1. Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances
APUSH
Mrs. Housenick
9/13/12

2. The Road to Revolution
After French and Indian War, British needed to protect larger American empire than ever--> EXPENSIVE!
Will ask colonists to pay for some of the costs of empire--> REVOLUTION!
Americans reluctant revolutionaries
At first just wanted “rights of Englishmen,” not to separate from England

3. Deep Roots of Revolution
People used to more equality in America, political participation and some self government
By mid-1700s idea of republicanism key
People involved in government
Based on virtue of people (civic virtue)
Also, influence of radical Whigs
Group in England that questioned rule of monarch
Made people aware of corruption of government, need to protect their rights

4. The Problem with Mercantilism
Economic system British used on American colonies
Goal was for England to gain as much gold and silver as possible by exporting more than it imported
Wanted colonies to export cheap raw materials only to England for production of manufactured goods England could export at high price
Expected colonies to not make certain products and to buy imported manufactured goods only from England

5. Mercantilist Laws
1650 Navigation Law--all shipping in or out of colonies had to be on British ships, certain products could only be shipped to England
Currency shortage in colonies since constantly buying more than they sold
Colonists printed paper currency, later prohibited by Parliament
Royal veto established so Britain could get rid of any colonial legislation that hurt mercantilism
Rarely used, but principle made colonists very upset

6. Was Mercantilism So Bad?
Easy to get around with smuggling
British often paid great prices for America’s raw materials
Colonists protected by British navy and army
BUT
Colonial economy not allowed to grow
Dependency on British
Colonists felt used

7. Unpopular Acts
Passed by Prime Minister George Grenville to make money to pay British debt
1763--began strictly enforcing Navigation Acts
1764--Sugar Act--first tax in the colonies, paid by sugar importers
1765--Quartering Act--colonists had to provide food and shelter for British troops

8. Stamp Act Uproar
1765--first direct tax in colonies on all paper products
Any offenders in colonies would be tried in admiralty courts--no jury, presumed guilty until proven innocent
Colonists begin to wonder if British have soldiers in colonies just to keep colonies in check
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!
Colonists argued colonists couldn’t tax them if they had no voice in Parliament
Only colonial legislatures could pass taxes
Grenville argued colonists had “virtual representation”

9. Colonial Protest Against Stamp Act
1765--Stamp Act Congress--nine colonies represented
Really just issued a statement against Stamp Act, but still important sign of colonial unity
Nonimportation agreements--organized boycotts of British goods
Showed colonial unity and activism
Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty held more radical protests--tarring and feathering
England agreed to repeal stamp act
But passed Declaratory Act--Parliament still has supreme power in colonies

10. The Townshend Acts
Passed by new Prime Minister Charles Townshend in 1767
Light import tax on glass, lead, paper, paint and tea
Colonists in rebellious mood
Angry about tax on tea and that money would be used to pay royal officials in America
Lots of smuggling of tea
British sent in more troops-->tension with colonists
1770: BOSTON MASSACRE--troops opened fire on colonists, 11 killed or wounded

11. Committees of Correspondence
Townshend Acts repealed except for tax on tea
1772: Samuel Adams organized committees of correspondence in Boston, many others followed
Spread spirit of resistance with letters, spreading information on protests, sharing info with other colonies

12. Boston Tea Party
1773: Parliament gave British East India Co. monopoly on selling tea in colonies
Actually made tea cheaper, but by this point, principle mattered more than price!
Power struggle between British determined to enforce law and colonists determined the defy it
1773: Boston Tea Party
100 Bostonians board docked ships, stole tea and dumped it into ocean
British determined to punish colonists and prove their authority

13. The Intolerable Acts 1774: To punish Boston and Massachusetts
Boston Port Act closed harbor until damaged paid
Restrictions on town meetings
Also 1774 Quebec Act
To deal with French subjects in Canada
Guaranteed French right to be Catholic and keep many of their old customs including no representative assembly or trial by jury
Americans already angry, saw this as attempt to set undemocratic principles in America and spread Catholicism