1. The Road to Revolution

2. Colonial Attitudes
Government was similar to England but had some unique features
Differences
Colonial governors
Written charters
Sparse population
More democratic
Town meetings
Conspiracy theories emerge

3. End of Salutary Neglect
Proclamation of 1763
Enforce old laws
Sent customs officials and the Navy to curb smuggling
Currency Act—1764
Sugar Act—1764

4. Stamp Act—1765 Common in Britain Revenue stamps required
Grenville asks colonists to figure out a means of contribution—no reply
Angers lawyers and newspapermen
Emergence of the “Sons of Liberty”
Stamp Act Congress
Grenville resigns

5. Escalation in the Colonies
Declaratory Act—1766
British can pass laws regulating the colonies
Quartering Act
Colonists required to provide for British soldiers
Supposedly for protection against Indians
Townshend Duties—1767
Taxes on imports
Raised money for royal governors
Violation of law tried in admiralty court

6. Colonial Opposition Protests against writs of assistance
Cooperation among the colonies
Albany Plan of Union
Stamp Act Congress
Committees of Correspondence
Boycotts and demonstrations
Homespun goods
Boston Massacre—1770

7. Boston Tea Party Tea Act gave cheap tea to the colonies but:
No more smuggling
Still had to pay Townshend Duty
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
First Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
Olive Branch Petition

8. Ideological Reasons for Revolution Common Sense
Paine wrote “Common Sense”
Based on the Enlightenment and the Bible
Sold 120,000 copies
Basic premise: Continent should not be ruled by an island

9. Reasons for Declaration of Independence
Colonists are unsure of purpose
Outraged by the British military
POW status versus treason
Common Sense convinces many
Bunker Hill
Declaration inspirational
Foreign nations

10. Declaration of Independence
Philosophy of Government
John Locke--All men are created equal
Compact theory of government
Destructive government should be ended
List of grievances
Conclusion