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the American Revolution. The Beginning . French and Indian war leads to Revolution . British ends up $140 million in debt and needs the colonists to help pay it off Colonists realized the British army isn’t invincible
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the American Revolution The Beginning
French and Indian war leads to Revolution • British ends up $140 million in debt and needs the colonists to help pay it off • Colonists realized the British army isn’t invincible • Colonists had seen the army defeated several times and become disillusioned with the army • British army didn’t recognize colonial rank, lowest British soldier was higher than the highest colonial • British army discipline was too harsh • Army was seen as vile, used foul language, etc
Parliament legislation • Royal Proclamation of 1763 • Forbad the colonists from settling over the Appalachian Mountains • King feared a repeat of Pontiac’s Rebellion • Troops were too expensive to keep on frontier • Upset the colonists because they helped fight the war and in their mind the war was only being fought over the right to the Ohio River Valley
Parliament Legislation Cont • Prime Minister Grenville and King George III order strict enforcement of the Navigation Acts using Writs of Assistance (open ended search warrants) • They want the colonists to help pay off the national debt • Sugar Act 1764 • Lowered taxes on sugar to convince colonists to pay the taxes instead of smuggle • Cost more to enforce than they collected from it
Parliament Legislation Cont • Quartering Act 1765 • Tax on the colonists to provide food and shelter for the British soldiers in the colonies • Why were there soldiers in the colonies? • War with France was over. French were no longer in control of any part of North America • Pontiac’s War was over • Soldiers were helping enforce the navigations acts and subduing the colonists
Stamp Act 1765 • Required a stamp on bills of sale, commercial, and all legal documents, playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, marriage licenses, etc • Britain had one for decades • Colonists were appalled at such a direct tax without their consent
Repeal of Stamp Act • Stamp Act Congress 1765 • The Loyal 9, nine colonies sent representatives, Boston was at the forefront • Step toward inter colonial Unity • Back in Virginia: Patrick Henry “give me liberty or give me death • Non-importation Agreements • Agreed not to import British goods, especially woolen goods • Step toward inter colonial unity • Everyone involved: men, women, children, spinning bees, homemade textiles, and manufactured goods.
Repeal of Stamp Act • Stamp Collectors are forced to resign by the colonists • Parliament is forced to repeal the Stamp Act • At the same time they pass the Declaratory Act in 1766 • Declaratory Act stated that Parliament still had power to legislate over the colonists even thought they repealed the Stamp Act
Vice-admiralty Courts • No juries • Burden of proof was on defense • Courts were either in England or in Canada • Judges were paid based on 5% of the cargo he ordered confiscated