1763-1783 AMERICAN REVOLUTION

COLONIES GROW DISCONTENTED

Assemblies had great independence: “Salutary neglect” Distant from Colonies

Differing views: Assemblies thought

themselves equal to Parliament in domestic affairs; left foreign affairs to Parliament Parliament thought itself

superior to colonial assemblies British claimed Americans

had a duty to pay taxes for war effort

Americans felt they had contributed enough

Proclamation of 1763

COLONIAL ASSEMBLIES & PARLIAMENT

1763 – Became Prime minister Ended “salutary neglect”

Trade and Navigation Acts New customs duties Smuggling Vice-admiralty courts John Hancock John Adams

GEORGE GRENVILLE ENDS SALUTARY NEGLECT

1764: Tax on raw sugar and molasses

Merchants accused of smuggling presumed guilty

“Writs of Assistance” general search warrant that

gave British officials permission to search civilian property Enforce Navigation acts Aid British officials in America

Colonists outraged James Otis: “No Taxation

without representation!” According to Britain, colonies

did not have actual representation but virtual representation

SUGAR ACT

Why would the colonists be so angry that warrants were no longer required before

the regulars could search ships, businesses, and homes?

WARMUP

1. Describe the details of the image.

2. How do you think this relates to what we already know about the rising tension between colonists & officers?

WARMUP

Colonial money had become inflated (money lost value over time) To get out of debt, VA print

more $ British ban the printing of

colonial money Colonies used bills of exchange Forced colonists to pay in

specie – hard money Alleviate British creditors'

fears of being paid in the depreciated currency of the colonists Hurt debtors

CURRENCY ACT (1764)

A tax in the form of required stamps to be purchased and fixed to all printed material $0.005 - $6.00 Newspapers, pamphlets,

wills, mortgages, licenses, diplomas, playing cards, etc.

First direct tax on colonies Paid directly to the govt Not used to benefit colonies

Other taxes had been indirect taxes Put on goods before they

reach the consumer

STAMP ACT (1765)

Virginia Resolves: Patrick Henry persuades VA H.O.Burg. to take on several resolutions that denied Parliament's right to tax the colonies Many other colonial assemblies

followed Sons of Liberty: led by John

Hancock and Sam Adams Protest anger over Stamp Act Mobs attack stamp collectors homes

Stamp Act Congress October 1765 – Delegates from 9

colonies met in New York Declaration of Rights and Grievances

sent to King George III Only colonial assemblies had the right to

tax

PROTEST TO THE STAMP ACT

Merchants made agreements to stop doing business with English until Stamp Act was repealed Home production instead

Non-importation agreement 200 NY merchants Very damaging to British

commerce 1766 – Stamp Act

repealed Declaratory Act:

parl iament had right to make laws w/o colonial consent

COLONIAL BOYCOTT

Parliament increased presence of British soldiers in colonies “Protect from Native Am attacks”

Deploying troops need shelter If soldiers provide for colonies,

colonists should provide for soldiers Legislation required colonial

assemblies to provide for the basic needs of soldiers stationed within its borders bedding, cooking utensils, firewood,

beer, candles Cost efficient for Britain Reaction Fear of standing armies (preferred

militia units) Cost (colonists spending $ on soldiers) Soldiers only present to address non-

compliance of tax programs

QUARTERING ACT (1765)

Charles Townshend: in control of the British ministry

Persuaded Parliament in 1767 to pass the Townshend Acts Small import tax on glass, white lead,

paint, paper, and tea Used to pay salaries of officials in

colonies Declared Writs of assistance officially

legal Nonimportation agreements in

Boston, NYC, and Philadelphia Boycott aimed at limiting

British imports Would not benefit the colonies

MA writes a circular letter to compromise with Parliament Asking for separate legislative body in

colonies (subordinate to Parliament) MA assembly disbanded for refusing

to withdraw letter

THE TOWNSHEND REVENUE ACT (1767)

BOSTON MASSACRE

Were the British justified to fire at colonists in the Boston Massacre?

DEBATE

British troops unwelcome in Boston March 5, 1770 "patriot" mob of about 50 citizens throwing

snowballs/stones/sticks vs. squad of British soldiers

Mob attacks a British officer Capt. Preston called additional soldiers who were

then attacked Soldiers fired into the mob: 11 victims: 3 dead, 2 fatally wounded, 6 wounded Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell

Town meeting demanding removal of the British and trial of Capt. Preston and his men for murder British soldiers defended by John Adams 6 acquitted, 2 guilty of manslaughter

EFFECT: Royal Governor evacuating the occupying army

from the town of Boston Paul Revere retells events through propaganda,

demonizing British

BOSTON MASSACRE (1770)

British officers strictly enforcing the customs laws Confiscating ships/ goods without charge

June 1772: Brit . of ficer patroll ing RI on HMS Gaspee Mob of 55 men attack ship, capture crew Abandon crew ashore loot & burn Gaspee

Local courts sympathize with colonists Officer arrested for illegally seizing goods Parliament = outraged

Committees of Correspondence: to communicate opposition to Brit . laws 1773: Thomas Jefferson proposes that each

colony should have a committee for intercolonial communication

GASPEE AFFAIR (1772)

May 1773: Law designed to help East India Company (8 million lbs of unsold tea) Made tea cheaper 4/5 of tax go back to company

Colonists upset: British trying to encourage tax payment by lowering cost PA & NY: force ships to turn around

and head back to Britain SC: cargo left out to rot on docks MD: burned ship w/ cargo Boston: Royal Governor held the

ships in port Colonists wouldn’t allow them to unload ships were stalled

TEA ACT (1773)

Radical townspeople stormed ships & tossed 342 chests of tea into harbor Disguised as Nat. Am,

offenders could not be identified

Damage = over $750,000

Not a single British East India Company chest of tea bound for the 13 colonies reached its destination

BOSTON TEA PARTY

Spring 1774 – Coercive Acts Boston Port Act closed the port of Boston until

damages from the Boston Tea Party were paid

Massachusetts Government Act restricted Massachusetts; democratic

town meetings and turned the governor's council into an appointed body

The Administration of Justice Act made British officials immune to

criminal prosecution in Massachusetts Quartering Act required colonists to house and quarter

British troops on demand, including in their private homes as a last resort

Punishment for MA actions Restricted colonists' rights

INTOLERABLE ACTS (1774)

Gave Catholic French Canadians religious freedom allowed to serve office

Extended the province of Quebec into the land of the colonies

Was viewed as an Intolerable Act by colonists

QUEBEC ACT (1774)

Organized in Philadelphia to determine how the colonies should react the violation of their rights and liberties

No talk of secession from England Continue protest parliamentary acts Restore relationship with Brit

55 delegates representing 12 colonies Expressed loyalty to the King Condemned the Coercive Acts

Not all colonies ready to restore relationship with Brit Massachusetts (governed by Brit) John Hancock – MA “governor” Militia – “Minutemen” – ready to go

Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty or give me death.”

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS (1774)

THE SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD

2.5 million people in colonies at time of Revolution

British soldiers Redcoats / Lobsterbacks

Loyalists (Tories) Americans who remained loyal to

Britain Patriots (Whigs) Americans who believed that the

British were tyrants Neutral Those who favored neither side,

but would support the winner

OPINIONS WITHIN COLONIES

1775: Brit. Gen. Gage = MA Govnr. Heard Pats had secret weapons in

Concord & that John Hancock & Samuel Adams waiting in Lexington Gage sent 700 British soldiers to find

the weapons and arrest the two Patriot leaders

April 18 – troops set out “One if by land, two if by sea” Light signal: 1 = longer land route, 2 =

shorter route by water, less time for patriots to react TWO LANTERNS: BRIT TROOPS CROSS

CHARLES “SEA” Colonial messengers set out to

alert patriot leaders Paul Revere, William Dawes, Dr.

Samuel Prescott

MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE

LEXINGTON & CONCORD

April 19: British arrived in Lex 77 Minutemen waiting @ town common

w/ muskets (outnumbered by Brit) Brit fired & charged at MM w/ bayonets 8 MM killed, 10 wounded, rest escaped

Brit soldiers marched to Conc Expected secret weapon supply, but

MM had moved them Brit soldiers leave Conc Shot at by MM hiding in the

woods/fields 4,000 MM involved in Lex&Conc British casualties = 273, American =

95 Shots fired at Lex&Conc marked

the beginning of the Am Rev “Heard ‘round the world“ b/c first fight

for self-government.

Benedict Arnold: CT rider arms himself and Minutemen Set off for upstate New York to

search for much needed artiellery Steal a cannon from Fort

Ticonderoga Ethan Allen & the Green

Mountain Boys also wanted to capture Fort Ticonderoga

Two worked together & surprised the poorly manned British fort Fort's commander was asleep

& surrendered in his pajamas!

TICONDEROGA (1775)

May 1775 British surround Boston June 1775: Colonists take Breed’s

Hil l on Charlestown peninsula, overlooking Boston

Brit. Gen. Gage launches frontal attack with over 2,000 soldiers Colonists wait until Brit are close, & fire Colonists low on ammo hand-to-hand

fighting British “win”: control Boston after

third attempt 1,054/2,300 either killed or wounded Colonists = 400 casualties morale-

boosting experience the new Continental Army

EFFECT: Continental Army needs more support encourage milit ia enlistment

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL (1775)

May 1775: 2nd Cont. Cong. in Philly Issue: Colonist military lacks morale SOLUTION: Form Continental Army – Washington

would serve as commander W/O PAY Issue: Lack of $ & supplies SOLUTION: Congress allows printing of money

Issue: Foreign support SOLUTION: Foreign relations committee to

communicate in case colonies need help Cont. Cong. = real governing body Majority of delegates still not seeking

independence Sent Olive Branch Petition Ask Brit. for peace /declared loyalty to king King declared colonies in a state of rebellion

orders 30,000 Hessian mercenaries

SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS (1775)

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE

REVOLUTION

A citizens moral/political obligations are dependent upon an agreement among them to form the society in which they live

Thomas Hobbes (1651) “Original State of Nature” =

“Solitary, poor, and short.” Govt protects life and safety

John Locke (1690) Govt protects life, liberty, &

property, provides stability “Worth giving up some

freedom to keep most of it” Govt derived from “the consent

of the governed” If govt breaks its end of the

contract, the people have a right to revolt

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

1776: Thomas Paine published the pamphlet Common Sense which argued: Colonists should free themselves

from British rule Establish independent govt based

on Enlightenment ideals Govt should protect man's natural

rights

Pamphlet = 46 pgs long! Over half a million copies sold in

colonies SIGNIFICANCE: Responsible for

discrediting Loyalist opinion to stay with Brit.

COMMON SENSE

Congress passes Lee Resolution: colonies are/have the right to be free & independent states

Committee of Five to draft: J Adams (MA), B Franklin (PA), R

Sherman (CT), R Livingston (NY), T Jefferson (VA) – primary draftsman

July 2, 1776: Congress votes unanimously for independence

July 4, 1776: Members begin to sign their names

SIGNIFICANCE: formalized the colonies' separation from Brit. Expressed natural rights upon

which the revolution was based

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

“All men are created equal” All free citizens were

political equals Three “unalienable”

rights Life, liberty, pursuit of

happiness Purpose of government To protect & secure

people’s natural rights Government gets power

from the consent of the governed People can abolish

government if government stops protecting their rights

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

Britain America

WARM UP

What advantages did the British have over the Americans in the war? What advantages did the Americans have?

Advantages Fighting on home ground Generally good military

leadership Highly motivated French alliance

Disadvantages Untrained soldiers; small

army Food and ammunition

shortages Weak and divided

national government Underfinanced

Advantages Well-trained, well-

supplied army and navy Wealth of resources Strong central

government Disadvantages Fighting in unfamiliar,

hostile territory Fighting far away from

Britain and resources Troops indifferent; half-

hearted support at home Poor military tactics

BRITAIN COLONIES

LOYALIST STRONGHOLDS

1/3 of the colonists were in favor of war (Patriots)

State/colony loyalties War is risky, staying at home is safe

Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army British still controlled all of colonies

revenue Few supplies & resources

Poor training Until arrival of Baron von Steuben

WASHINGTON’S PROBLEMS

1775-1776

THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN

Continental Army Attrition British had a long supply

line Guerilla tactics Fight an insurgent war Don’t have to win the

battle, just wear British down

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies

British Break the colonies in

half by getting between the North and South

Blockade the ports prevent the flow of

goods and supplies from an ally

“Divide & Conquer” Use the Loyalists

MILITARY STRATEGIES

Boston: Washington seizes Dorchester Used artillery from Ft Ticonderoga British forced

to evacuate Boston New York: General Howe sent troops/fleets

to NY/Long Island & push colonial forces out NY becomes the British HQ

Trenton: Washington plans assault on Hessians, crossed DE River & marched 19 miles in bl izzard 1,400 exhausted Hessians -- never able to establish

a defensive perimeter, quickly surrendered British: 22 killed, 92 wounded, 918 captured Colonist: 2 frozen to death, 5 wounded

Valley Forge: Continental Army Base, Harsh Winter, Poor Conditions

Saratoga: Americans surround British, Brit ish agree to the first large-scale surrender News reaches France: King Louis XVI agreed to

recognize the independence of the United States Begin providing formal French aid to the Patriot cause

NORTHERN CAMPAIGN

1780-1781

SOUTHERN STRATEGY

Strategy: more Loyalists in the South, resources more valuable

Cowpens: American victory by Daniel Morgan, ambushed British who had split in two groups

King’s Mountain: Frontier militia loyal to USA defeated Loyalist militia

Yorktown: British base in Yorktown Trap the British on two fronts:

Cont. Army & French block by land, French navy block by sea Cornwallis surrenders – ends

fighting in colonies

SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN

“THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN”

Cornwal l is ’ Sur render a t Yorktown by John Trumbul l (1787)

September 3, 1783: Treaty of Paris signed formally recognizes

the United States as a free and independent nation after eight years of war

TREATY OF PARIS, 1783