From Empire to Independence

Chapter 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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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 Rockingham repealed the Stamp Act.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

  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.

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.

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.

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.