1. America: Past and Present Chapter 5
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: FROM GENTRY PROTEST TO POPULAR REVOLT,
America: Past and Present
Chapter 5

2. Contested Meanings of Empire
1760s an optimistic post-war period
Striking ethnic and racial diversity
60% of population under 21 years old
High level of post-war prosperity
Wealth unevenly distributed
Americans proud to be part of Europe’s most thriving, prosperous empire 2

3. Breakdown of Political Trust
1760--George III ascended throne
Suspicions on both sides of the Atlantic that Crown wished to enlarge its powers
Conflict over Parliamentary sovereignty
English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority
Colonists tried to reserve internal colonial authority for their own legislatures 3

4. No Taxation Without Representation: the American Perspective
Colonists assume their legislatures equal in some ways to Parliament
Americans not represented at all in Parliament
Only colonial assemblies could tax Americans 4

5. Appeal to Political Virtue
John Locke, "Commonwealthmen" inform colonial political thought
All governments believed susceptible to corruption into “tyranny”
“Tyranny” understood as any attempt to encroach upon the people's liberty
“Virtuous” citizens, alert to rights and determined to live free, resist tyranny 5

6. Challenge and Resistance: Eroding the Bonds of Empire
Large, expensive army left in America at the end of the Seven Years’ War
Colonists doubted the army’s value
Pontiac’s War
Exposed the British army’s weakness
Revealed the desperate situation of Native Americans after withdrawal of French
Colonists determined to settle trans-Appalachian West 6

7. Paying off the National Debt
First minister George Grenville attempts to reduce England’s war debt
Revenue Act of 1764 (the Sugar Act)
Merchants and gentry protest, most colonists ignore

8. Mobilizing the People
1765--Stamp Act requires that colonists purchase stamp to validate documents
Unites the gentry and the mass of the population in protest
Protest includes mob riots, boycotts
Stamp Act Congress petitions the King and Parliament for repeal 7

9. Saving Face
1766--New administration in office, favors repeal of Stamp Act
Repeal tied to Declaratory Act of 1766
Parliament sovereign over America "in all cases whatsoever"
Controversy estranges colonists from English officials 8

10. A Foolish Boast: Tea and Sovereignty
Charles Townshend: chancellor of the exchequer
1767--Townshend Duties tax American imports of paper, lead, glass, and tea
American Board of Customs Commissioners created to collect duties 9

11. Response to the Townshend Duties
Sons of Liberty organize boycott of English goods
Circular letter from Massachusetts House of Representatives urges protest
92 Massachusetts Representatives defy government order to rescind letter 10

12. Creating Patriotic Martyrs
English government moves troops from frontier to Boston to save money
Tensions increased
March 5, English soldiers fired on Boston mob, killed five Americans
Incident labeled a “massacre”
Paul Revere engraving a best-seller
Tensions defused by Lord North 11

13. Last Days of the Old Order, 1770-1773
1770--New prime minister, Lord North, leads repeal of all duties except tea
marked by tranquility
Customs collectors antagonize colonists
Radicals protest tea tax as violation of American rights
Committees of correspondence built up alternative political structure 12

14. The Final Provocation: The Boston Tea Party
1773--Parliament passes Tea Act
Designed to help the East India Company by making its sale cheaper in America
Americans interpret as a subtle ploy to get them to consume taxed tea
December Boston protestors dump the tea into the harbor 13

15. English Reaction: The Coercive Acts
Port of Boston closed until tea paid for
Massachusetts government restructured
Upper house made appointive body
Town meetings permitted only once per year
Accused officials to be tried in England, not America
Army authorized to quarter troops wherever needed 14

16. The Quebec Act: An Error in Timing
Quebec Act establishes authoritarian government for Canada
Colonists interpret Act as final proof of Parliamentary plot to enslave America
Mainland colonies rally to support Boston, protest the British blockade 15

17. The Ultimate Crisis
Parliament’s insistence on supremacy would make rebellion unavoidable
Ben Franklin suggests Parliament secure colonial loyalty by renouncing claim to supremacy
Parliament rejects Franklin’s advice 16

18. Decision for Independence
September First Continental Congress in response to Coercive Acts
Congress commends “Suffolk Resolves” urging forcible resistance
Intercolonial “Association” halts commerce with Britain until Coercive Acts repealed 17

19. Shots Heard Around the World
April 19, skirmish breaks out in Lexington, Massachusetts
Fighting spread along road between Lexington, Concord, Boston
English retreat to Boston with heavy losses 18

20. Beginning “The World over Again:” Early War Effort
June Congress appoints George Washington commander of Boston force
English government blockades colonial ports, hires German mercenaries
Royal governors urge slaves to take up arms against their masters 19

21. Beginning “The World over Again:” Decision for Independence
January Thomas Paine’s Common Sense urges independence
July 2, Independence voted by Congress
July 4--Declaration of Independence issued 20

22. Fighting for Independence
English task
Meet challenge of long supply line
Use better-trained army to occupy territory
Crush the popular spirit of independence
Washington’s task
Defend territory as well as possible
Keep his army intact
Militia’s role: compel support for Revolution 21

23. Testing the American Will, July-August 1776
American army routed on Long Island
New York City captured
Washington forced to retreat through New Jersey
British obtain thousands of “Oaths of Allegiance” in wake of retreat 22

24. "Times That Try Men's Souls"
December 25, Washington captures Trenton
January 3, Washington captures Princeton
Victories rekindle wartime patriotism
British consolidate forces, leave territory in patriot control 23

25. Victory in a Year of Defeat: Campaigns of 1777
British campaign for New York under John Burgoyne defeated at Saratoga
British capture Philadelphia under General William Howe
Washington's army winters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 24

26. The French Alliance
Saratoga prompts British suit for peace to prevent Franco-American alliance
Terms include repeal of all laws since 1763, respect for colonial taxation rights
February Americans ally with France to secure full independence 25

27. The Final Campaign
Spring English capture Savannah and Charleston
August American army routed at Camden, South Carolina
Nathaniel Greene’s forces deal several defeats to English under Cornwallis
October Cornwallis surrenders to Washington’s combined forces 26

28. The Loyalist Dilemma Loyalists treated poorly by both sides
English never fully trusted Loyalists
Patriots seize property, imprison, execute some
More than 100,000 Loyalists leave U.S. at war’s end 27

29. Winning the Peace
Peace Treaty of 1783 negotiated by Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay
Terms secured by playing France against England, include
independence
U.S. gains all territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada and Florida
U.S. secures fishing rights in North Atlantic 28

30. Post-Colonial Experience
The American Revolution begins construction of new form of government
Question remains: a government of the elite or a government of the people? 29