sign in sign up
<<
Home , Prohibitory Act, Quebec Act

AMERICANAMERICAN REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION TheThe EnlightenmentEnlightenment TheThe AgeAge ofof ReasonReason

▶ 1650-1800 ▶ Laws of Nature applied to society ▶ Rationalism . “Dare to know! Have the courage to use your own reason!” – Immanuel Kant ▶ Liberalism ▶ Deism . “The Clockmaker” . Absent of human affairs TheThe EnlightenmentEnlightenment JohnJohn LockeLocke ▶ Second Treatise on Government . “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind … that, being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” . “Men being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent.” . “Whensoever therefore the legislative shall transgress this fundamental rule of society; and either by ambition, fear, folly or corruption, endeavour to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other, an absolute power over the lives, liberties, and estates of the people; by this breach of trust they forfeit the power the people had put into their hands for quite contrary ends, and it devolves to the people, who have a right to resume their original liberty, and, by the establishment of a new legislative, (such as they shall think fit) provide for their own safety and security, which is the end for which they are in society.” TheThe EnlightenmentEnlightenment AdamAdam SmithSmith ▶ An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations ▶ Laissez-faire . Free trade ▶ “the invisible hand” ▶ Three Laws . More production from self- interest . Economic competition . Supply and demand TheThe EnlightenmentEnlightenment TheThe PhilosophesPhilosophes ▶ Voltaire . Candide ▶ Baron de Montesquieu . Spirit of the Laws ▶ Separation of powers ▶ Checks and balances Voltaire ▶ Jean-Jacques Rousseau . The Social Contract ▶ “the general will” ▶ Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft SalutarySalutary Neglect/BenignNeglect/Benign NeglectNeglect ▶ British absenteeism . Distance between England and America . Political turmoil and relative peace ▶ English Civil War (1642-1651) ▶ Glorious Revolution (1688) ▶ Colonies virtually on their own . Developed unique economies based on region . Economic growth ▶ Colonial GNP was 25 million pounds ($2.25 billion) ▶ 1/3 of the Great Britain’s GNP ▶ GDP per capita was highest in the world by 1775 . Self-government . Proud British loyalists . High life expectancy and literacy rates BritainBritain ExertsExerts MoreMore ControlControl

▶ NavigationNavigation ActsActs strengthenedstrengthened . Increased concept of mercantilism . Vice-admiralty courts ▶Merchant courts, juryless, “corrupt judges” . Board of Trade ▶Develop mercantilist policies over colonies ▶ MolassesMolasses ActAct (1733)(1733) . Tax on non-British import of sugar FrenchFrench andand IndianIndian WarWar (1754-1763)(1754-1763) ▶ England vs. France . Washington, Fort Duquense, and Fort Necessity . Most Natives allied with French . William Pitt . Increased British troop activity in America . Colonists contributed to effort ▶ Albany Plan of Union (1754) . Benjamin Franklin ▶ Results/Consequences . British victory ▶ Acquisition of French and land east of Mississippi ▶ War debt . 72M pounds (1755) . 129M pounds (1764) ▶ British believed more control necessary . Colonial pride

ProclamationProclamation ofof 17631763

▶ Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763) . Extensive Native alliance to deter colonists ▶ Purpose . Avoid conflicts ▶ Colonial Reaction . Denial of land Preliminary Rebellions

▶ Paxton Boys (1764) . Pennsylvania Scots-Irish upset with Quaker government and toleration of natives . Massacred Susquehannock ▶ Regulators (1764- 1771) . NC frontiersmen upset with eastern corruption BritishBritish PrimePrime MinistersMinisters Encouraged unrestricted Believed colonies development of colonies should foot the bill for wars and defense

Robert Walpole George Grenville 1721-1742 1763-1765

Charles Townshend Chancellor of Exchequer 1766-1767 Enforced Parliament’s power but defended Supported taxation colonies and desire of the colonies and for representation ran Parliament William Pitt during Revolution Frederick North 1766-1768 1770-1782 TimelineTimeline ofof ParliamentaryParliamentary ActsActs

▶ of 1764 ▶ of 1773 . Revenue tax . Support British East India Company ▶ Quartering Act of 1765 ▶ “” ▶ Stamp Act of 1765 . Coercive Acts of 1774 . First direct tax ▶ Massachusetts Government Act (royal appointments) ▶ of 1766 ▶ Port Act (Boston closed) . Parliament’s right to tax ▶ Administration of Justice Act (trial whatsoever of royal officials moved) ▶ of . Act of 1774 ▶ Appointed government; 1767 Catholicism recognized . Pay royal colonial officials ▶ of 1775 . Writs of assistance . Colonies in open rebellion Parliamentary Acts The Sugar Act (1764) ▶ Purpose . Increased regulation of colonial trade . Raise revenue for war debt ▶ Lowered tax rate . Sugar, spices, lumber . Vice-admiralty courts ▶ Colonial Reaction . Colonial merchants and shippers . Boycotts ▶ Repealed in 1766 Parliamentary Acts Stamp Act (1765)

▶ Purpose . First direct tax . Generate revenue for troops in America ▶ Colonial Reaction . “No taxation without representation.” - James Otis . Stamp Act Congress . Sons and Daughters of Liberty . Committees of Correspondence Parliamentary Acts Townshend Acts (1767) ▶ Purpose . Raise revenue for administration of colonies . Glass, tea, paper, lead, paint ▶ Colonial Reaction . Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania - John Dickinson ▶ “If they may be legally deprived… of the privilege of legislation, why may they not, with equal reason, be deprived of every other privilege? Engraving by Paul Revere, 1768 Or why may not every colony be treated in the same manner, when any of them shall dare to deny their assent to any impositions that shall be directed?” Boston Massacre (1770) Parliamentary Acts Tea Act (1773) ▶ Purpose . Support British East India Company ▶ Reaction . Parliamentary Acts “Intolerable” Acts (1774) ▶ Purpose . . Quartering Act . Administration of Justice Act . Massachusetts Government Act . ▶ Colonial Reaction . Suffolk Resolves . First

Bostonians paying the exciseman Tar and Feathering WhichWhich SideSide AreAre YouYou On?On?

Colonies British Empire/Parliament ▶ Fought and died in wars ▶ Provide protection from with Natives and European Natives and Europeans enemies ▶ Benefit exceptionally well ▶ Risk life and health in a from success of British new environment Empire with little ▶ Proud and loyal English contribution subjects entitled to rights ▶ Abide by the rule of law ▶ Developed economies ▶ Colonists as second-class which benefit the Empire citizens ▶ Familiar with life in ▶ “virtual representation” colonies more so than in ▶ Britons pay 2-3 times England taxes than colonists ▶ God-given liberty LexingtonLexington andand ConcordConcord (April(April 19,19, 1775)1775) ▶ Organization of militia () compels Governor Gage to send 700 British soldiers to arrest rebel leaders and confiscate arms ▶ William Dawes and Paul Revere ▶ 8 Minutemen die and 1 (about from FIU to South Beach) Redcoat wounded at Lexington ▶ “Shot heard ‘round the world” at Concord SecondSecond ContinentalContinental CongressCongress

▶ Delegates from 13 colonies begin meeting in May of 1775 ▶ Battles of Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill (June 1775) ▶ Olive Branch Petition (July 1775) ▶ Proclamation of Rebellion (August 1775) ▶ Prohibitory Act (December 1775) ▶ and ▶ State Constitutions ▶ Virginia Declaration of Rights (May 1776) ▶ Declaration of Independence (July 1776) ThomasThomas PainePaine’’ss CommonCommon SenseSense (January(January 1776)1776)

▶ “But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families; wherefore the assertion, if true, turns to her reproach; but it happens not to be true, or only partly so and the phrase PARENT or MOTHER COUNTRY hath been jesuitically adopted by the king and his parasites, with a low papistical design of gaining an unfair bias on the credulous weakness of our minds. Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from EVERY PART of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.” ▶ “As to government matters, it is not in the power of Britain to do this continent justice: The business of it will soon be too weighty, and intricate, to be managed with any tolerable degree of convenience, by a power so distant from us, and so very ignorant of us; for if they cannot conquer us, they cannot govern us. To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness--There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease. Small islands not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet, and as England and America, with respect to each other, reverses the common order of nature, it is evident they belong to different systems; England to Europe, America to itself. “ ▶ “Europe is too thickly planted with kingdoms to be long at peace, and whenever a war breaks out between England and any foreign power, the trade of America goes to ruin, BECAUSE OF HER CONNECTION WITH ENGLAND. The next war may not turn out like the last, and should it not, the advocates for reconciliation now, will be wishing for separation then, because, neutrality in that case, would be a safer convoy than a man of war. Every thing that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART. Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America, is a strong and natural proof, that the authority of the one, over the other, was never the design of Heaven. The time likewise at which the continent was discovered, adds weight to the argument, and the manner in which it was peopled increases the force of it. The reformation was preceded by the discovery of America, as if the Almighty graciously meant to open a sanctuary to the Persecuted in future years, when home should afford neither friendship nor safety. “ DeclarationDeclaration ofof IndependenceIndependence (1776)(1776)

▶ Applies laws of Nature ▶ People’s right to revolution . “self-evident” . “all men are created equal” . Endowed…with certain unalienable rights…life, liberty, pursuit of happiness” ▶ List of grievances against the British Empire, specifically toward George III ▶ WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE IN REGARDS TO AMERICAN SOCIETY? AmericaAmerica vs.vs. GreatGreat BritainBritain

▶ American Advantages/Tactics ▶ British Advantages/Tactics . Militia’s guerilla tactics . 11 million Britons to America’s 2.5 million (1/3 slaves or . Familiar with the territory and . Familiar with the territory and loyalists) environment . World’s largest navy . Prolong the war . Prolong the war . Disciplined and experienced . Hope for support from Britain’s army enemies (France, Spain) . Support from Loyalists, Natives, ▶ American Disadvantages and slaves . Entrenched forts and garrisons . No well-trained regular army or in America officers ▶ British Disadvantages . Insufficient funds and supplies British Disadvantages . War debt and war fatigue . Small support among population . American privateers (pirates) (1/3 loyalists, 1/3 neutral, . American privateers (pirates) hounded British ships slaves) . Unpopular home support . Spread thin around the world Patriots,Patriots, Loyalists,Loyalists, NeutralsNeutrals ▶ Patriots (aka Whigs) . Supported independence, but may disagree on course of action (war, petition, boycott, etc.) . Advocated independence based on rhetoric and education on rights and liberties ▶ Loyalists (aka Tories) . Loyalty to the Crown . Agreed about excess taxes, but against separation . Fear of a possible American victory . Recent British immigrants ▶ Some neutral due to ignorance, apathy, or economic reasons TheThe WarWar ▶ In the North ▶ In the South . Boston and New York under . Lord Cornwalis’s strategy British control and conquest . (1780) . Battles of Trenton (1776) and . (1781) Princeton (1777) Princeton (1777) . Battle of Yorktown (1781) . Battle of Saratoga (Oct 1777) . (Winter 1777-78) TreatyTreaty ofof ParisParis (1783)(1783) ▶ , Benjamin Franklin, John Jay ▶ British recognition of USA ▶ USA granted all lands east of the Mississippi ▶ Natives left out of the treaty ▶ States applying own interests led to British remaining in Northwest

forts by Benjamin West ▶ Brand new and bigger nation… What now? AA ““RevolutionaryRevolutionary”” SocietySociety

▶ Liberalism and egalitarianism ▶ Merits over . Civil rights and private property Inheritance/Heredity ▶ Republicanism and the ▶ More and more self-made common good men participate in political . Representative government leadership ▶ Despite a new perception, the small upper class retained its status as owners of most of America’s wealth WomenWomen ofof thethe RevolutionRevolution

▶ Upper-class women ▶ Ran households and promoted cause through estates during husband’s correspondence absence ▶ Participated against ▶ Formed campaigns to Stamp Act and promote war and funds Townshend Acts ▶ Abigail Adams ▶ Spinning bees . “…Remember the Ladies.” BlacksBlacks andand SlavesSlaves DuringDuring thethe RevolutionRevolution

▶ Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation (1775) ▶ Limited participation in Continental Army ▶ Slavery as “necessary evil” ▶ Northern states and abolition ▶ Limited civil rights NativesNatives ofof thethe RevolutionRevolution

▶ HalfHalf ofof thethe populationpopulation fromfrom 17541754 toto 17831783 wipedwiped outout ▶ NewNew landland acquisitionsacquisitions ledled toto increasedincreased hostilitieshostilities ▶ AdaptedAdapted lifestylelifestyle byby incorporatingincorporating EuropeanEuropean goodsgoods ▶ AppealedAppealed toto CongressCongress onon recognizingrecognizing territories;territories; littlelittle toto nono supportsupport