The Road to Revolution 1763-1775

1. The Road to Revolution 1763-1775 The American Pageant Chapter 7

2. Deep Roots of Revolution • Revolution was actually developing in minds of colonists from first settlements. • To emigrate is to rebel. • Distance weakens authority

3. Deep Roots of Revolution (2) • Colonists came to common belief: British authorities fundamentally different – unfit to tell them what to do. • Set up their own parliaments, thought themselves “American” not transplanted Britons.

4. The Mercantile Theory • Mercantilism: wealth is power, key to wealth is export more than import. Colonies’ role: provide raw materials (so do not have to import from other nations) and markets for exports.

5. The Mercantile Theory (2) • European nations relied on strong central govt’s to enforce mercantile doctrines. • Americans: ensure British naval supremacy through ships, ships’ stores, sailors, trade.

6. The Mercantile Theory (3) • Americans (2): provide profitable market for English manufactured goods, discouraged from buying these goods from other countries.

7. The Mercantile Theory (4) • Americans (3): Keep gold/silver within empire by growing products (tobacco/ sugar) that England would otherwise have to buy elsewhere.

8. Merc. Trammels on Trade • Most famous of laws to enforce mercantilism were Navigation Laws (1650). Restricted trade to English vessels (no Dutch). • Additional laws: Goods bound for colonies had to go to England first for duties.

9. Merc. Trammels on Trade (2) • Colonists also not allowed to manufacture certain products to not compete with British. • B/c so much importing, colonials lacked currency, barter economy developed.

10. Merc. Trammels on Trade (3) • Many colonies forced to issue paper money, then forbidden by Parliament, angered Americans. • Privy Council could veto (“royal veto”) col. assembly laws. Used sparingly, but fiercely resented.

11. Merits of Mercantilism • Until 1763, Navigation Laws were not burden b/c laxly enforced (salutary neglect). • Merchants disregarded or evaded restrictions, some got rich by smuggling (e.g. John Hancock).

12. Merits of Mercantilism (2) • Some Americans were helped by mercantilism: Ship parts & stores producers got price supports, VA tobacco farmers guaranteed monopoly on English market.

13. Merits of Mercantilism (3) Other benefits to Americans: • Rights of Englishmen, but some self-government, no taxes to support army/navy to protect them. • Rules against manufacturing certain items was not enforced, other things more profitable anyway.

14. Merits of Mercantilism (4) Other benefits to Americans: • Forced to deal with English middlemen, but likely done so anyway due to common language, units, business methods. • Average American better off economically than average English.

15. Menace of Mercantilism • Mercantilism stifled economic initiative due to lack of freedom. • South favored due to Tobacco, sugar, rice – revolution came primarily from New England (unwanted relatives).

16. Menace of Mercantilism (2) • VA tobacco growers hurt b/c British merchants gouged them, price fall forced them into generational debt. Joined New England in desire for revolt (“Liberty or Death” or “Liberty or Debt”?).

17. Menace of Mercantilism (3) • Most important, mercantilism was insulting: colonies felt they were being milked like cows, kept in economic adolescence. • British failed to see an emerging nation.

18. Stamp Tax Uproar • After Seven Years’ War Britain had huge empire, but also huge debt. Half of debt from defending American colonies. • London: Col. should now pay 1/3 of cost of troops in America.

19. Stamp Tax Uproar (2) • 1763: PM Grenville ordered enforcement of Nav. Laws • 1764: Sugar Act – 1st law to raise tax revenue in colonies for crown. • 1765: Quartering Act – must house British troops.

20. Stamp Tax Uproar (3) • 1765: Stamp Act – req. stamps on bills of sale, commercial & legal documents like playing cards, newspapers, diplomas, marriage licenses. • Grenville simply asking col. to pay fair share.

21. Stamp Tax Uproar (4) • Americans concerned about losing money, rights: some col. assemblies refused to comply with Quartering Acts. • Also, laws jeopardized rights as Englishmen due to trial in admiralty courts.

22. Stamp Tax Uproar (5) • Americans: why troops needed now that French gone & Pontiac defeated? Could purpose be to keep us in line? • “No taxation without representation!”

23. Stamp Tax Uproar (6) • Grenville: Power of Parliament is supreme, plus you are rep. – “virtual representation.” • Americans did not really want rep., but stuck to principle. • Led eventually to rejection of all of authority of Parliament.

24. Repeal of Stamp Act • Response to Stamp Act: Stamp Act Congress of 1765. Stated rights, grievances, asked for repeal. England ignored. • Nonimportation agreements: boycotts of British goods.

25. Repeal of Stamp Act (2) • Boycotts united Americans for 1st time in common action. • Sons/Daughters of Liberty “enforced” the boycotts with violence against violators/ officials.

26. Repeal of Stamp Act (3) • Protests resulted in breakdown of collection machinery. By the day the tax went into effect, stamp agents had been forced to resign. No one to sell stamps. • English economy hard hit by boycotts.

27. Repeal of Stamp Act (4) • 1766: Parliament reluctantly repealed Stamp Act, passed face-saving “Declaratory Act.” • Colonies proved that London could be forced to yield.

28. Tea Tax/Boston Massacre • 1767: New PM Townshend encouraged passing of Townshend Acts – import duty on glass, white lead, paper, paint, tea, paid at col. ports. • Argument: difference between internal & external taxes.

29. Tea Tax/Boston Massacre (2) • Americans rejected distinction, felt tax on tea esp. bad. • Tax revenues used to pay royal governors, removing power of purse from col. assemblies. • 1767: Brit. suspended NY leg. for Quartering Act violations.

30. Tea Tax/Boston Massacre (3) • Nonimportation agreements revived, but less effective because tax was light, indirect, could find cheap smuggled tea. • 1768: Breakdown of law – British land troops in Boston, taunted by colonials.

31. Tea Tax/Boston Massacre (4) • March 5, 1770: crowd of about 60 colonials attack 10 redcoats, who fire w/out orders, 11 killed or wounded. • Trial: 2 redcoats found guilty, defended by John Adams.

32. Comm. of Correspondence • 1772: Samuel Adams, “Penman of Revolution,” organizes local committees of correspondence in Boston, spread to rest of MA. • Purpose: spread propaganda/ information to keep opposition to British policies alive.

33. Comm. of Correspondence (2) • 1773: VA sets up CofC within House of Burgesses. Soon every colony had central committee to exchange info w/ other colonies. • Evolved into 1st American congresses.

34. Boston Tea Party • 1773: boycotts weakening, tea tax paid b/c legal tea cheaper than smuggled tea. • 1773: British East India Co. had too much unsold tea, awarded monopoly on American tea supply, made tea even cheaper.

35. Boston Tea Party (2) • Americans felt British trying to get Americans to accept tea tax by bribing them with cheap tea. • MD: colonists burned tea ships. • Boston: col. disguised as Indians dumped chests from 3 ships into harbor (Dec., 1773).

36. Intolerable Acts • British outraged, even those friendly to America. • 1774: Parliament passes series of laws to punish Boston, specifically closing harbor until damages paid, restrictions on town meetings.

37. Intolerable Acts (2) • 1774: Quebec Act while good for French subjects, angered colonists, esp. anti-Catholics/ land speculators. Was not only aimed at Massachusetts, but all colonies.

38. Continental Congress • 1774: Response to Intolerable Acts – Continental Congress summoned in Philadelphia to redress grievances. • 55 delegates from 12 colonies (no GA), incl. S. Adams, J. Adams, Washington, Henry

39. Continental Congress (2) • Under influence of J. Adams, drew up Declaration of Rights, created The Association (called for complete boycott, 1st step to constitution for colonies). • Reconvene in May, 1775 if grievances not addressed.

40. Continental Congress (3) • American petitions rejected by Parliament. • Muskets collected, men drilling • April, 1775: British troops sent from Boston to Lexington & Concord to seize gunpowder, arrest S. Adams & Hancock.

41. Continental Congress (4) • “Minute Men” refused to disperse at Lex., 8 col. killed. • Concord: Redcoats forced to retreat by Americans after 70 killed, 300 injured (“shot heard round the world”).

42. Brit. Strength/Weakness Strengths: • 3:1 pop. advantage • Huge advantage in wealth & naval power • Professional army of 50,000. • Money to hire mercenaries • 50,000 loyalists, Indians to fight.

43. Brit. Strength/Weakness (2) Weaknesses: • Some troops diverted to Ireland. • Inept leadership (George III, North). • Divided: some did not want war (Pitt, Whigs cheered American victories) • Military leaders 2nd rate, difficulties with supplies.

44. Brit. Strength/Weakness (3) Weaknesses (2): • British had to conquer colonies, draw is victory for Americans. • Operating 3000 mi. from home base. • Colonies were huge, no urban nerve center. • Time on colonies’ side (demographics)

45. Col. Strength/Weakness Strengths: • Outstanding leadership • Possible help from France (European officers like Lafayette) • Defensive fight • Colonies self-sustaining b/c agriculture, self-reliant people

46. Col. Strength/Weakness (2) Strengths (2): • Americans better marksmen • Moral advantage: belief in just cause

47. Col. Strength/Weakness (3) Weaknesses: • Rebels were badly organized (Cont. Congress basically a debating society). • Jealousy between colonies, sections. • No metallic money, had to print money, which depreciated badly.

48. Thin Line of Heroes • Military supplies (incl. food & clothes) very low. • American militiamen highly unreliable, little training (7 or 8 thousand well-trained by end). • Blacks served on both sides, Brits offered freedom to slaves.

49. Thin Line of Heroes (2) • Morale undermined by American merchants profiting from trade with British. • Actually, only a minority of colonials identified with cause of independence.