Chapter 7: The Road to Revolution (1763-1775)

Is a revolution justified or is it treason?

Essential Questions For Ch. 7 Why would someone choose not to be a part of their government? How would they go about leaving? What are the pros and cons?

Today’s Things to Know What were the similarities and differences between the colonists and their English counterparts? Was England’s mercantilist policies a help or hindrance to the American colonies?

How were the colonists different from their English counterparts? Very little hierarchy Property ownership Political participation Social Status Supreme Property limited to the wealthy Parliament and King controlled affairs Why was there such a difference?

Result of Differences Distance weakened authority Republicanism developed citizens give up self interests for the common good. Opposed to hierarchical and authoritarian institutions

What were some commonalities? Common culture (although quickly changing) Radical Whigs in England Made attacks on use of patronage and bribes by king’s ministers Warned citizens to be on guard for possible corruption.

Why hold on? Money is Power! Expand Empire! How did England gain their money?

Mercantilism Mercantilism – wealth is power Navigation law of 1650 Measured by silver and gold Must export more than import Navigation law of 1650 All goods must be transported on British ships Enumerated articles could be exported only to England Currency shortage Colonists bought more than they sold to Britain Barter and trade Paper money – led to depreciation

Early enforcements Navigation Laws (1763) Sugar Act of 1764 British trade only Sugar Act of 1764 Molasses Act 1733 3 pence tax on sugar and molasses Quartering Act of 1765 Required colonies to provide food and housing to British troops

The Stamp Act 1765 George Greenville: Author of the Stamp Act King George III

Stamp Act legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and playing cards in the colonies required to carry a tax stamp. “No taxation, without representation!”

Stamp Act Congress 9 colonies met in NYC 14 point declaration of rights and grievances formulated by John Dickinson Pledged loyalty to the king

Other Reactions to the Stamp Act Publications Andrew Oliver and Hutchinson effigies hung Destroyed property of tax collectors No one to enforce it, when it became law Government offices shut down Boycott on British Goods

Son’s of Liberty

Sons of Liberty Existed in every colony Mainly workers and tradesmen Samuel Adams: head of Boston Chapter Mainly workers and tradesmen Boston Gazette spread news and opinion Main objective to get stamp collectors to resign Enforcement of Non-Importation agreements

Samuel Adams Organizer of the Committees of Correspondence Movement toward independence Led the reaction to the Stamp Act and Boston Tea Party Served in both Continental Congresses Too much of an agitator to be a good politician

British Reaction Repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 Passed the Declaratory Act in 1766 Stated Parliament had the right to make all laws for the colonies Predecessor for future acts “By one Act they have suspended the powers of one American legislature, & by another have declared they may legislate for us themselves in all cases whatsoever.  These two acts alone form a basis broad enough whereon to erect a despotism of unlimited extent.” Thomas Jefferson

The Townshend Acts (1767) Sponsored by Charles Townshend Import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Protested with petitions, boycotting, and tar and feathering All but tea tax repealed in 1770

Boston Massacre Started because of the failure to pay taxes Townspeople threw snowballs A struck private fired into the crowd 11 injured and 5 killed British removed from Boston Crispus Attucks

Tea Monopoly and Boston Tea Party Monopoly given to failing EIC Ships not able to enter the bay, most turned away Hutchinson would not allow ship to leave Boston until unloaded Sons of Liberty, dressed as Indians, led attack on ship, dumping 45 tons of tea

Boston Tea Party

Britain Responds Prime Minister Lord North, author of the Boston Port Bill, forces the ”Intolerable Acts,” or tea, down the throat of America, a vulnerable Indian woman whose arms are restrained by Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, while Lord Sandwich, a notorious womanizer, pins down her feet and peers up her skirt. Behind them, Mother Britannia weeps helplessly. This British cartoon was quickly copied and distributed by Paul Revere

Intolerable Acts Boston Port Act – closed Boston Harbor until dumped tea was paid for Massachusetts Government Act – revoked charter and forbid town meetings Quartering Act – required colonists to provide housing for soldiers Quebec Act – expanded territory No representative government Restored French law Allowed practice of Catholicism

Reaction to the intolerable acts First Continental Congress in 1774 Declaration of Rights Only Georgia missing Creation of the Association: complete non-importation and non-consumption Violent to resisters

Lexington & Concord First military engagement (April 19th,1775) British given orders to capture and destroy supplies Wanted to capture Sam Adams and Hancock Stocks and men both moved location 700 British led by Thomas Gage defeated 75 minutemen at Lexington and forced them to Concord Minutemen were warned and defeated Redcoats at Concord and forced them back to Boston

Thomas GAGE and Francis smith

Battle of Lexington

British army enters Concord