Chapter 5Toward

Independence: Years of Decision

1763-1775

Section 1: The Imperial Reform Movement, 1763-1765

• What factors triggered the deterioration in relations between Britain and its American colonies?

• Why were the British so surprised by the American reaction to the Stamp Act

Upon completion of CH 5 you should know…• How the Seven Years War affected Britain’s

relationship with its colonies.• Be able to analyze & explain the intellectual,

political, & economic rationales colonists offered for their dissatisfaction with British rule between 1763-1775

• Be able to explain how tensions & disagreement between colonists and British officials became outright resistance & rebellion by 1775.

• Be able to explain why the colonies & Britain failed to achieve a compromise to avert hostilities.

CH 5: Toward Independence: Years of Decision, 1763-1775

The Legacy of the War• Seven Years War transformed the context in which the American colonies

operated within the empire. No longer distant & indirectly regulated, the colonies had become central parts of the empire.

• Many British officials became convinced that a more rigorous admin.was needed both to control the empire & to generate funds to pay for the war. By 1763 Britain’s national dept had grown from £75 to £ 133. The govt tried to tighten admin. of the Navigation Acts, impose higher duties on trade, & place 10,000 British troops in the colonies.

British Reform Strategy1. Sugar Act of 1764 introduced by PM George Greenville

A. Intended to replace evaded Molasses ActB. 3 pence per gallon tax rather than 6 to balance British & colonial interestsC. New England merchants (smugglers) and distillers organized political resistance to Sugar ActD. Vice-admiralty military courts tried colonial civilians who violated Molasses Act.E. New British reforms negated salutary neglect. Some denied colonials had the traditional rights of Englishmen.

CH 5 ContinuedThe Growing Confrontation• 1765 Quartering Act• 1767 Townshed Acts: duties on paint, glass, tea, and other daily

products. Used to pay imperial salaries.• 1667: Revenue Act: created a Board of American customs & vice-

admiralty courts in Boston, Halifax, Philadelphia, & Charleston.• By 1667 NY had refused to comply with Quartering Act, & the

Restraining Act of 1767.American Resistance• “taxation without representation!”• Boycotts of British goods in Boston & NY. Philadelphia refused• crowd actions in major cities transform a tax revolt into a more wide

spread sense of revolution.• Daughters of Liberty began a boycott of British textiles.• 1768: MA House sends letter to Lord Hillsborough stating opposition to

Townshed Acts. Lord Hillsborough dispatches 4 British legions to Boston.

Section 2: The Dynamics of Rebellion

1. Who comprised the Sons of Liberty?

2. What were the ideological roots of the Revolution?

Samuel Adams by John Singleton Copley found at wikipedia.org

Section 4: The Road to War 1771-17751. How did the actions of each

side contribute to military confrontation at Lexington & Concord in 1775?

• Which side was responsible for pushing events toward a military confrontation?

• Which groups in colonial society most actively supported the rebellion? Which groups were Loyalists

Lexington & Concord

General Thomas Gage

Lt. Francis Smith

Lady Margaret GagePaul Revere

John Parker

Lexington & Concord