The Road to Revolution1763-1775Chapter 7

AMH 2010

Derek Wingate

Themes

• How British policy after the French and Indian War led to Revolution.• From Salutary Neglect to Taxation without Representation.

The Deep Roots of Revolution

• In the mid-eighteenth century, two ideas had taken root in the minds of American colonist.• Republicanism– modeled after the Greek and Roman republics. A

society in which all citizens willingly subordinate their private selfish interest to the common good. Government depended on the virtue of the citizenry.• Radical Whigs– feared the threat to liberty posed by the arbitrary

power of the monarch and his ministers relative to elected representatives in Parliament.

Mercantilism

• Economic wealth= Power- Gold and silver= economic wealth- Obtained by more exports than imports.

• Closed imperial system with mother country and colonies.• America as a source of raw materials and place to dump British goods.• The British government looked at the American colonist more or less

as tenants.• Send us goods, don’t make those goods, and be quiet.

Navigation Acts of 1650

• All commerce flowing to and from the colonies had to be transported by British vessels (including colonial).• Subsequent laws required European goods headed to the colonies must

first land in Britain where tariff dues were collected.• Enumerated products such as tobacco were to sent exclusively to

Britain.• Prohibition on woolens and hats.• British policy also inflicted a currency shortage in the colonies.• To make everyday purchases, colonist resorted to butter, nails, pitch,

and feathers for purposes of exchange.

Merits of Mercantilism

• In theory, Mercantilism seemed harsh and oppressive.• However, there was no enforcement of the acts, which allowed

smugglers to flourish. John Hancock.• American reaped the benefits of Mercantilism.• Bounties were paid to colonial producers of naval stores.• Virginia tobacco growers enjoyed a monopoly in England.• Why did the colonist despise Mercantilism?• It burdened colonist with annoying liabilities and stifled economic

initiative. Americans felt debased by Mercantilism.

Greenville Acts 1763

• England acquired an immense debt during the French and Indian War.• 140 million pounds, half in America.• Prime Minister George Greenville ordered the British navy to strictly

enforce the Navigation Acts. Admiralty Courts– no juries.• Sugar Act 1764, increased duty on foreign sugar brought from West

Indies. First British tax on the colonies.• Quartering Act 1765, required certain colonies to provide food and

quarters for British troops.

Stamp Act 1765

• The purpose of the stamp tax was to provide revenue for the new military force in the colonies.• The Stamp Act mandated the use of stamped paper or affixing stamps

to documents certifying payment of the tax.• Stamps were required on bills of sale for trade items, commercial, and

legal documents. Playing cards, marriage licenses, and diplomas.• “No taxation without representation.”• Greenville dismissed colonial protest. Paying their fair share. Virtual

representation.

Virtual Representation

• The American Colonist point of View was “only colonial legislatures can tax.”•However, according to the British only Parliament has

the authority.• Every Prime Minister represents every British subject.•Of course, the colonist strongly disagreed.

Stamp Act Congress 1765

• Met in New York, 27 delegates from 9 colonies.• The Congress debated and drew up a statement of their rights and

grievances and beseeched the king and Parliament to repeal the legislation.• Sons of Liberty targeted tax agents and ransacked their homes.• Non importation agreements severely hurt the British economy.• In 1766, parliament repealed the Stamp Act but passed the Declaratory

Act which stated that Parliament had the right to “bind” the colonies.• The British Drew a line in the sand.

Townshend Acts 1767

• The new Prime Minister Charles Townshend placed taxes on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea.• These taxes were earmarked to pay the salaries of Royal governors

and judges.• More boycotts were called for but they were not as successful as with

the stamp tax.• On March 5, 1770 a crowd of some 60 colonist led by Crispus Attucks

began throwing snowballs at 10 British troops. They opened fire and killed or wounded 11 colonist.

1770

1856

Samuel Adams– Committees of Correspondence1774

• First one established in Massachusetts by Adams.• These committees coordinated all anti-British activities in the

colonies.• In 1773, the British East India Company was awarded a tea monopoly

in the colonies. They needed to get rid of 17 million pounds of tea or declare bankruptcy.• The colonist saw the cheap tea as way to trick Americans into a tax.• December 6, 1773, Boston Tea Party.• Britain decided to reign in the colonies. Mainly Massachusetts.

Intolerable (Coercive) Acts1774

• Colonial governments were restricted. New England.• Boston Port Act– closed the port of Boston until the damages from

the tea party were paid.• Quebec Act, 1774 – nullified all western land claims, affected all

colonies.• First Continental Congress, Sep-Oct 1774– twelve of the thirteen

colonies attended, Georgia did not.• Consultative rather than congressional body.• Complete boycott of British goods.

April 1775– British Move on Concord

• British commander at Boston sends troops to Concord to seize weapons and gunpowder. “Massacre at Concord.” 8 Americans killed.• Samuel Adams and John Hancock were also to captured.• British force was intercepted by local militia at Lexington.•Massachusetts militia counter attacked from behind wall and

trees.• British retreated back to Boston. 70 killed, hundreds of

casualties.

Thin Line of Heroes

• Poorly supplied army.• Worn anything they could find even bedcovers.• Numerous militiamen, highly unreliable.• Von Steuben to the rescue.• Freed blacks fought on both sides.