Cause #1: Mercantilism Mercantilism was the idea that you should have more exports (things you sell) than imports (things you buy) – favorable balance of trade. Because of this, Britain began to see the colonies as a cheap source of raw materials. They taxed the colonies to raise money. They also tried to take away power from the colonial legislatures (law-making bodies)

Cause #1: Mercantilism Salutary Neglect: Before mercantilism, Britain kind of ignored the colonies. They were fighting a war with Spain and really did not pay much attention to the colonies. The colonists enjoyed this time because they began to govern themselves. They got used to making their own rules.

Cause #1: Mercantilism Navigation Acts: law requiring the colonists to only trade with Britain. Developed Triangular Trade. 1st leg of the trade: ships carried European goods to Africa to exchange them for slaves

Cause #1: Mercantilism 2nd leg of the trade: Middle Passage – ships carried Africans to North America & the Caribbean to be sold into slavery. 3rd leg of the trade: ships carried Caribbean and North American raw materials & cash crops back to Europe (tobacco, rice, indigo, corn, gold, sugar, rum)

Triangular Trade Route

Cause #2: Taxes Mercantilism also encouraged the British to raise taxes on the colonies. Stamp Act: tax on legal documents & printed materials Townshend Acts/Tea Act: tax on everyday goods like tea, coffee

Cause #2: Taxes The colonists responded: Stamp Act Congress: colonists had no representation in Parliament, so they boycotted (stopped buying – led by the Sons of Liberty) British goods. Origin of “No taxation without Representation!”

Cause #2: Taxes The colonists responded: Boston Tea Party: raided ships carrying British Tea & threw them overboard to protest the Townshend/Tea Acts.

Cause #2: Taxes British soldiers tried to control a crowd in Boston & shot into it, killing a few colonists. The colonial newspapers blew up the event & called it the Boston Massacre.

Paul Revere’s drawing of the Boston Massacre

Cause #3: No Rights The British had to respond to the colonists. Declaratory Act: stating Parliament could impose laws without colonial representation Coercive/Intolerable Acts: took away colonists civil rights like trial by jury

Cause #3: No Rights The colonies met to decide what to do. At the 1st Continental Congress, they wrote a letter to King George III asking for their rights back.

The Shot Heard Round the World After the 1st Continental Congress, King George refused to drop the Coercive Acts. He told his British soldiers in America to fire if necessary. The first 2 battles of the Revolution broke out in Massachusetts at Lexington and Concord.

Declaration of Independence States sent delegates back to Pennsylvania for the 2nd Continental Congress. At this meeting, the colonists decided to declare independence from Britain. They appointed Thomas Jefferson to draft the document (borrowed ideas from John Locke)

Declaration of Independence Had 3 main parts: 1. All people have natural rights that cannot be taken away – if they are, they have the right to overthrow the government 2. Great Britain had treated the colonists wrongfully (list of grievances – all of the taxes & acts) 3. The colonists were now an independent country – the United States

Symbols of Revolution Benjamin Franklin’s Cartoon: created during the French & Indian War to encourage unity. Used as a symbol of importance of colonial unity during Revolution.

Symbols of Revolution Thomas Paine: wrote Common Sense, a pamphlet that helped convince many colonists to support independence from Great Britain

Symbols of Revolution Don’t Tread on Me: one of the first flags in American history. Used during The American Revolution to remind people of the importance of fighting the British.

Military Strategies The Americans The British Attrition [take out the long British supply line]. Guerilla tactics: fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. Break the colonies in half by getting between the North & the South Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

American Disadvantages The Continental Congress did not have the power to raise money and had few military resources. The British army was huge, professional, & had plenty of money. About 1/3 of colonists were Loyalists – people who supported the British

American Advantages Americans were fighting on their own soil – knew the land much better. Militia groups controlled the countryside. They were fighting for something very important – their rights

Alliances The British enlisted the help of Native Americans and promised freedom to African Americans who joined the cause They had just fought the Native Americans in the French & Indian War! They had no way of backing up that promise of freedom The Americans sought support from the French. France wanted to see Britain lose the colonies because they were so valuable

Why did the British lose? Support from France Leadership of General George Washington Inability to control the countryside Could not adjust to new war tactics, weapons (rifle), or landscape

Treaty of Paris, 1783 In 1781, with the help of the French, Washington forced the British army’s surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. Two years later, American, British, and French diplomats signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the war. With it, Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America

Declaration of Independence – p40 Please answer the following questions: What does the Preamble mean? What does the Declaration of Natural Rights mean? Read the declaration of natural rights. List the 3 natural rights AND what people can do if a government becomes destructive. What does the List of Grievances mean? List 3 British actions that you think should be in the list (from our notes or chart yesterday). What does the Resolution of Independence mean?