The Causes of The American Revolution

1. The Causes of The American Revolution "But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people.“ John Adams

2. Recap – The French and Indian War • Struggle for control of the Ohio Valley; • Fight was between the British and the French and Native Americans (who were allies); • Began in 1754 with the failed British attack on Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh) • The British retreated and built their own fort – Fort Necessity.

4. The Albany Plan of Union • In 1754, members from 7 northern colonies met with representatives of the Iroquois nations in Albany, New York • Attempt to persuade the natives to ally with the British against the French; • The Albany Plan of Union was introduced by Benjamin Franklin • The plan was for the colonies to unite and form a council with the power to levy taxes, raise troops, and regulate trade. • the delegates agreed, but it was rejected by the colonial and British governments.

5. The War Ends • Eventually the British commit more troops for fighting and win in Quebec (the Plains of Abraham) • Success was also due to the fact that the British were able to persuade the traditional allies of the French – the Natives – to remain neutral or switch sides – in exchange for the promise that the British would respect their agreements and protect the Native American's traditional territories from further settlement. • This resulted in the surrender of the French.

6. The Treaty of Paris, 1763 France --> lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India, and claims to lands east of the Mississippi River. Spain --> got all French lands west of the Mississippi River, including New Orleans (aka, the Louisiana Territory), but lost Florida to England. England --> got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India. • North American was now divided between Great Britain and Spain with the Mississippi River forming the boundary

8. The Effects of War Britain • It increased her colonial empire in the Americas. • It greatly enlarged England’s debt. • Generated resentment towards the Americans among British leaders • Persuaded British leaders that a major reorganization of the empire was necessary • Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings because they felt they had to support the colonists overseas • Britain had to decide what to do with the newly acquired territory west of the Appalachian and Allegheny mountains The Colonies • It united them against a common enemy for the first time. • It created a socializingexperience for all who participated increasing feelings of being “American” • It created bitter feelings towards the British that would only intensify. • Colonists began to resent increased British presence

9. Pontiac's Revolt • Despite their earlier promises, the British kept building forts and failed to discourage colonial expansion into the Native Territory. • In 1763, a group of Native Americans formed a confederacy under the leadership of chief Pontiac. • Starting in May, they attacked a number of forts, killing a least 2000 settlers. • The British responded by attacking Native communities and distributing blankets infected with smallpox (early biological warfare). • Both sides eventually realized that neither side was going to win, so they agreed to an uneasy peace.

10. The Proclamation of 1763 • Was an effort by the British government to reduce tensions on the frontier. • Prohibited European settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. • acknowledged that Native Americans owned the lands on which they were then residing and white settlers in the area were to be removed.

11. The Proclamation of 1763 WHY? • To avoid war with the Natives. Conflicts with the natives were very expensive and that the British had not yet deployed sufficient soldiers in the west to keep the peace. • To concentrate colonial settlements on the seaboard where they could be active parts of the mercantilist economic system. The main goal of British trade officials was to populate the recently secured areas of Canada and Florida where colonists could reasonably be expected to trade with the mother country; settlers living west of the Appalachians would be highly self-sufficient and have little opportunity to trade with English merchants.

12. Colonists protested that the Proclamation deprived them of land they had a right to settle and farm, causing more friction between colonists and the crown. • The colonists regarded the new policy as an infringement of their basic rights. • The colonists were angry that the end of French control in North America did not open the land up to development. • They were also upset because they needed the new land for farming. • Native Americans were upset because the British guarantees to protect their land seemed worthless. • The Proclamation was a failure.

13. Growing Discontent with the British • After the war, Britain’s debt was around $39 billion. • Along with the costs of stationing troops in the colonies, the British needed a solution to their debt problem – so they looked to the colonies for tax revenue. • The British believed that it was fair that the colonies should help pay for the war because its outcome (the defeat of France) directly benefitted them. • The American colonists disagreed.

14. The End of Salutary Neglect • It was realized by the British Finance Minister, George Grenville, that many colonial merchants were not paying the duties as imposed by the British government; • He recognized that there was a need for more powerful courts and stricter documentation to tighten the enforcement and the collection of duties and taxes in the colonies. • He decided to impose new taxes and administrative reforms on the colonies rather than to seek voluntary financial contributions from the colonial assemblies, as had been done in the past. • Merchants who had become accustomed to the practice of “Salutary Neglect” were now unable to avoid making their payments.

15. To start, Grenville.... • Increased the number of British soldiers in the colonies (to help build and maintain a chain of forts that would stretch across the Great Lakes and Ohio River, serving as a protective shield against potential threats). • Introduced The Proclamation of 1763 • Reformed Customs Services by: • requiring customs officers to reside in North America, • Granting Writs of assistance (court orders) authorizing customs officers to conduct general (non-specific) searches of premises for contraband, • Mandating that anyone accused of smuggling be tried in admiralty courts. • Passed The Currency Act of 1764 - Paper money could longer be used as legal tender in the North American colonies; No new paper money could be issued and that already in circulation was to be retired according to a prescribed timetable.

16. The Sugar Act • British taxed colonists on many of the goods coming into the colonies from other places • The most important of these was the Sugar Act of 1764 • wines and cloth, coffee, tropical foods and silk were now subject to importation duties, as well as sugar and molasses (the main ingredient for rum). • Colonial merchants realized that enforcement of this act would wipe out profits of the trade with the Spanish and French West Indies

17. The Stamp Act • In 1765, British imposed taxes on all paper products and stamped the item once the tax had been paid. • Products affected ranged from documents and wills to playing cards and newspapers • This tax was paid directly to the government – a direct tax on the colonies • The money raised was used to help pay for British soldiers stationed in the colonies.

18. The Quartering Act, 1765 • each colonial assembly was directed to provide for the basic needs of soldiers stationed within its borders. • was expanded in 1766, requiring the assemblies to billet soldiers in taverns and unoccupied houses. • Thought as a necessary thing by the British, since they had sent more troops to the colonies to protect the Americans.

19. BOYCOTTS, NONIMPORTATION, and DISOBEDIENCE • Colonists crossed the Appalachians to establish settlements in the west, contrary to the Proclamation of 1763 • New York and Massachusetts legislatures refused to provide funds for the Quartering of “redcoats” • Most defiance concerned the Stamp Act, which affected colonists everywhere • Colonists began to protest and began a boycott on the purchase of any British goods • Colonial merchants signed NONIMPORTATION AGREEMENTS, vowing not to buy any British goods until the law was repealed • A Stamp Act Congress convened in New York City on October 7 with nine colonies in attendance

20. Patrick Henry Speaks Out! • When the House of Burgesses (Virginian Government) met to consider the Stamp Act in May of 1765, Patrick Henry introduced the Virginia Resolutions protesting Parliament’s action • In his speech he stated that since Americans elected no members to the British Parliament they should not be taxed by them • This came to be the popular cry of “no taxation without representation” • Under pressure from British merchants who were losing profits, Parliament repealed the law in 1766

21. We’ll repeal the Stamp Act, but we’re still gonna hit you! • In March, 1766, the Declaratory Act was passed in an effort to prevent the repeal of the Stamp Act from looking like a surrender. • It claimed the colonies were subordinate and that Parliament could pass any law about the colonies it desired. • Colonial opposition leaders were content with their “victory” over the Stamp Act.

22. The Townshend Acts, 1767 • Another way Parliament tried to raise revenue in an effort to reduce the national debt of England by imposing taxes in the colonies • This act placed duties on tea, paper, glass and paint • The British repealed this tax in 1770 except for the tax on tea

23. Sons of Liberty Daughters of Liberty Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party The Protests Begin!

24. Sons of Liberty • Was formed in response to the passing of the Stamp Act • The Sons of Liberty carried out organized resistance by keeping watch on shopkeepers suspected of selling British goods • A group existed in almost every colony. • Members included middle and upper class citizens, anyone could join if they were trustworthy and had the skills the group needed. • Famous members included Paul Revere, John Adams and his cousin, Samuel Adams.

25. Daughters of Liberty • Colonial women organized the Daughters of Liberty to boycott British goods • They gave up imported clothes, made tea out of local herbs, and produced homespun cloth • One of the most influential Daughters of Liberty was Mercy Otis Warren, who published pamphlets supporting the resistance – she had to publish in a man’s name

26. The Boston Massacre • After Parliament repealed the Townshend duties, the first clash between British and Americans took place • On the night of March 5, 1770, a crowd of 50 or 60 men and boys gathered to taunt British soldiers outside the Boston Customs House • When the crowd went as far as to throw sticks and snowballs at the redcoats, the soldiers panicked and opened fire, killing five men • The event quickly became known as the Boston Massacre

27. The Boston Tea Party • In 1773 the British East India Company, facing bankruptcy, appealed to Parliament for assistance • Parliament quickly voted to give them a monopoly on the trade of tea in America (The Tea Act of 1773), allowing them to sell tea directly to the retailers. • Opposition groups mobilized against the plan and forced ships to turn back at New York and Philadelphia harbours • In Boston, Governor Hutchinson ordered that no ship could leave harbour without unloading its tea. • Colonists disguised as Mohawks, on a signal from Sam Adams, boarded the ship and heaved 342 chests of tea into the harbour

28. The Intolerable Acts, 1774 • Angered by the dumping of the tea, British Parliament passed a series of laws called the “Coercive Acts”, but known as the “Intolerable Acts” by the colonists. They included: • The Boston Port Act - closed the port of Boston to trade until Boston had paid for the tea; • The Massachusetts Government Act - revoked the colony's charter and forbade town meetings; governor held all power and council was appointed by the King; • The Quartering Act - required the colonists to provide food and shelter for British soldiers stationed in the colonies; • The Administration of Justice Act – gave the governor the power to transfer the trials of soldiers and officials to British courts, with a British judge, to ensure the verdict would result in favour of the British.

29. The Quebec Act - 1774 • It was passed at the same time and considered by many as one of the Intolerable Acts. It: • extended the Canadian province of Quebec south to the Ohio River; • allowed French Canadians use of their own legal system which did not recognize trial by jury; • Recognized the legality of the Roman Catholic Church • The colonists believed the Quebec Act was designed to keep American settlers out of western lands forever

30. The First Continental Congress • The Intolerable Acts gave the colonies a new reason to unite. • 56 delegates from 12 colonies attended the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia in September, 1774 • The Congress • Issued a formal Declaration and Resolves charging that Parliament had violated colonial rights; • petitioned the King for relief from the Intolerable Acts and vowed to stop trade with Britain until the acts were repealed • Created “the Association”, an organization whose purpose was to help enforce its boycott of British goods. • Authorized the creation of Committees of Observation and Safety to monitor colonists’ loyalties and take steps to defend the colonies. • Though delegates were unhappy with British policies, most still favoured increased economic sanctions against Britain over complete independence.