The Road of Revolution1763-1775

AP US HistoryChevalierFall 2011

The New “American”

• Republicanism- subordination of self-interests to the common good. Stability of society and authority of government lay in its citizenry, not authoritarian or aristocratic rule.

• “Radical Whigs”- wrote about corruption and threats to individual rights (against arbitrary power)

• Local control- “Distance weakens authority”

Revolution In Thought (1607-1763)

• Early settlers disliked England• America’s distance and isolation weakened

England’s control• Produced rugged and independent people• Allowed colonies to control themselves (laws

and taxes)• Produced a new civilization and culture

Revolution in Action (1763-1789)

• Taxation without representation• Colonial bloodshed by British• Battles of Lexington and Concord• Declaration of Independence• War and separation with Britain• Writing of the US Constitution• A new nation

Economic Control of the Colonies

• Theory of Mercantilism to control the colonies– Navigation Laws of 1650

• Currency restrictions• Legislature nullification• Legislation and taxation and how it was

perceived by the colonists– Ultimately, colonists will have to deny both

legislative and taxation authority by Parliament

Economic Control of the Colonies

• Mercantilism was both good and bad, but it was the principal of the matter:– Colonists: Protection, tobacco monopoly, bounties– Smuggling was common and encouraged

• Theodore Roosevelt:– “Revolution broke out because Britain failed to

recognize an emerging nation when it saw one.”

King George III

• Despised the colonies for their insubordination.

• Strong supporter of taxing the colonies

• Would not compromise with colonies

• After losing the colonies, he went mentally insane

Sugar Act 1764

• Indirect tax imposed on sugar imported from W. Indies (irksome?)

• Would pad the coffers of Parliament (140 million pound debt from war)

• Enforcement of Navigation Acts• Quartering Act of 1765

Stamp Act (1765)

• Revenue for British troops stationed in America

• Commercial and legal documents

• Reasonable and just?• Admiralty courts for

offenders• Taxation w/o rep. and

virtual representation

Stamp Act Protests

• Stamp Act Congress (significance)

• Non-Importation agreements

• Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty– Tarring and feathering– Ransacking homes of

unwanted officials and tax agents

Stamp Act Protests

• The Stamp Act was never put into effect

• Large economic impact on Britain

• Declaratory Act– Maintained ‘absolute’

control– 2 lines in the sand

17671767 William Pitt, P. M. & Charles William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, Secretary of Townshend, Secretary of the Exchequer. Champagne the Exchequer. Champagne Charley!Charley!Shift from paying taxes for Br. war Shift from paying taxes for Br. war

debts & quartering of troops debts & quartering of troops paying col. govt. salaries. paying col. govt. salaries.He diverted revenue collection He diverted revenue collection from from internal to external tax internal to external tax (indirect).(indirect).Tax these imports Tax these imports paper, paint, paper, paint, lead, glass, tea. lead, glass, tea.

Increase custom officials at Increase custom officials at American ports American ports established a established a Board of Customs in Boston. Board of Customs in Boston.

Townshend Duties Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770Crisis: 1767-1770Townshend Duties Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770Crisis: 1767-1770

Townshend Protests

• Not as ‘loud’ as that of the Stamp Act– Prosperity– Smuggling– Light and Indirect– Non-importation

1.1. John Dickinson John Dickinson 1768 1768 ** Letters from a Farmer inLetters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania..

2.2. 1768 1768 2 2ndnd non-importation non-importation movement: movement: ** ““Daughters of LibertyDaughters of Liberty”” ** spinning beesspinning bees

3.3. Riots against customs Riots against customs agents:agents: ** John Hancock John Hancock’’s ship, the s ship, the LibertyLiberty.. ** 4000 British troops sent 4000 British troops sent to Boston. to Boston.

Colonial Response to Colonial Response to the Townshend the Townshend

DutiesDuties

Colonial Response to Colonial Response to the Townshend the Townshend

DutiesDuties

Boston Massacre Propaganda

The Boston Massacre

• March 5, 1770• 11 colonists killed or

wounded• Details were somewhat

sketchy• John Adams• Manslaughter

(branded)

Committees of Correspondence

• Purpose?• Significance?

• In 1772-1773, what was the probability of rebellion against England?

Boston Tea Party: December 1773

• East India Trading Company

• Forced demand• Continued absence of

local control• Coercive Acts passed as

a result.

The Massacre of American Liberty

• The Coercive Acts (1774) AKA the “Intolerable Acts”– Boston Port Act– Restriction of chartered rights (Mass. Gov’t. Act)– Quartering Act of 1774– Administration of Justice Act

Quebec Act (1774)

• Established Roman Catholicism as the official religion on Quebec

• Set up a Govt. without a representative assembly

• Extended Quebec’s boundary to the Ohio River

• American anger

Bloodshed

• First Continental Congress Convenes (Sept.-Oct. 1774)– Consultative body vs. legislative body (12 colonies)– John Adams’ revolutionary course (close call)– Declaration of Rights, petition and appeals– Creation of the Association

• Total boycott (non-importation, non-exportation and non-consumption)

• Not yet calling for independence; no rebellion yet.

Fateful Drift Toward War

• April 1775- British commander sends troops to nearby Lexington and Concord from Boston– Seize stores of colonial gunpowder and arrest Sam

Adams and John Hancock (rebel leaders)

• Lexington: Colonial “minutemen” refused to disperse quickly enough and shots were fired. – Eight Americans were killed

• Concord: Redcoats forced to retreat

Fateful Drift Toward War

• Redcoats retreated to Boston– 70 killed and a war on their hands.

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,Here once the embattled farmers stood,And fired the shot heard round the world.- Emerson

The Line in the Sand

British• 130K (regulars/Hessians)• Domestic feeling• Leadership• Troop treatment/conditions• Ireland• Had to conquer colonists• French problem

Americans• Time for space; no cities• On the defense• Moral advantage• Good leadership• Organization• Sectional differences• Supplies• French

Second Continental Congress (1775)

• Still not in open rebellion (maintained loyalty)

• Drafted George Washington– Political?– Economic?– Moral?– Social?– Military?

Second Continental Congress

• Military Actions• Olive Branch Petition

– Prohibitory Act (1775) and the hiring of German mercenaries (guns for hire)

Bunker Hill (June 1775)

• True battle fought outside of Boston• Breed’s Hill• British forces attacked and took the hill

– >1000 British casualties– American or British victory?

Bunker Hill

• June 17, 1775• The British suffered over

40% casualties.• 2,250 men• 1,054 injured• 226 killed

• Americans: Moral victory

• 800 men• 140 killed• 271 wounded

• King George sends 10,000 Hessian soldiers to help put down the rebellion.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

• January, 1776• Anonymous• It was contrary to

common sense for a large continent to be ruled by a small distant island and for people to pledge allegiance to corrupt and unjust government.

Common Sense

• Republic• Not the first to bring it

up• Power flowed from the

people (popular consent)

Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson: the Prosecutor

• Richard Lee of VA• Adopted 7/4/1776• Taxation• Trial by jury• Military dictatorship• Army/trade/violence

King George’s statue is torn down by Patriots in New York City after the Declaration of Independence is signed by the

2nd Continental Congress

King George’s statue is torn down by Patriots in New York City after the Declaration of Independence is signed by the

2nd Continental Congress

Purpose of Purpose of GovernmeGovernme

ntnt

Limited Limited GovernmeGovernme

ntnt

EqualityEquality

To preserve himself, his liberty and property

Government of laws not manMen being by nature all free, equal and independent

To secure these rights

History of the present King of England is repeated injuries

All men are created equal

Authority Authority of of

GovernmeGovernmentnt

Natural Natural RightsRights

John Locke

A government’s power comes from the consent of the people.

All people are born free and equal with natural rights to life, liberty and property

Declaration of Independence

The people have the right to abolish an oppressive government and establish a new one.

All men are endowed with certain unalienable rights among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

An excerpt…

• Hang together or hang separately…

A War Within a War

• Patriots vs. Loyalists (whigs and tories)• Minority Movement as rebellions go• War of Propaganda• “The Americans would be less dangerous if

they had a regular army”• Characteristics of both sides (percentages and

numbers; 16, 50,000, conservative)• Geographic differences

PatriotsAmericans who supported the

Rebels…..controlled the countryside.

LoyalistsAmericans who

supported England…

controlled the cities…

Loyalist/Patriot

•March 1776, General

Washington forces the British out of Boston with the

“Seige of Boston”.•British General

William Howe sails his 9,000 soldiers to New York City and set up their military base of

operations.

Summer and Fall 1776

• New York: 500 ships and 35,000 men• Washington routed at Long Island; fled across

Delaware River• William Howe• Princeton

PopulationPopulation

ManufacturingManufacturing

MoneyMoney

ArmyArmy

LeadersLeaders

GeographyGeography

NavyNavy

Will to FightWill to Fight

Approximately 7.5 million

Highly developed

Richest country in the world

Large, well trained army plus Hessians

Few officers capable of leading

Strange land---difficult to re-supply troops

Naval world power

Trained soldiers---but no heart

Approximately 2.5 million and 16% loyal to England.

Practically none

No $$$ to support the war

Volunteers, poorly equipped

Dedicated officers plus foreign leaders

Familiar land, easy access to supplies

No navy

Defending homeland---will to fight

Factors Great Britain United States

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.

The The AmericansAmericans

The BritishThe British

Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists.

•Referred to as the Referred to as the ““ten crucial dayten crucial dayss””…Dec. 25…Dec. 25thth to Jan. 3rd to Jan. 3rd

•First major victory for the First major victory for the Continental Army and Washington Continental Army and Washington

•Raised the morale of the American Raised the morale of the American troops as well as the countrytroops as well as the country

•Led to soldiers re-enlisting and future enlistmentsLed to soldiers re-enlisting and future enlistments

•Captured over 1,000 Hessian soldiers, weapons, food and etc.Captured over 1,000 Hessian soldiers, weapons, food and etc.

•American Army re-crossed the Delaware to Valley Forge in PennsylvaniaAmerican Army re-crossed the Delaware to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania

US Delaware

Surrender/trenton

Colonial Victories•The Battle of Trenton boosted the morale of the Colonials

•Defeated the feared Hessians (German mercenaries)•Despite the boosted morale the colonies were nearly bankrupt

•France puts itself into financial ruin with economic aid•British General Cornwallis falls back to Yorktown in the Chesapeake Bay•Washington marches his army 300 miles to siege Yorktown with the help of Rochambeau’s French Army and Admiral de Grasse Naval fleet

•Cornwallis realizes that he is trapped and reinforcements will not reach him in time so he surrenders

•Without the French the victory at Yorktown would have been impossible

•Peace at Paris•Ben Franklin, John Adams and John Jay•Treaty of Paris of 1783 recognizes America as an independent nation