1. The American Revolution

2. “No Taxation Without Representation”
The colonists assumed that their assemblies were quasi-equal to Parliament because they had no Parliamentary representatives
British officials countered with “virtual representation” argument
The colonists insisted that only their colonial assemblies could tax Americans
Parliament represents ALL British citizens no matter where they live 4

3. Eroding the Bonds of Empire
After the Seven Years War, everyone expected George to remove British army from America (French were no longer a threat)
But…this large, expensive army was not removed
British citizens were not happy because they had to pay for it
Colonists doubted the army’s ability to defend against Indians 6

4. “Virtuous” citizens must fight tyranny
New Political Ideas
All gov’ts are susceptible to corruption, tyranny, & intrusion upon citizens’ liberty
The introduction of Parliamentary sovereignty contradicted England’s original policy of salutary neglect
The influx of new political ideas of the European Enlightenment began to impact colonial thought (especially those of John Locke)
While no colonists were thinking of independence by 1763, many became committed to “natural rights” & opposed to “tyranny”
“Virtuous” citizens must fight tyranny 5

5. The Road to the American Revolution

8. Mob reaction to the Stamp Act
The “Sons of Liberty” & “Daughters of Liberty” were formed to protest British restrictions & became the leaders of colonial resistance
Mob reaction to the Stamp Act
For the 1st time, many colonists refer to fellow boycotters as “patriots”
The colonial boycotts were effective & Britain repealed the Stamp Act

9. This was a series of “indirect” taxes on lead, glass, paper, tea, etc.

10. More Boycotts
Tarring and feathering

11. Colonists created committees of correspondence to communicate with each other
Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, and Francis Lightfoot Lee meeting at Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1773 to establish the Committee of Correspondence

13. Paul Revere’s etching of the Boston Massacre became an American best-seller
Colonists injured British soldiers by throwing snowballs & oyster shells
With only 4 dead, this was hardly a “massacre” but it reveals the power of colonial propaganda 11

17. Boston Tea Party

19. First Continental Congress
“We have to help Boston”

21. Lexington & Concord

22. The Enlightenment
Colonists used the ideas of the Enlightenment to justify their protest
John Locke wrote that people have natural rights (life, liberty, & property) & should oppose tyranny
Rousseau believed that citizens have a social contract with their gov’t
Montesquieu argued that power should not be in the hands of a king, but separated among gov’t branches

23. Conclusions
By December 1775, the British and American colonists were fighting an “informal revolutionary war”…but:
Colonial leaders had not yet declared independence
In 1776, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense convinced many neutral colonists to support independence from Britain
By July 1776, colonists drafted the Declaration of Independence