1. Topic: The Imperial Crisis and Resistance to Britain: Was Revolution “inevitable”?

2. Colonial Thought and Philosophy
Unity, Press, and “English Rights”
Circulation of Enlightenment thought (Montesquieu, Rousseau)
Lessons of History
“Republican Virtue”
Fear of Arbitrary Power (King George III)

3. British begin “Revenue Taxes”
Lord Grenville
Payment of war debts
“fair share” of imperial expenses
Navigation Acts enforced
Colonial resentment
Illegal smuggling rises
Sugar Act (1764)
Quartering Act 1765

4. The Stamp Act Controversy
Tax on paper goods
Admiralty courts
Representation debate
Direct vs. Virtual
Reaction against Stamp Act:
NYC Stamp Act Congress
Non-importation Agreements
Sons & Daughters of Liberty
Parliament repeals Stamp Act, passes Declaratory Act (1766)
“Binding” the colonies

5. Troubles In Boston Townshend Taxes (1767): lead, paint, tea
Boston Massacre (1770)
Townshend Acts repealed (except Tea)
Committees of Correspondence
December 1773: Boston Tea Party
British Response: The Intolerable Acts

6. Conclusion
1) Who do you think is responsible for the crisis between Britain and the Colonies?
2) Was this conflict “inevitable”?