Chapter 7: The Road to Chapter 7: The Road to Revolution, 1763-1775Revolution, 1763-1775

By: Vineetha Varghese and By: Vineetha Varghese and Anitha VarikattuAnitha Varikattu

The Deep Roots of Revolution • The inhabitants of the English colonies were rebellious

in spirit.• These people were unable to satisfy their social,

political, economic, and religious needs in the Old World.• On the journey to the New World, the potential colonists

suffered from shortages of food and from epidemics. This caused them to be traumatized. As a result cannibalism was common.

• The knowledge of their distance from England weakened the Parliament’s authority over the English colonists.

• Terrain influenced ideas of independence.

The Mercantile Theory The Mercantile Theory

• England’s empire in the New World, was not created by England, but by various trading companies, and religious groups

• Board of Trade This was a group of people that kept an eye on the English colonies on behalf of England.

• Mercantilism English colonies were regarded as tenants of England, and were expected to meet the economic and military demands of England without complaining.

• The English wanted to export more than they imported.

Mercantilist Trammels on Mercantilist Trammels on Trade Trade

Navigation Laws Navigation Laws Enforced mercantilist Enforced mercantilist policies;1650:English colonies could only trade with policies;1650:English colonies could only trade with England; European goods had to be sent through England; European goods had to be sent through England, before they reached the coloniesEngland, before they reached the colonies

Colonists were restricted by English law to produce Colonists were restricted by English law to produce certain items that competed with the English industrycertain items that competed with the English industry

The English Colonies had no banks, or enough money The English Colonies had no banks, or enough money to buy necessary items for day to day life. As a result to buy necessary items for day to day life. As a result bartering was common. bartering was common.

During this lack of currency, paper money was printed During this lack of currency, paper money was printed by the colonists. British Parliament then passed laws by the colonists. British Parliament then passed laws preventing the printing of colonial paper currency.preventing the printing of colonial paper currency.

The Merits/Menace of The Merits/Menace of MercantilismMercantilism

The British mercantile The British mercantile system only started to system only started to aggravate the colonists in aggravate the colonists in 1763. Before it had 1763. Before it had actually been helping the actually been helping the colonists because England colonists because England gave some money to the gave some money to the makers of the goods.makers of the goods.

Americans enjoyed rights Americans enjoyed rights from England and had the from England and had the opportunity to self govern. opportunity to self govern.

The average American was The average American was better off economically better off economically than an Englishmen in than an Englishmen in England.England.

Americans were not Americans were not allowed to buy, sell or ship, allowed to buy, sell or ship, or manufacture goods for or manufacture goods for their own benefit. their own benefit.

As the prices of tobacco As the prices of tobacco fell, tobacco planters in the fell, tobacco planters in the south were in debt and south were in debt and were forced to be under were forced to be under the mercy of the English the mercy of the English merchants. Some debts merchants. Some debts became hereditary.became hereditary.

The colonies were unable The colonies were unable to flourish as they should to flourish as they should and this angered the and this angered the colonists. (especially in colonists. (especially in Massachusetts and Massachusetts and VirginiaVirginia combined revolt combined revolt against England)against England)

The Stamp Tax UproarThe Stamp Tax Uproar

Seven Years WarSeven Years War caused enormous debt on the caused enormous debt on the English and the English thought that the colonists English and the English thought that the colonists should help pay for it. should help pay for it.

Prime Minister George GrenvillePrime Minister George Grenville 1763- ordered 1763- ordered British navy to enforce Navigation Laws; Parliament British navy to enforce Navigation Laws; Parliament enforced the Sugar Act of 1764 which increased the enforced the Sugar Act of 1764 which increased the tax on foreign sugar.tax on foreign sugar.

Quartering Act of 1765- mandated certain colonies Quartering Act of 1765- mandated certain colonies to provide for the British troops. to provide for the British troops.

Stamp Tax of 1765- printed paper was taxed.Stamp Tax of 1765- printed paper was taxed. ““No taxation without representation” . This is what No taxation without representation” . This is what

the colonists demanded after the stamp tax was the colonists demanded after the stamp tax was imposed. imposed.

Parliament Forced to Repeal Parliament Forced to Repeal the Stamp Actthe Stamp Act• The Stamp Act Congress of 1765- 27 delegates The Stamp Act Congress of 1765- 27 delegates

from 9 colonies; wrote up a list of from 9 colonies; wrote up a list of grievances/rights and sent it to Parliament/King to grievances/rights and sent it to Parliament/King to repeal legislation. repeal legislation.

• Colonists tried to not import British goods in order Colonists tried to not import British goods in order to be more self sufficient.to be more self sufficient.

• Sons/Daughters of Liberty- used violence to show Sons/Daughters of Liberty- used violence to show their annoyance with the English govt. their annoyance with the English govt.

• 1766- Parliament repealed the Stamp Act. The 1766- Parliament repealed the Stamp Act. The same year they passed the Declaratory Act in same year they passed the Declaratory Act in which Parliament imposed right to bind the which Parliament imposed right to bind the colonies in any situation. colonies in any situation.

Townshend Tea Tax & Boston Massacre British ministry controlled by Charlie

Townshend. 1767- Townshend Acts passed. Taxes

imposed on glass, white lead, paper and tea.

Colonists continued to stop importing products from England. In 1768 English troops landed in Boston. On March 5, 1770, colonists attacked English troops (Boston Massacre).

The troops opened fire and massacred many colonists.

The Seditious Committees of The Seditious Committees of CorrespondenceCorrespondence

The doings of the colonists were causing the The doings of the colonists were causing the English to lose money. English to lose money.

Townshend Acts repealed but tea tax remained. Townshend Acts repealed but tea tax remained.

English tried to once again enforce Navigation English tried to once again enforce Navigation Laws but colonists resisted. Laws but colonists resisted.

Samuel Adams formed the local Committees of Samuel Adams formed the local Committees of Correspondence in 1772. The purpose was to Correspondence in 1772. The purpose was to spread info throughout the colonies. spread info throughout the colonies.

Tea Parties at Boston and Elsewhere

The English gave the British East India Company complete control over the American tea business.

The colonies were furious. 1773- Marylanders burned the cargos/vessels of tea. In Boston, colonists dumped tea into the Boston harbor.

Parliament Passes the Intolerable Acts Repressive Acts (1774)- Series of acts enacted to

punish colonists that rebelled (mainly for those involved in Boston Tea Party). Restrictions were placed on town meetings and some rights taken away.

Boston Port Act (1774)- Boston harbor closed. Quebec Act (1774)- French allowed to practice

Catholicism and were allowed to practice some or their own customs. French still unable to be tried by jury or have a representative assembly. Quebec was enlarged.

Continental Congress and Bloodshed Other colonies were upset over Massachusetts

dilemma and sought to help them. Continental Congress of 1774- met in Philadelphia to

list grievances. Members included Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington and Patrick Henry.

Cont. Cong. created Declaration of Rights; The Association boycotted British goods.

April 1775- British commander in Boston sent troops to Lexington & Concord where they were sent to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

Lexington Massacre colonial minute-men refused to give into the British and many were killed.

Concord- British forced to retreat.

British/Colonial Strengths and British/Colonial Strengths and WeaknessWeakness

British had a greater British had a greater population, naval population, naval supremacy, and were supremacy, and were wealthier. British had an wealthier. British had an advantage over the advantage over the American coloniesAmerican colonies5000 African Americans 5000 African Americans fought with the colonists, fought with the colonists, because they had been because they had been told that they would be told that they would be granted their freedom, if granted their freedom, if they fought.they fought. British recruited men from British recruited men from Germany, American Germany, American Loyalists, and Native Loyalists, and Native Americans in their armyAmericans in their army

American army was American army was outnumbered compared to outnumbered compared to the British army the British army England had problems with England had problems with other nations such as other nations such as Ireland, and France. They Ireland, and France. They caused potential threats to caused potential threats to England.England.Some Englishmen were Some Englishmen were sympathetic towards the sympathetic towards the colonists because they colonists because they didn’t want to fight their didn’t want to fight their fellow Englanders.fellow Englanders.The distance from England The distance from England caused miscommunication caused miscommunication among the English troops. among the English troops.

American Pluses and MinusesAmerican Pluses and Minuses

Revolutionists had great Revolutionists had great leaders: George Washington, leaders: George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin.and Benjamin Franklin.

France helped the colonists France helped the colonists Colonies were self sufficient in Colonies were self sufficient in

terms of agriculture terms of agriculture Had hope even though the Had hope even though the

odds were against them, odds were against them, because of other historic because of other historic revolutions that had occurred, revolutions that had occurred, and succeeded and succeeded

The colonial rebels were badly The colonial rebels were badly organizedorganized

In the early days of the In the early days of the Revolution they lacked unity Revolution they lacked unity among the colonistsamong the colonists

There was jealousy issues There was jealousy issues among the individual statesamong the individual states

Economic difficulties hindered Economic difficulties hindered development in the Revolution; development in the Revolution; Inflation of the currency Inflation of the currency increased pricesincreased prices

Families suffered as the men Families suffered as the men went to war went to war

A Thin Line of HeroesA Thin Line of Heroes Military resources were incredibly limited; Military resources were incredibly limited;

Even when there was food, there was no Even when there was food, there was no transportation to send it to the army, or transportation to send it to the army, or other placesother places

Manufactured goods were in short supplyManufactured goods were in short supply Soldiers often lacked clothing appropriate Soldiers often lacked clothing appropriate

for the season for the season Military was poorly trained and unreliable; Military was poorly trained and unreliable;

only a few military men were disciplined.only a few military men were disciplined. Out of all the so called military men, only a Out of all the so called military men, only a

minority of these men were passionate minority of these men were passionate about the independence of the coloniesabout the independence of the colonies