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Road to Revolution, 1754-1775. Early Call for Colonial Unity. French and Indian War. French and Indian War. French allied with some native tribes Showdown for control of the NA continent Part of a larger European war England (and her colonists) defeat French (Treaty of Paris 1763).
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French allied with some native tribes Showdown for control of the NA continent Part of a larger European war England (and her colonists) defeat French (Treaty of Paris 1763) French and Indian War (part of 7 Years War)
Prior to 1763 • Colonies allowed virtual self-rule (salutary neglect) • Colonist remained, for the most part, loyal subjects of the King • End of French & Indian War signals change in English policy towards its colonies
Paying Our Fair Share • Colonists ask to foot the bill for their own defense • George III tries to impose a new authority over colonies • British realize their control over worldwide interests is too decentralized
Proclamation of 1763 • Forbade settlement west of the Appalachians • Attempt to limit contact between colonists and natives • Land-hungry colonists seeking farms in the west, extremely disappointed • Impossible to enforce • Simply led to arguments between the two sides
Other Early Squabbles • Sugar Act (1764) • Tried to eliminate illegal sugar trading • Set up British courts to try smugglers • Currency Act (1764) • Colonies must not issue their own $ • By 1765: No real schisms, just hard feelings
Stamp Act Crisis of 1765 • Created by PM Greenville • Required colonists to place stamps on legal documents, licenses, newspapers, etc… • Light economic burden • Precedent of an internal tax on colonists • Ignored colonial assemblies • Patrick Henry, Sons of Liberty protest
Repeal of the Stamp Act (1766) • Colonists celebrate their first major “victory” • Protest represented first coordination efforts of colonies • Parliament passes Declaratory Act at the same time • Parliament has full authority over colonies • Provision ignored by Americans
Townshend Acts (1767) • New taxes on various Colonial imports (external tax) • Tried to enforce the “Quartering” Act • Disbanded rebellious NY Assembly • Established new customs comm. • Colonial boycotts of taxed imports • Repealed (1770) after Townshend dies • Except for the tax on tea
The Boston Massacre 1770 • British regulars stationed inside Boston to keep order • Colonists harassing Redcoats verbally and with “snowballs with a core of rock” • Redcoats being shooting, 5 dead colonists • Sam Adams & newspapers sensationalize account, call it a “massacre”
Other Preludes to Revolution • Gaspee incident • Tea Act of 1773 • which lowered taxes • East India Co. given special tax breaks • EIC could undersell American competion
Hung over from the Boston Tea Party? • Colonists refuse to pay for destroyed tea • Coercive (Intolerable) Acts • Closed Boston Harbor • Eliminated self-gov’t in Mass • Quartering of troops in Mass • British accused tried elsewhere
Revolutionary Philosophy • By 1775, the split was not irreconcilable • Organized efforts of all colonies important (see Comm. of Correspondence) • Moderates dominated • Revolutionaries still considered extremists • Cautious action by most