Chapter 5 The American Revolution, 1763–1783
Consolidating the Empire Cost of the Seven Years’ War led Great Britain to make Colonists share in its costs Taxing the Colonies Before war: Navigation Acts Colonists simply ignored them During the war Equals After the war: Subordinates Seemed only fair that Americans follow Navigations Acts, help reduce war debt, and pay for continued British protection Virtual Representation THE CRISIS BEGINS
The Stamp Act Crisis 1765 Directly taxed the colonists All printed matter produced in the colonies had to carry a stamp Newspapers Books Court docs Taxation and Representation Affected nearly every colonist, many of whom felt - The law was passed w/o consent It paid for unnecessary British troop presence Infringed on traditional English liberties Stamp Act Congress (1765) Reaffirmed Americans loyalty to Great Britain while insisting on right to consent to taxation Parliament viewed as enemy, not safeguard THE CRISIS BEGINS
Liberty and Resistance Liberty Trees/ Poles Committees formed and communicated to prevent Stamp Acts implementation Inspired by earlier protests of the Sugar and Currency Acts Politics in the Streets New York & Boston saw huge crowds Son’s of Liberty: Repealed in 1766 Declaratory Act (1766): THE CRISIS BEGINS
Internal turmoil in colonies The Regulators South Carolina & North Carolina Western backcountry disputes The Tenant Uprising Tenants in New York stopped paying rent and briefly sized land This temporarily led colonial elites to fear resisting British imperial power THE CRISIS BEGINS
The Townshend Crisis 1767 New round of taxes Lead to colonial boycott on British goods in Boston, then spread Homespun Virtue Spun own clothing THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION
The Boston Massacre March 5 th, 1770 Royal British troops stationed in Boston since 1768* 5 colonists died, including a free African American = Crispus Attucks John Adams defended the accused soldiers Paul Revere and others helped stir up the pot Propaganda! Eventually led to the removal of troops from Boston and the repeal of all taxes, except on Tea Wilkes and Liberty Radical journalist within Britain who was Kicked out of Parliament Furthered worried Colonists THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION
The Tea Act Extremely popular among all social classes Tax remained after the Townshend Crisis Boston Tea Party (1773) The Intolerable Acts Parliaments Response to the Tea Party Closed the port of Boston Allowed soldiers to be housed in colonists’ private homes Passed Quebec Act Extended Canada’s border The Takeaway – The THREAT TO LIBERTY IS BECOMING REAL THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION
The Continental Congress Philadelphia (1774) All except Georgia Patrick Henry “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!” The Continental Association Linked colonies Se the foundation for revolution THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE
The Sweets of Liberty Idea of liberty being used against Britain itself! The Outbreak of War Lexington and Concord “The Shot Heard Around the World” Independence? Not a consensus! Loyalists, moderates, and patriots 1/5 2/5 2/5 THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE