Flipped Lesson 3A: 1763-1775: The Road to Revolution

Duncan, Mike (Producer). (2014, Feb. 16-March 2). Revolutions [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/page/3/

Remember …1. British victory in the French and Indian War

enlarged her colonial empire

2. But victory was CO$TLY! In response to these costs Britain wanted the colonists to pay their fair share.

3. British Parliament made decisions to try to control and pay for ( taxes) its empire. This ended British salutary neglect.

4. These actions led to differences between the colonists and Great Britain that would lead to war (and a new nation).

Proclamation Line of 1763

After the French and Indian War the Colonists clashed with Indian Tribes over land in the Ohio Country and Great Lakes region in Pontiac’s Uprising. American assemblies organize their militias and pass taxes to fight Indian wars.

King George III tried to balance the wants of colonists and tribes with the Proclamation Line of 1763. It ran roughly along the Appalachian Mountains: colonists were to stay east of the line and not settle on Native American lands.

Land-hungry colonists ignored the proclamation, and the British could not enforce it.

The Quartering ActIn order to protect the colonial borders, troops were needed.

Those troops needed somewhere to stay!

The Quartering Act (1765) required colonists provide quarters (housing) for British soldiers.

Colonists resented the troops, especially because they felt the major threat (the French) were gone.

The Sugar Act

Britain was roughly £122 million in debt from the war. British Prime Minister George Grenville thought the colonists should be taxed as well as British citizens.

In order to raise revenue (money), he sought to enforce the taxes on molasses and sugar (The Sugar Act, 1764)

The act actually lowered the tax on these items, but the British navy cracked down on enforcing the tax and the search of colonial ships.

Colonists were not happy about paying a tax they had been avoiding by smuggling andsalutary neglect.

The Stamp ActThe Stamp Act (1765) was another attempt by Grenville at raising money in the colonies.

It was a tax on paper to raise money to pay for British troops stationed in the colonies.

Paper that was used for a variety—from legal documents to playing cards—was required to carry a seal or stamp from Britain to prove it had been taxed.

Colonial Pushback

Some merchants in New York City organized a boycott (refuse to import) of British goods as long as the Stamp Act was in effect.

Representatives from some of the colonies met in NYC to officially protest the Stamp Act (The Stamp Act Congress).

The colonists’ boycott hurts British merchants. England makes more money from trade than taxes. Many businessmen in England ask Parliament to end the Stamp Act

Colonial Opposition

The colonists were willing to—and did—pay taxes! Colonial assemblies, which included representatives elected by colonists collected taxes.

The question was: “If the colonists are not actually represented in Parliament, can Parliament control taxation?”

The answer to a growing number of colonists was: NO!

Colonial Pushback

Patrick Henry, a member of the House of Burgesses (Virginia’s assembly), spoke out passionately against the Stamp Act. Henry and some of his colleagues said the right to tax the colonists of Virginia belonged to the colonial assembly only.

some colonists formed committees of correspondence. These groups exchanged ideas and responses about British actions.

Groups like the Sons of Libertyorganized themselves to protest British policies.

In Virginia …

This was too radical (extreme) for some members of the House of Burgesses.

In Massachusetts …

Members of the Sons of Liberty “hanging”

Andrew Oliver (stamp master). They later

destroyed his house.

Colonial Pushback (cont’d)

Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but they didn’t want the colonists to think they won. So they said:

BRITAIN HAS THE RIGHT TO

GOVERN THE COLONIES in all

cases whatsoever

WHAT WAS THE BRITISH RESPONSE?

THE DECLATORY ACT 1766

More Taxes?!—The Townshend Acts

After the Stamp Act failed, Britain still needed revenue($).

Parliament passed the Townshend Acts (1767) which included taxes on imports of lead, glass, paper, ink and tea.

British officials were hired to enforce the Townshend Acts. Writs of Assistance gave these officials the right to search businesses for illegal goods.

Colonists in Boston boycotted British goods, they were soon followed by other colonies.

Boston was especially tense—colonists threatened to form a mob. British redcoats were sent to Boston to keep the peace.

The Boston MassacreTensions rose between the troops and Boston colonists from 1769-70.

Five colonists were killed after an altercation between soldiers and a mob.

After the Boston Massacre, there was disagreement over whether the soldiers were defending themselves or ruthless murderers.

Lawyer John Adams defended the soldiers

The soldiers were acquitted (except 2). Those two were not convicted of murder and were branded as punishment

Exports & Imports: 1768-1783

How did the American boycott of British goods and the Revolutionary War affect trade?

The Tea Act (1773)

Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts but (again) they didn’t want the colonists to think they won: Parliament left the duty (import tax) on tea.

Two years of peace and quiet between the colonists and Great Britain resulted!

However, it didn’t last. In May 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act. This allowed The British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists at a reduced cost.

This was not a tax. But some colonists (mistakenly) believed The East India Company was avoiding the tea tax from the Townshend Acts. The inexpensive tea also hurt the business of colonial merchants.

The Boston Tea Party, 1773

Colonial merchants made plans to refuse importation of East India Company tea.

Merchants were pressured to go along with the plan. Those who refused, as were often punished physically—including tarring and feathering.

When three ships arrive in Boston colonists intend to have the tea sent back to England.

Members of the Sons of Liberty—some dressed as Mohawk Indians—dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

The Coercive / Intolerable ActsThe King and Parliament are furious. One member of Parliament asks:

“…Whether we have—or not—any

authority over that country”The British response is known as the Coercive Acts

While the Americans call them the Intolerable Acts

1. Closed Boston Harbor until the colonists paid back what they destroyed (90,000 pounds of tea).

2. Took power away from the Massachusetts legislature and put it into the hands of the royal governor.

3. More troops from England to maintain law and order. Another Quartering Act ensuring British troops could securea place to stay.

Additionally, in a meeting with British officials, Ben Franklin is given a good “talking to.”

The First Continental Congress 1774

• Members from 12 colonies—Georgia was absent—sent delegates to Philadelphia. These 56 men tried debated and discussed concerns with the Intolerable Acts.

• It became clear that some radical(extreme) members of the Continental Congress were even prepared for war….

1. Stated that King George III had violated their natural rights (life, liberty, property, etc.)

2. Boycott British goods (no exports or imports).

3. Urge Mass. Colonists to: train local soldiers, stop paying taxes, ignore Intolerable Acts.

John Adams

Samuel Adams

GeorgeWashington

Patrick Henry

Actions

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Militia / Minutemen:

-Nickname for colonial militia or citizen soldiers.

-They supplied their own weapons and had little

military training.

-Ready to defend their families and homes.

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This political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin from the French and Indian War

now seems to apply to the colonies and England. If the colonists do not unite,

Coercive Acts for each colony and British military power will crush them one

by one.

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The rattlesnake became a symbol for the colonies, like the bald eagle,

and showed Americans would fight for their British / Natural Rights.

The Gadsden Flag, 1775

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Lexington and Concord (1775):

-Patriots had stored arms and ammunition in Concord.

-British redcoats wanted to capture arms and ammunition. Also, wanted to

capture 2 patriot leaders: Sam Adams and John Hancock.[

-British march out of Boston on April 18, 1775.

-Patriots (Paul Revere) ride to warn the countryside of the marching British

redcoats.

- April 19th Lexington: Minutemen confront British. A shot is fired and 18

Militia/Minutemen are killed or wounded.

-British march to Concord: Destroyed supplies. Exchange fire.

-British march back to Boston: Militia/Minutemen fire on British all

the way back.

-300 British killed, wounded, or missing.

-American militia surround Boston.

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“The Shot Heard Round the World” April 19, 1775

The start of the American Revolution as American Minutemen/Militia and British soldiers fire on each other.

Who fired the opening shot is unknown.

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Second Continental Congress (1775): Representatives from the colonies met

in Philadelphia to discuss plans.

A. Olive Branch Petition (1775): Sent petition to King George III asking to restore

peace. King refuses petition.

B. Continental Army (1775): Created an army to prepare for war under the

command of George Washington.

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Battle of Bunker Hill (1775):

-American army surrounded Boston after Lexington and Concord.

-British army attacks rebels to drive them back. Beaten back twice. Rebels run out

of ammunition. Forced to retreat when British attack a 3rd time.

-2200 British start battle. 1000 killed or wounded.

-British forced to abandon Boston. They sail out of Boston.

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