Imperial and Local Origins of the American Revolution

1. Imperial and Local Origins of the American Revolution Events, Ideas, Turning Points, 1689-1776

2. Imperial Origins • Mercantilism • Self Government • Imperial Rivalries

3. Mercantilism • Imperial Self Sufficiency • Closed Economic System • Codified and Enforced through Navigation Acts

4. Self Government • Royal Governors were often absentees • Lower Houses of Assembly wielded a great deal of power • Heritage of Rule of Law (1689 Bill of Rights, English Rights and Liberties) • Power of the Purse

5. Imperial Rivalries • European Wars for Balance of Power beginning in 1689 had an imperial component • By French and Indian War (1754-1763), struggle is between England and France for global imperial hegemony • England wins, but at a huge cost

6. Experiential Origins • Robert Walpole and Salutary Neglect • New Imperial Policy and George Grenville • Actions and Perceptions of George III

7. First Minister , 1721-1742 Salutary Neglect—few Navigation Acts Enforced Ties to crown made him a symbol of “corruption” Robert Walpole

8. George Grenville Single Economic System Colonies to pay a portion of their administration and governance costs New Navigation Acts—lower rates, better enforcement Sugar Act, 1764 Proclamation of 1763 Not Well Received in the Colonies New Imperial Policy

9. Really was trying to restore balance between crown and commons Image of tyrant is creature of colonial disappointment, not what he did Challenge of finding a good first minister George III—1760-1820

10. Ideological Origins—Why the Colonies Responded the Way that They Did • Habit of Self-Government • Construction of English History • Whig Theory (Corruption)—link of Sugar Act with Act for the Encouragement of Officers Making Seizures

11. How They Responded • Stamp Act Congress—no taxation without representation; boycott, Sons of Liberty [1765] • After Townshend Duties--John Dickenson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania—tax to regulate trade but not for revenue [1767] • East India Company Crisis—Boston Tea Party [1773]

12. How the Brits Responded—Coercive Acts • Boston Port Act • Act for the Impartial Administration of Justice • Quartering Act • Massachusetts Government Act • Quebec Act—illustrative of Colonial Paranoia

13. First Continental Congress-1774 • Declaration of American Rights—tax to regulate not to raise revenue. • Continental Association (enforce boycott) • Rejected Galloway’s Plan of Union • Anything new here?

14. First Continental Congress

15. Lexington and Concord • Paul Revere’s Ride • April 19, 1775—Lexington Green • Concord, “the Shot heard round the world.”

16. Timing of Independence • Ideology didn’t evolve much since 1765 • Colonies lost faith in GIII—why the declaration is directed against him—he moved to crush the Wilkites in England and was no longer the “father of his people”.

17. Ralph Waldo Emerson—Revolution and Memory By this rude bridge that arched the flood, Their Flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here the embattled farmers stood And fired the Shot heard 'round the World.

18. Independence? • Battle of Bunker Hill—no doubt that colonies are at war • Olive Branch Petition • Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms • George III declares colonies in rebellion on August 22, 1775.

19. Independence Declared • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense • Lee Resolution • Jefferson’s Declaration • Independence Declared