2.2. Where American patriots justified in asserting a “right Where American patriots justified in asserting a “right to revolution?”to revolution?”

1. What factors led a people who were the freest and 1. What factors led a people who were the freest and most prosperous in the western world to launch a most prosperous in the western world to launch a revolution? revolution?

4.4. How were the American colonists, who had a long How were the American colonists, who had a long history of quarreling among themselves, able to prevail history of quarreling among themselves, able to prevail against the world’s strongest military power?against the world’s strongest military power?

3. 3. Could the revolution have been averted---and, if so, Could the revolution have been averted---and, if so, what difference would it have made?what difference would it have made?

1. What factors led a people 1. What factors led a people who were the freest and most who were the freest and most

prosperous in the western prosperous in the western world to launch a revolution? world to launch a revolution?

1.1. Goals of Mercantilism Goals of Mercantilism

2.2. British Management of British Management of Colonies up to 1783Colonies up to 1783

4.4. Colonial political independence, Colonial political independence, benefits & burdens of mercantilismbenefits & burdens of mercantilism

3.3. Economic structure of colonies – Economic structure of colonies – North, Middle, South – in relation to North, Middle, South – in relation to mercantilismmercantilism

5.5. British change in policy British change in policy

Colonies are

prosperous

Some political & Economic Freedom

• “Salutary Neglect” abandoned

• King George III and the Whigs want to solve Britain’s financial woes– War was expensive

– Military costs money

– Colonists should help pay costs strict enforcement of Navigation Acts and new taxes

Real WhigsReal Whigs

Q->Q-> What was the extent of Parliament’sWhat was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies?? authority over the colonies??

Absolute?Absolute? OR OR Limited?Limited?

Q->Q-> How could the colonies give or How could the colonies give or withhold consent for parliamentary withhold consent for parliamentary legislation when they did not have legislation when they did not have representation in that body?? representation in that body??

1.1. Sugar Act - 1764 Sugar Act - 1764

2.2. Currency Act - 1764 Currency Act - 1764

4.4. Stamp Act - 1765 Stamp Act - 1765

3.3. Quartering Act - 1765 Quartering Act - 1765

Tax Burden in the British Empire in 1765

British Member Tax Burden in English Shillings (s) and Pennies or Denarius (d)

Great Britain 26s

Ireland 6s 8d

Massachusetts 1s

Connecticut 7d

New York 7d

Pennsylvania 1s

Maryland 1s

Virginia 5d

12 pence (pennies) = 1 shilling

So why were So why were the colonists the colonists so upset so upset about their about their taxes?taxes?

The American Revolution was the product of The American Revolution was the product of 40 years of abuses by the British authorities 40 years of abuses by the British authorities that many colonists regarded as a threat to that many colonists regarded as a threat to their liberty and property. But people do not their liberty and property. But people do not act simply in response to act simply in response to objective reality objective reality but but according to the according to the meaning they give to the meaning they give to the eventsevents. .

What meaning What meaning did the colonists give to the taxes?did the colonists give to the taxes?

British: British: History of Liberty History of Liberty

Magna Carta, Petition of Right, Common Law, wars between Magna Carta, Petition of Right, Common Law, wars between liberty & tyranny, liberty & tyranny,

Who was considered “free” in British society? Who was considered “free” in British society?

Puritans: “spiritual liberty”Puritans: “spiritual liberty”

Enlightenment: Enlightenment: Deism, Locke, RouseauDeism, Locke, Rouseau

Colonists: Colonists: -Meeting point between republican & liberal -Meeting point between republican & liberal understandings of gov. & society.understandings of gov. & society.

-Economic autonomy-Economic autonomy

““Thus, if the roots of American freedom lay in the traditions of Thus, if the roots of American freedom lay in the traditions of Christian liberty and of the freeborn Englishmen, its emergence as a Christian liberty and of the freeborn Englishmen, its emergence as a new and distinct ideology grew out of the struggle for independence…” new and distinct ideology grew out of the struggle for independence…” (Foner, 1998)(Foner, 1998)

22.. Where American patriots justified in Where American patriots justified in asserting a “right to revolution?”asserting a “right to revolution?”

3. 3. Could the revolution have been Could the revolution have been averted---and, if so, what difference would averted---and, if so, what difference would it have made?it have made?

British -->British --> Proclamation Line of 1763Proclamation Line of 1763

Colonials -->Colonials --> Paxton BoysPaxton Boys (PA)(PA)

Br. Gvt. measures to prevent smuggling:Br. Gvt. measures to prevent smuggling:

-- -- James Otis’James Otis’ case case-- Protection of a citizen’s private-- Protection of a citizen’s private property must be held in higher property must be held in higher regard than a parliamentary regard than a parliamentary statute. statute.

** 1761 -->1761 --> writs of assistancewrits of assistance

-- He lost --> parliamentary law and-- He lost --> parliamentary law and custom had equal wt. custom had equal wt.

1.1. Sugar Act - 1764 Sugar Act - 1764

2.2. Currency Act - 1764 Currency Act - 1764

4.4. Stamp Act - 1765 Stamp Act - 1765

3.3. Quartering Act - 1765 Quartering Act - 1765

Loyal Nine Loyal Nine - 1765- 1765

Sons of Liberty Sons of Liberty – – began in NYC – Samuel began in NYC – Samuel Adams Adams

Stamp Act Congress Stamp Act Congress – 1765– 1765 ** Stamp Act ResolvesStamp Act Resolves

Declaratory Act Declaratory Act – 1766– 1766

1767 1767 -->--> William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, Secy. of Exchequer Secy. of Exchequer

** Shift from paying taxes for Br. war debts &Shift from paying taxes for Br. war debts & quartering of troops --> paying col. gvt. salaries. quartering of troops --> paying col. gvt. salaries.

** He diverted revenue collection from internal to He diverted revenue collection from internal to external trade. external trade.

* * Tax these imports --> paper, paint, lead, glass, tea.Tax these imports --> paper, paint, lead, glass, tea.

** Increase custom officials at American ports. Increase custom officials at American ports.

Tar and Feathering

The Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre ((March 5,1770March 5,1770))

The Gaspee The Gaspee IncidentIncident (1772)(1772)

Providence, RI coastProvidence, RI coast

Committees Committees of Correspondenceof Correspondence

PurposePurpose warn neighboring warn neighboring coloniescolonies about incidents with Br. about incidents with Br.

broaden the resistance broaden the resistance movement. movement.

Tea Act Tea Act (1773)(1773)8 British East India Co.:British East India Co.:

Monopoly on Br. tea Monopoly on Br. tea imports.imports.

Many members of Many members of Parl. held shares.Parl. held shares.

Permitted the Co. to Permitted the Co. to sell tea directly to sell tea directly to cols. without col. cols. without col. middlemen middlemen (cheaper tea!)(cheaper tea!)

8 North expected the North expected the cols. to eagerly choose cols. to eagerly choose the cheaper tea.the cheaper tea.

Boston Tea Party Boston Tea Party (1773)(1773)

The Coercive or The Coercive or IntolerableIntolerableActs Acts (1774)(1774)

Lord NorthLord North

1.1. Port Bill Port Bill

2.2. Government Government ActAct

4.4. Administration Administration ofof Justice Act Justice Act

3.3. New Quartering New Quartering Act Act

The Quebec Act The Quebec Act (1774)(1774)

First Continental First Continental Congress Congress (1774)(1774)

55 delegates from 12 55 delegates from 12 coloniescolonies

AgendaAgenda How How to respond to to respond to the Coercive the Coercive Acts & the Acts & the Quebec Act?Quebec Act?

1 vote per colony 1 vote per colony represented.represented.

The British Are The British Are Coming Coming . . .. . .

Paul ReverePaul Revere & & William DawesWilliam Dawes make make their midnight ride to warn the their midnight ride to warn the

MinutemenMinutemen of approaching British of approaching British soldiers.soldiers.

The Shot Heard The Shot Heard ’’Round the WorldRound the World!!

LexingtonLexington & & ConcordConcord – April – April 18,177518,1775

How were the American colonists, who had a long history of quarreling among themselves, able to prevail against the world’s strongest military power?

British Strengths

• Population

• Advantage in Monetary wealth and naval power

British Weaknesses

• International Conflict

• Internal conflict at the outset:

Tories v. Whigs

Colonist’sStrengths

• Outstanding Leadership

• Self-Sustaining in terms of Agricultural goods

• Rally cry of a just cause

Colonist’sWeaknesses

• Poor Organization

• Continental Congress was a debate club with no continental congress power

• Jealousy between military appointments

• Funding – continental money

The Second The Second Continental Continental

CongressCongress(1775)(1775)

Olive Branch Olive Branch PetitionPetition

Thomas PaineThomas Paine: : Common SenseCommon Sense

Declaration of Declaration of Independence Independence

(1776)(1776)

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Independence HallIndependence Hall

New New National National SymbolsSymbols