Bell Ringer- 2/8 Based on what you’ve learned so far, evaluate/ comment on the following statement: “In a broad sense, the American Revolution was not the same thing as the American War of Independence. The war itself lasted only eight years. But the Revolution lasted over a century and a half.”

The Road to Revolution Photo Credit: The “Betsy Ross” Flag

England established colonies in North America in the 17 th & 18 th centuries for the purpose of increasing her empire. Photo Credit: The colonies were part of England. The colonists were English.

The purpose of establishing colonies is to increase the wealth of the mother country. Photo Credit: English mercantilist policies were designed to do just that.

The colonies were to provide raw materials to England, which England would sell to other countries. The colonies were to purchase British goods.

Colonial Mercantilism American Colonies produce raw materials (Ex: cotton, sugar, tobacco) England Controls how it buys and makes goods to sell (Ex. Cloth) Other country (Ex. France) Buys goods (Ex. Cloth) Ships and sells raw materials to England Manufactured goods (ex. Cloth) are sent back to America GoodsGoodsGoodsGoods Gold is traded for goods and is taken to England

The English Navigation Laws (a series of laws starting in 1650), were to ensure the process of mercantilism went smoothly: commerce was to take place on English ships colonial products were not to compete with English industries England collected tariffs (import taxes) on non-English European goods bound for America

Benefits of mercantilism: military protection guaranteed markets price supports Burdens of mercantilism: economic “bondage” (inability to seek the best price) stifled initiative Photo Credit: nue_cutter_1815small.jpg nue_cutter_1815small.jpg

England laxly enforced the Navigation Laws (salutary neglect) because … England was preoccupied with wars, and the people of the colonies were “low class.” Photo Credit:

England had incurred “crushing debt” defending North America in numerous wars. England hoped to resolve the situation via: stricter enforcement of the Navigation Laws. Sugar Act of 1764 – taxed molasses imported from France Quartering Act of 1765 – colonial gov’ts had to provide food and housing for British troops in North America.

These efforts weren’t enough. Photo Credit: The series of wars made England aware of the large colonial population. English Prime Minister George Grenville suggested taxing the colonies to cover about 1/3 the cost of the debt.

King George III and Parliament agreed. Photo Credit: mrg.english.ucsb.edu/WarnerTeach/E172/images/George.III.portrait.jpg mrg.english.ucsb.edu/WarnerTeach/E172/images/George.III.portrait.jpg

Parliament passed the Stamp Act of 1765, taxing legal documents in the colonies. The revenue would be used to support British troops in the colonies. The colonists were greatly offended.

The colonists argued that they had been taxed without their consent as they had no representatives in Parliament. (Besides, the wars were over, why didn’t the troops just go home?) Photo Credit:

“Relax!” exclaimed Parliament. “You are represented by us! You are our colonies! It is in our best interests to see to your best interests.” This concept is known as “ virtual representation.” The colonists did not agree.

“Why don’t we have two Parliaments?” asked the Colonies. “One in England and one here? We’ll tax ourselves.” “No.” said Parliament Photo Credit:

A group hastily convened in New York City to discuss the issue. 27 delegates from 9 colonies participated in this Stamp Act Congress. The delegates approved a 14-point Declaration of Rights and Grievances affirming that colonial taxation could only be carried on by their own assemblies.

The arrival of the stamped paper coincided with the end of the Congress. Photo Credit: The colonists reacted violently and began to destroy property.

Merchants organized nonimportation agreements (boycotts of English goods) and smuggled non-English goods into the colonies. Photo Credit:

Colonists formed radical groups, such as the Sons of Liberty, to oppose Parliamentary taxation policies and to make certain uncooperative merchants participated in the boycotts. Photo Credit: Sons of Liberty flag

Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but passed other taxation measures: Townshend Acts – taxed goods produced in Britain. The income would be used to pay the salaries of British officials in the colonies. Photo Credit: The colonists did not agree that colonial trade in compliance with navigation laws was subject to taxation.

British officials tightened security against smugglers in Boston and assigned more soldiers to the city. Soldiers were taunted on a regular basis. One day, things got out of control.

Photo Credit: The colonists threw rock-filled snowballs at the soldiers. The soldiers shot into the crowd, killing five men. The Boston Massacre

Photo Credit: Thanks to the Committees of Correspondence, news of such activities spread throughout the colonies.

Photo Credit: The Tea Act, though it would make tea cheaper for the colonists, was rejected by the colonists on principle.

Photo Credit: To indicate their displeasure at the Tea Act, the colonists prevented the unloading of tea at the ports. The resistance was strongest in Boston, where the tea was dumped into the harbor.

Photo Credit: Parliament acted quickly to punish the colonies, passing several Coercive Acts including closing Boston Harbor, making Massachusetts a royal colony, and allowing the use of force against the colonists. The colonists called these “Intolerable Acts.”

56 delegates from 12 colonies sent delegates to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in The delegates drew up another “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” (addressed to the King) indicating that they agreed with the regulation of external commerce, but not with taxation without their consent. They also resolved to continue boycotts of English imports (Suffolk Resolves).

The delegates went home about eight weeks later wondering how King George III would respond.