Chapter 7:The Road to Revolution (1763-

1775)

Distance weakened authority Republicanism – citizens give up self

interests for the common good. Opposed to hierarchical and authoritarian

institutions

Mercantilism – wealth is power Measured by silver and gold Must export more than import

Navigation law of 1650 All commerce must initially go through Britain Americans must ship “enumerated” products

to Britain Currency shortage

Colonists bought more than they sold to Britain Barter and trade Paper money – led to depreciation

Britain felt colonists responsible for war debt

Navigation Laws (1763) British trade only

Sugar Act of 1764 Molasses Act 1733 3 pence tax on sugar and molasses

Quartering Act of 1765 Required colonies to provide food and housing

to British troops

George Greenville: Author of the Stamp Act

King George III

legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and playing cards in the colonies required to carry a tax stamp.

“No taxation, without representation!”

9 colonies met in NYC 14 point declaration of rights and

grievances formulated by John Dickinson Pledged loyalty to the king

Publications Andrew Oliver and Hutchinson effigies

hung Destroyed property of tax collectors No one to enforce it, when it became law Government offices shut down Boycott on British Goods

Existed in every colony Samuel Adams: head of Boston Chapter

Mainly workers and tradesmen Boston Gazette spread news and opinion Main objective to get stamp collectors to

resign Enforcement of Non-Importation

agreements

Organizer of the Committees of Correspondence Movement toward independence

Led the reaction to the Stamp Act and Boston Tea Party

Served in both Continental Congresses Too much of an agitator to be a good

politician

“Driven from every other corner of the earth, freedom of thought and the right of private judgment in matters of conscience direct their course to this happy country as their last asylum.” Samuel Adams (1776)

Repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 Passed the Declaratory Act in 1766

Stated Parliament had the right to make all laws for the colonies

Predecessor for future acts

“By one Act they have suspended the powers of one American legislature, & by another have declared they may legislate for us themselves in all cases whatsoever.  These two acts alone form a basis broad enough whereon to erect a despotism of unlimited extent.” Thomas Jefferson

Sponsored by Charles Townshend Purpose to raise revenues for customs

enforcement and colonial officers Import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper,

and tea. Protested with petitions, boycotting, and

tar and feathering All but tea tax repealed in 1770

Started because of the failure to pay taxes

Townspeople threw snowballs A struck private fired into the crowd 11 injured and 5 killed British removed from Boston Crispus Attucks

Monopoly given to failing EIC Ships not able to enter the bay, most

turned away Hutchinson would not allow ship to leave

Boston until unloaded Son’s of Liberty, dressed as Indians, led

attack on ship, dumping 45 tons of tea

Prime Minister Lord North, author of the Boston Port Bill, forces the ”Intolerable Acts,” or tea, down the throat of America, a vulnerable Indian woman whose arms are restrained by Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, while Lord Sandwich, a notorious womanizer, pins down her feet and peers up her skirt. Behind them, Mother Britannia weeps helplessly. This British cartoon was quickly copied and distributed by Paul Revere

Boston Port Act – closed Boston Harbor until dumped tea was paid for

Massachusetts Government Act – revoked charter and forbid town meetings

Quartering Act – required colonists to provide housing for soldiers

Quebec Act – expanded territory No representative government Restored French law Allowed practice of Catholicism