Unit 2: Revolutionary War

Ch. 5 Deciding Where Loyalties Lie 1763-

1776

Victory’s New Problems

Dealing with Indian & French Canadian Resistance

British P.M. George Grenville set out to solve the empire’s new problemsIn order to solve the Indian

problem, he issued the Proclamation of 1763

In order to win over the French-speaking Catholic Canadians, he allowed them to preserve their religious & cultural ways

Revenue Taxes

In order to deal with the debt from the F/I War, he passed acts designed to raise tax revenues in the colonies for the British govt.Sugar Act 1764Quartering Act 1765Stamp Act 1765

First direct tax on the colonistsRequired the use of govt-stamped paper,

signifying the payment of the tax, on almost 50 different documents

Would affect everyone

American Reaction to the Taxes

Samuel Adams started a secret resistance organization called the Sons of Liberty, in which they staged public demonstrations & protests

American Reaction to the Taxes

Patrick Henry from the H of B in VA introduced 7 resolutions denouncing the Stamp Act“no taxation without

representation” Most colonial assemblies

followed VA’s lead & issued statements condemning the Stamp Act

Grenville responded by saying Americans were represented in Parliament under the theory of “virtual representation”

American Reaction to the Taxes

Oct. 1765 delegates from 9 colonies met at the Stamp Act Congress in New York CityClaimed that only

colonial legislatures had the authority to tax the colonists

Significance – break down sectional divisions

American Reaction to the Taxes

Colonists agreed to boycott British goods, leading to the spread of the non-importation movementArtisans & laborers saw the chance to sell

their own goodsWomen agreed to make homespun cloth as

a replacement to British textiles

Repeal of the Stamp Act

Grenville was replaced by Lord Rockingham, who repealed the Stamp Act in March 1766, but passed the Declaratory Act insteadReaffirmed Parliament’s

right to pass legislation for & raise taxes from the colonies

Asserting American Independence

The Townshend Acts & Colonial Protest

New P.M. Charles Townshend imposed new taxes on the colonies through the Townshend ActsTaxed imported items

including glass, paper, paint, & lead products

Also placed a three-penny tax on tea

Ordered new customs boards to collect the taxes

Relocated “redcoats” to port cities to keep the peace

The Townshend Acts & Colonial Protest

John Dickinson wrote a pamphlet titled “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania”Claimed the T.A. violated the

principle of “no taxation w/o representation”

Criticized “virtual representation”

Another massive boycott of British goods began in 1768

Boston Massacre

Facing the breakdown of law & order in Boston, the governor requested the support of British soldiers (1768)

Boston Massacre

Colonists taunted them, leading to a major confrontation on March 5, 1770Townspeople began

throwing snowballs at the redcoats

Nervous & provoked soldiers opened fire, killing 5

Years later, the incident was used as colonial propaganda

The Crisis Renewed

Disturbing the Peace of the Early 1770s

In March 1770, the new P.M. Lord North repealed all taxes, except that on teaPeriod of relative peace set in,

but only temporarily

Disturbing the Peace of the Early 1770s

June 1772, Rhode Island merchants sought revenge on customs operationsLocal men boarded the Gaspee, looted it, & torched it

Disturbing the Peace of the Early 1770s

Colonies organized the Committees of Correspondence to keep alive opposition to British policies by spreading ideas & info

The Tea Act & the Tea Party

1773 the British East India Tea Company was facing bankruptcy

Parliament tried to save them by allowing them to ship their tea directly to the colonial market at lower pricesHowever, the three-

penny tax still remained

The Tea Act & the Tea Party

Crowds met the ships carrying the tea & prevented them from unloading it

MA governor Thomas Hutchinson refused to allow the ships to leave until they unloaded their cargo

The Tea Act & the Tea Party

1773 Bostonians who were part of the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Indians, boarded the ships & dumped the tea

The Intolerable Acts

Parliament responded quickly to the Tea Party with acts that punished BostonPort ActMA Govt. ActJustice ActA new Quartering Act

Quebec Act

At the same time, the British govt. passed the Quebec ActFrench in Canada were

allowed to practice Catholicism

Expanded the Canadian border to the Ohio River

The First Continental Congress 1774

Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philly to discuss ways of redressing colonial grievances

S. Adams, J. Adams, G. Washington, P. Henry

The First Continental Congress 1774

Wrote the Declaration of Rights & Grievances, in which they allowed Parliament to regulate trade but refused to allow them to impose revenue taxes w/o their consent

Demanded the repeal of the Intolerable Acts

Approved the Continental Association, which called for a complete boycott of all British goods

The Decision for Independence

Lexington & Concord April 1775

General Gage sent troops through Lexington to Concord to seize a stockpile of weapons & to arrest radical leaders S. Adams & J. Hancock

Lexington & Concord April 1775

On April 18, 1775 Paul Revere & others rode off to warn the militia of the approaching army

Lexington & Concord April 1775

At Lexington, the redcoats fired on the colonial militiamen, killing 8

Lexington & Concord April 1775

Redcoats marched on to Concord where they didn’t find weapons but instead were forced to retreat by the Concord Minutemen73 redcoats were killedWar had begun

Second Continental CongressMet in Philly 1775

Authorized the printing of American paper money

Approved the creation of a Continental Army & appointed G. Washington to serve as commander

Second Continental Congress

Hoping to find a peaceful solution, they offered King George III the Olive Branch PetitionReasserted colonial loyalty to

the crownAsked the king to intervene

with Parliament on their behalfThe king rejected it

Second Continental Congress

The king approved the Prohibitory Act, which declared the colonies in rebellion & no longer under his protection

The Impact of “Common Sense”

Up until 1776, most patriots had blamed the problems on Parliament, not the king

Then in Jan. 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called “Common Sense”, in which he attacked the sanctity of the monarchy head-on

The Impact of “Common Sense”

He called for immediate independence

His simple, yet emotional writing style spoke directly to ordinary citizens, not just the political elite

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson, the 2nd C.C. formally ratified it on July 4, 1776

Declaration of Independence

Contained a preamble that heavily reflected the philosophy of John Locke regarding natural rights

Listed grievances that focused on the king’s abuse of power

Signified the official break of the colonies from England