revolution.

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The American Revolution

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  1. The American Revolution

  2. I. Early Clashes: Sugar and Stamps, 1764-1766 A. Revenue Act of 1764 (Sugar Act) • British government (Grenville) believed colonists should pay part of cost of empire (standing army, bureaucrats) • English in England: avg. 26 shillings/year • Colonists: ½ - 1 ½ shillings/year • Tightening trade regulations (Navigation Acts) seen as best way raise revenue

  3. Colonists protest with words: a tax, not a trade regulation B has right to regulate trade, not to tax • Passed during post-war economic depression in colonies • 8 separate colonial assemblies petition to Parliament, but no history of united action Parliament ignores

  4. B. The Stamp Act Crisis • 1765: Stamp Act—no pretense of regulation • Taxed nearly all printed materials: newspapers, pamphlets, wills, contracts, playing cards, etc. • Violators tried in vice-admiralty courts • Affected ordinary colonists (not just merchants, although rich hit hardest)

  5. Stamp Act Congress, NYC: 1st successful inter-colonial alliance: deny virtual representation Parliament can legislate/regulate, but cannot tax • Moderate and loyal, but important step in bringing Americans closer to each other than to England Other Actions: Sons of Liberty, economic boycott, pamphlets

  6. 1766: Stamp Act repealed • Declaratory Act: Parliament asserts that they do have the right to tax

  7. II. British Authority Disintegrates: 1765-1774 • 5 Major actions • 1) 1765: Quartering Act: assemblies have to provide food and shelter to army • NY refuses royal Gov. dissolves • 2) 1767: Townshend Acts: new tariffs a) on goods from Britain, not only foreign; b) designed to raise money to pay salaries of colonial officials undermined power of assemblies to influence through threat of withholding salary

  8. Customs officials appointed to enforce Townshend duties esp. greedy: system encouraged abuse officials get 1/3 seized goods open hatred of customs officials • 1768: John Hancock’s ship Liberty seized Boston rioting

  9. 4,000 troops brought to control situation stay until March 5, 1770: riot shooting: Boston Massacre (5 dead) • Sam Adams and Paul Revere proclaim a conspiracy theory

  10. 1770: repeal Townshend duties, except tea • 3) 1773 Tea Act: Parliament grants monopoly on tea imports to struggling East India Company lowered cost of tea • Colonists refused to allow ships to dock, except Boston where Lt. Gov. Thomas Hutchinson ordered ships to stay until unloaded Boston Tea Party

  11. 4) 1774 Coercive Acts (Intolerable) • A) Close Boston port • B) King appoints Gov’s council, forbids town meetings • C) Imperial soldiers and officials must be tried in London • D) Reaffirm quartering + appoints General Gage as commander all B forces in NAm • Harsh measures make Boston a martyr

  12. 5) 1774, Quebec Act • Enlarge French Quebec (into lands claimed by NY), no representative assembly, no trial by jury, special recognition of Catholics (in Q) • Seen as an attack on colonists: 1) we’re next, 2) fear of American Bishop

  13. III. Patterns of Escalation and the “Plot Against Liberty” • Even all these acts would not bring Revolution w/o pattern of meaning • Edmund Burke (B politician): Americans have discovered P means to oppress them, B discovered A mean to rebel: we don’t know how to advance, they don’t know how to withdraw

  14. Mutual misperceptions ratcheting of tensions • B overreacted to resistance: insecure about growing empire, increasing American confidence • Americans convinced B hatching sinister plot to literally enslave them (strip away liberty) • Jefferson: even w/changes in ministers, plot continues further proof of conspiracy

  15. Real Whigs / Commonwealthmen (Trenchard and Gordon): conflict between liberty (passive, feminine) vs. power (aggressive, male) • British empire falling way of Rome: republic overwhelmed by growing military and bureaucracy tyranny • Americans see selves as check on corruption and power: city on the hill ideal extended to all colonies

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