From Empire to Independence

1. From Empire to Independence Chapter 2

2. The Imperial Crisis • Britain’s relationship with the colonists changed. • Britain ended policy of salutary neglect. • New Troubles on the Frontier • Pontiac’s (chief of the Ottawa) Rebellion. • Proclamation Line (1763) • No westward colonization past line in an effort not to secure peace on the frontier with the Indians.

4. The Imperial Crisis • George Greenville’s (First Minister and Lord of the Treasury) New Measures • New vice-admiralty court had jurisdiction over all colonies. • Sugar Act (1764) – taxed sugar/molasses (actually cut it by half but actually enforced), foreign wine, coffee, textiles, etc. • Purpose to raise revenues for defense not just to regulate trade as had been done in the past.

5. The Imperial Crisis • Currency Act (1764) – colonies could no longer issue their own paper currency; whatever was in circulation was worthless • Quartering Act (1765)—required colonists to provide provisions and barracks or submit to the use of inns and vacant buildings. • Stamp Act (1765) – tax on all printed documents (newspapers, deeds, licenses, college diplomas, even playing cards).

6. The Beginning of Colonial Resistance • Greenville program appeared to herald tyranny • Cry of “no taxation without (actual) representation” • British response of “virtual representation • Stamp Act Congress (1765) • Decides that England has the right to regulate colonies but could not have taxes for revenues. • Form of legal opposition.

7. Sons of Liberty • Form of extra-legal opposition. • Organized mobbing to intimidate stamp agents and encourage them to resign • Adoption of non-importation agreements of English goods. Patrick Henry Library of Congress

8. Repeal of the Stamp Act • Declaratory Act (1766) • Greenville leaves office. • Rockingham repealed the Stamp Act. • But reserved the right of Parliament to make laws binding on the colonies. • Also reduced the tax on sugar to less than the cost of a bribe. • This left open the debate between internal and external taxes.

9. The Townshend Acts • Felt that colonists were ok with external (indirect) taxes • Taxes various colonial imports (eventually repeals taxes on everything but tea – a token of parliamentary authority) • Quartering in New York • Suspends the New York Assembly until it agreed to provide quarters for the British troops stationed in the colony. • Shifting responsibilities in government • Establishes a Board of Customs Commissioners to prevent smuggling. • Revenues were to pay the salaries of governors and other officers and thereby release them from financial dependence on the assemblies.

10. Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770) • Grew out of crowd reaction and heckling of British soldiers who were occupying Boston. • Soldiers competed with lower class for jobs • Soldiers kill 5 colonists out of a protest mob and injure 8. • All but two soldiers were acquitted after being defended by John Adams, the other two were convicted of manslaughter and branded on the thumb. • Parliament repealed all Townshend duties except on tea in 1770. • Two years of relative peace followed.

12. Republicanism • Balance of Power and Liberty • Conceived of politics as a struggle between the people (homogeneous entity) and power-hungry rulers whose aspirations could be contained only within “mixed” governments like that of England. • In England, corruption had sapped the willingness of the commons to hold out against their rulers. • Popular Sovereignty (deferential politics) • Authority and liberty flowed from the structure of personal relationships • Independent Society (economic) • Virtuous Society (moral) • Private interests were suppressed for civic virtue. • From subjects to citizens.

13. Increase in Tension Resumes • Tea Act (1773)—Lord North • Duty free import of tea from East India Company • 17 million pounds of unsold tea in warehouses in England. • “Parliament corrupted by favoritism” • Colonists opposed the Tea Act of 1773 because it gave agents of the East India Tea Company a virtual monopoly on the tea trade.

14. Boston Tea Party1773 • Bypassed colonial wholesalers (middlemen merchants). • “Government was trying to purchase their loyalty and passivity with cheap tea.” • A group of colonial Patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three ships and threw 342 chests overboard.

16. The Empire Strikes Back • Coercive Acts (1774) “Intolerable Acts” • Designed to discipline Boston • Boston Port Act - closed to commerce until tea was paid. • New Quartering Act (private homes in Boston) • Massachusetts Governing Act • Town meetings only 1 per year. • Mass.’s council and law-enforcement officers were appointive rather then elective. • Justice Act - officials and British soldiers could not be tried in colonies only in England and Canada.

17. “Intolerable Acts” • Designed to isolate Boston and make an example of the colony. • The moves backfired: • Fear that these acts would soon be applied to other colonies unless there was resistance. • Quebec Act (1774) • Canada would no longer have a representative assembly but an appointed one. • Privileged place for the Catholic Church (French). • Sign that foretold of tyranny for the colonies.

18. Toward the Revolution • The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to address concerns (1774). • Purpose: • To adopt and issue a series of resolutions and protests. • NOT to govern nor to rebel • Declared the Intolerable Acts null and void.

19. First Continental Congress • Passed the Declaration of American Rights • Denied Parliament’s authority concerning internal colonial affairs. • Urged each colony to mobilize its militia (Minute Men) • Petitioned the king for relief—(dominion theory) colonies were subject to crown but not Parliament (separate realm)

20. Lexington and Concord (1775) • General (Governor of Mass) Thomas Gage sent patrols out from Boston to take the colonial supply depot at Concord and arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexington. • Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott spread the warning. • Minute Men in Lexington formed a silent protest; the British advanced; a shot was fired; British shot a volley and charge with bayonets (8 dead, 10 wounded) • Brits continued to Concord; most supplies had been removed; Brits marched back to Boston; road back was a “gauntlet of death” ; 250 killed or wounded / Americans suffered 100 : The war had started.

22. Second Continental Congress (1775) • Assumed the role as Revolutionary government. • The Massachusetts militia that surrounded British-held Boston was adopted as the Continental Army. • Washington tapped as commander-in-chief because of experience in French & Indian War.

23. Battle of Bunker Hill • 1st major fight • June 17, 1775 • Americans were laying siege to Boston from high ground of Charleston; Breed’s Hill. • Gage ordered 2,200 Brits to advance in tight formation.

24. Battle of Bunker Hill • Americans waited until they were close (whites of their eyes) • Brits won on third try after Americans ran out of gunpowder • The British lost about half their troops (1,054 casualties to 400 Am.) • Results: • English generals became more cautious • Able-bodied men were ordered to enlist. • Either Patriot or Loyalist; no more middle ground.

25. Olive Branch Petition • Second Continental Congress still hopes for compromise. • King George III declares them in rebellion and sends more troops. • British troops pull out of Boston and retreat top Nova Scotia: • British faced not the suppression of a rebellion but the reconquest of a continent.

26. Common Sense(1776) • A pamphlet by Thomas Paine in which he argues for independence. • “Where liberty is, there is my country.” • The king (George III) is involved in tyranny/calls for independence. • It was an attack on the king, rather than Parliament (new)—the king was the last real connection to Britain. • 100,000 copies in circulation. • Colonial governments authorized Continental Congress to take final step.