9/15/13 1 Events Leading to the American Revolution Mr. Anderson, M.Ed., J.D. 2 Review The Sugar and Quartering Acts Describe the purpose of the Sugar Act. Why did the colonists feel this act, as well as the Quartering Act, and later the Stamp Act, was an act of tyranny. 3 The New American Republicanism - subordination of self-interests to the common good. Stability of society and authority of government lay in its citizenry, not authoritarian or aristocratic rule. “Radical Whigs”- wrote about corruption and threats to individual rights (against arbitrary power) Local control 4 Revolution in Thought (1607 – 1763) Early settlers disliked England America’s distance and isolation weakened England’s control Produced rugged and independent people Allowed colonies to control themselves (laws and taxes) Produced a new civilization and culture 5 Revolution in Action (1763-1789) Taxation without representation Colonial bloodshed by British Battles of Lexington and Concord Declaration of Independence War and separation with Britain Writing of the US Constitution A new nation 6 Economic Control of the Colonies Theory of Mercantilism to control the colonies 1 Navigation Laws of 1650 Currency restrictions Legislature nullification Legislation and taxation and how it was perceived by the colonists Ultimately, colonists will have to deny both legislative and taxation authority by Parliament 7 Economic Control of the Colonies Con’t. Mercantilism was both good and bad, but it was the principal of the matter: Colonists: Protection, tobacco monopoly, bounties Theodore Roosevelt quote: “Revolution broke out because Britain failed to recognize an emerging nation when it saw one.” 8 King George III • Despised the colonies for their insubordination. • Strong supporter of taxing the colonies • Would not compromise with colonies • After losing the colonies, he went insane 9 Sugar Act 1764 Indirect tax imposed on sugar imported from W. Indies (irksome?) Would pad the coffers of Parliament (£140 million debt from war) Enforcement of Navigation Acts Quartering Act of 1765 10 The Royal Stamp 11 Stamp Act (1765) Revenue for British troops stationed in America Commercial & legal documents Reasonable and just? Admiralty courts for offenders Taxation w/o rep. 12 Stamp Act Protests Stamp Act Congress (significance) Non-Importation agreements Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty Tarring and feathering Ransacking homes of unwanted officials and tax agents 13 Stamp Act Protests Con’t. The Stamp Act was never put into effect Large economic impact on Britain Declaratory Act Maintained ‘absolute’ control 2 lines in the sand 14 Townshend Duties Crisis 1767-1770 1767 à P. M. William Pitt, & Secretary of the Exchequer Charles Townshend (Champagne Charley!) Shift from paying taxes for Br. war debts & quartering of troops à paying col. govt. salaries. He diverted revenue collection from internal to external tax (indirect). 15 The Townshend Program (1767) Tax on lead, paper, tea, paint, and glass Taking the power of the purse away from colonial assemblies Increase custom officials at American ports à established a Board of Customs in Boston 16 Townshend Protests Not as ‘loud’ as that of the Stamp Act Prosperity Smuggling Non-importation 17 18 England and Her Colonies Before the Revolution Causes that would lead to rebellion: The Proclamation of 1763 - “No Taxation Without Representation”- Sugar Act (1764) - Stamp Act (March 1765) - 19 Mercantilism revisited Definition - How the colonies played into it - Why did England prize its N. American colonies? Why didn’t England want the colonies to manufacture goods? 20 A Case in Point… The Slave Trade and the Southern Colonies Middle Passage Amount of labor needed By 1750, 40% of Virginia’s pop. Were Africans. 21 Trade and Navigation Acts Raise money to pay for the French and Indian War Wars are expensive (Iraq & Afghanistan) So how do we go about paying for them? Why do we pay taxes? Do we like paying them? Do we receive services from our government in return? 22 What if we didn’t? What then… “Salutary neglect”- Colonial Legislatures Salaries were determined by Royal officials Most were lawyers 23 Writs of Assistance An open-ended warrant allowing British officers to search the homes of colonists Enforced in the New England colonies of Mass. And NH. (where the smuggling of goods was common) Fully Transferrable 24 The Natural Rights of Man (1690) John Locke (political philosopher) Life, liberty, and property Natural, God-given rights that belong to ALL HUMAN BEINGS (not alienable – cannot be taken away) Ancient Greece (~500 B.C.E.) Magna Carta (1215) Runnymede, England The Petition of Right (1626) Social Contract (1651) Thomas Hobbes, philosopher English Bill of Rights (1689) Jefferson and the Enlightenment Declaration of Independence Rule of law & “unalienable rights” 25 Journal Entry #5 Explain why England prized its North American colonies and why England didn’t want the colonies to manufacture goods? 26 Great Britain’s Need to Tax Her Colonies The three major tax programs: The Grenville Program (1764) (finance minister) The Townshend Program (1767) The Intolerable Acts (1774) 27 The Grenville Program Stronger writs - transferrable, no “cause” necessary Sugar Act - meant to raise revenue (James Otis) Currency Act - Quartering Act - Stamp Act - newspapers, pamphlets, legal doc. ($) Declaratory Act - make laws in all matters ALL THIS IN ADDITION TO CURRENT IMPORT TAXES 28 The Townsend Program (Con’t.) Example made of New York - when New York refused to enforce the tax, the British customs commission suspended the New York assembly for failure to comply. Extreme colonial opposition 29 Colonial Opposition Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty Boston Sons of Liberty - led by Samuel Adams Used fear to intimidate stamp distributors Led to the repeal of the stamp act 30 Boston Massacre (1770) Happened when the British military attempted to but down resistance to the Townshend Acts March 5, 1770, confrontation b/tw large crowd & 9 British soldiers 5 colonists dead – 6 wounded The rest of the story… (repealed the Townsend Taxes) 8 British Soldiers & 1 Officer tried for murder All acquitted – 2 convicted of vol. manslaughter 31 Boston Massacre 32 Boston Massacre 33 Period of Calm The Gaspee Affair - HMS Gaspee Abraham Whipple (packet boat Hannah) John Brown Committee of Correspondence - coordinated resistance throughout the colonies John Adams, James Otis 34 Schooner Gaspee’ 35 Tea Act of 1773 British East India trading Co. was struggling Allowed to sell tea in America without paying taxes Would make it cheaper than smuggled tea Colonists seized this tea (dressed up like Indians) 36 The Boston Tea Party 37 The Intolerable Acts (1774) AKA the “Coercive Acts” Directed Against Boston Town meetings once a year Abolished the court system of Mass, set up a military government controlled by General Thomas Gage Martial law Led to the First Continental Congress 38 1st Continental Congress Sept. 5, 1774 Gathering of 56 delegates from 12 colonies (GA) Called for a renewed boycott to British goods Nov. 18 - George III “The New England governments are in a state of rebellion, blows must decide.” 39 Journal Entry #6 Explain the direct result of the Intolerable Acts. What was this government body’s decision and what was King George III’s reaction? 40 The War for Independence Opening conflict (1775) Lexington and Concord (April 18, 1775) - Concord was home to a store - house of weapons. (20 miles from Boston) & arrest Rebel Leaders Sam Adams & John Hancock 800 British troops reached Lexington first where they encountered 70 armed militia (minutemen) refused to disperse quickly enough 8 colonists dead Marched on to Concord, but on their way back … forced to retreat to Boston British - 70 KIA/170 W Colonists - 90 KIA 41 Ralph Waldo Emerson Concord Hymn By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set to-day a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee. 42 Strengths & Weaknesses 1 British Well-equipped, disciplined & trained Army World’s finest Navy Provided support by transporting & landing troops & protecting supply lines 50,000 Loyalist fought w/ them Hired 30,000 mercenaries 2 Colonists (Americans) 1/3 Patriots; 1/3 Loyalists or Tories; 1/3 Neutral Fighting on their own territory Many Officers – familiar w/ tactics that worked in the French & Indian War – troops inexperienced Moral advantage G.W. – Exceptional Commander French 43 Mood of the Colonists - 44 2nd Continental Congress (May 1775) - appointed a committee to write the Dec. of Indep. Preamble Declaration of rights (Locke and natural rights) Complaints against the king Resolution of independence Still not in open rebellion (maintained loyalty) George Washington selected (June 15, 1775) as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War 45 Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army 46 Second Continental Congress Olive Branch Petition (July 1775) Professing American loyalty to the crown & begging the king to prevent further hostilities Prohibitory Act (1775) December 22, 1775 Parliament passed the Prohibitory Act, which instituted a naval blockade of all American ports and halted the colonies’ trade with the world and among each other. 47 Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) Bunker Hill overlooking Boston June 17, 1775 3 waves of attacks British - 1100 casualties Americans - 400 casualties British Military Victory, but American Moral Victory The Redcoats retreat from Boston.