Road Leading to Revolution

Chapter 7

Mercantilism • A countries economic wealth could

be measured by the amount of gold & silver in its treasury • You have export more than you

import (balance trade)• So . . . The colonies could supply the

mother country with all their needed supplies • So America would have to give

Britain all of her; ships, stores, sailors, & trade • Tobacco & Surgar

Navigation Laws

• Enacted in 1650 – restricted commerce from the colonies to England and back to only English ships and none other

• Other countries who wanted to sell goods to America first had to land in England so the English could collect custom duties on the products

• Enumerated Goods – products that ONLY could be shipped to England

Benefits of Mercantilism

• Privy Council – This group could come in & change Colonial law (469 times out of 8,563 times) used sparingly • Until 1763 Salutary Neglect was practiced • John Hancock made a lot by smuggling • Still had opportunities for self government • Had the largest army & navy in the world by Great Britain • So . . . .Americans had it pretty good • Frustrations – After 1763, Americans could not buy, sell, or

ship, or manufacture in their own country (make it for themselves) • VA who grew only tobacco was at the mercy of the British

Stamp Tax uproar

- After the 7yrs war wanted America to help pay off 1/3 of the debt

- Prime Minister George Greenville – ordered that the Navigation laws be enforced

- Sugar Act of 1764 – taxed foreign sugar imported from the west Indies (after lots of protest it was reduced

More Acts . . . . .• Quartering Act – certain colonies had to provide food and

lodging for British troops • Stamp Tax – 1765 to raise money for the new military force in

the colonies (50 trade items, commercial & financial documents) • People who did not comply were tried in British courts & were

guilty unless proven innocent • “No Taxation without Representation” No Americans were seated

at parliament• Grenville Replied “Virtual Representation”• 1766 – Repealed the Stamp Tax, passed the Declaratory Act

(Parliament had the right to “bind” the colonies in all cases whatsoever

Townshend Acts 1767• Charles Townshend • Light taxes on lead, paper,

paint, and tea• So colonists griped and all were

repealed but the tea tax• March 5, 1770 Boston Massacre • John Adams will defend the

British Officers • Committees of Correspondence

– Started by Sam Adams (1st attempt to organize like the Albany Congress)

Committees of Correspondence

• Colonists to keep the rebellious spirit going created this• Started by Samuel Adams (Sons of

Liberty) • British East India Company was facing

bankruptcy • 17 million pds of unsold tea• So, they sold it to the Americans • Sam Adams led the Boston tea party

“dressed like Indians” • 342 chests dumped into the harbor

Intolerable Acts aka Repressive Acts

• 1774 mainly on Boston, MA (Shocker) • The Boston Act closed the Harbor • Town Hall meetings were banned • The Charter of MA was revoked

• The Quebec Act – guaranteed Catholicism to the French Canadians, gave them lands all the way down to the Ohio River

Working out Problems

• 1st Continental Congress, PA Sep 5, 1774 – met to discuss problems • Sent a list of grievances to King George 12/13 colonies showed up “Declaration of Rights”• Agreed to meet in another year if nothing was done