The Road to Revolution 1763-1775 American Pageant Chapter 7

Roots of Revolution Over time colonists had come to believe in Republicanism A just society for the common good Colonists also were wary of government corruption Americans were used to running their own affairs by this time Felt they didn’t need England’s help

Mercantilism A country’s power was based on its wealth Great to have colonies Provide raw materials and a market for your goods Colonies were meant to bolster England’s power, not become their own country Navigation laws England held a veto power of colonial legislation if laws passed in colonies hurt the mercantile system Hardly ever used Americans hated the fact that it existed

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Mercantilism Mercantilism seems bad at first glance, but was it? Most navigation laws were ignored Fortunes made smuggling England would pay American producers Colonists had a monopoly on tobacco Colonies protected by best navy and the English army All this without paying taxes Americans didn’t care about the benefits, they didn’t want someone telling them what to do

Taxes England had a massive debt from the French and Indian War 140 million pounds Britain's Prime Minister George Grenville ordered strict enforcement of the Navigation Acts in 1763 Had Parliament pass the Sugar Act of 1764 Increased taxes paid on imported sugar. Some protests, taxes lowered

Quartering Act of 1765 passed Colonists required to provide food and shelter to Red Coats Stamp Act passed in 1765 Meant to raise money to pay for troops Had to put a stamp on all paper Playing cards, newspapers, marriage license Grenville thought it was only fair for colonists to help pay for their protection British people had a stamp tax for a long time already

Americans Respond Americans very upset by these acts Felt liberties were threatened Did not always comply with acts Felt they were not being treated like Englishmen Sugar and Stamp Act took away trail by jury Guilty until proven innocent Americans wondered why the British Army was still needed in colonies No more French Americans smelled a conspiracy

“No taxation without representation” Only elected colonial legislatures should have the power to tax No Americans were in Parliament Grenville said Americans were represented Virtual Representation Members represent ALL British subjects Americans didn’t buy it

Good Bye Stamp Act Stamp Act Congress met in 1765 27 delegates from 9 colonies met in New York Sent a statement to Parliament and King George It was ignored Another step towards colonial unity Americans began to boycott British goods Wore homespun clothes Sons and Daughters of Liberty made sure boycotts were followed Tarred and feathered people Stamp agents ran out of town

England was hit very hard economically Merchants pressed Parliament to repeal Stamp Act 1766 Stamp Act was repealed, Declaratory Act passed Reaffirmed England’s absolute control over colonies

Townshend Act Townshend came to power in the British government 1767 passed the Townshend Acts Indirect tax on many things, most notably tea Tea was very popular in colonies Revenues would pay royal governors and judges American’s couldn’t control them then with money (power of the purse) Parliament suspended New York legislature in 1767 for not complying with Quartering Act

Boycotts were ineffective England had to stop this illegal activity People started smuggling tea England had to stop this illegal activity Landed two regiments of Red Coats in Boston in 1768 Poor, drunk soldiers March 5, 1770 Boston Massacre 5 killed/6 injured Crispus Attucks first killed Ex-slave

Committees of Correspondence 1770 England was ruled by King George III and Prime Minister Lord North North got Parliament to repeal Townshend Acts, but left the tax on tea Samuel Adams of Boston Loved politics Created a committee of correspondence in Massachusetts in 1772 Soon each colony had one They spread the spirit of resistance by exchanging letters and news Very effective at disseminating info and uniting colonies

Lets Have a Tea Party Tea Act 1773 1773 East India Company on verge on collapse Parliament gave them a monopoly on tea in America Colonists would now get better tea for cheaper prices They didn’t care Riots erupted all over the colonies not letting tea be unloaded from the ships

Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773 Massachusetts governor Thomas Hutchinson ordered tea unloaded Bostonians dressed as Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor Hutchinson fled to England

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) Passed in 1774 to punish Boston and Massachusetts Shut down Boston Harbor Cancelled assemblies British officials would be tried in England Sent more troops to Boston Quebec Act Passed at the same time as Intolerable Acts Dealt with the French left in Canada Let them keep Catholic religion Allowed to retain traditions Quebec extended to Ohio River

Made colonists angry No trial by jury or assemblies in Quebec Given way too much land that Americans wanted Americans anti-Catholics

Continental Congress Colonies rallied to help Massachusetts Continental Congress called in 1774 12 colonies sent 55 delegates Meet for seven weeks to discuss options Created the Association Complete boycott of ALL British goods Parliament didn’t listen to Congress Colonial militia started to train Minute Men formed

April 1775 Red Coats marched to Lexington and Concord to seize colonial weapons and capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock Paul Revere’s ride Battle of Lexington and Concord “Shot heard round the world”

Colonies vs. British Empire England had a population of 7.5 million Colonies had 2.5 million England had an experience army and the best navy Colonies had no army and no navy England had money to hire mercenaries, loyalists, and Indians Colonies had great leadership George Washington Ben Franklin

Colonies still could not unite Colonies economy in shambles Congress always fought and argued Colonies economy in shambles Forced to print money Afraid to levy taxes

Are you Ready for a War? NO!!!!! Colonies had: No gun/cannon manufactures Very little gun powder No stores of clothes and shoes for an army No army Slaves started to join British because they were promised freedom Not everyone wanted Independence Large part of society were loyalists, or undecided