THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION

THE DEEP ROOTS

• 2 IDEAS WITHIN COLONISTS

• REPUBLICANISM -> SOCIETY IN WHICH ALL CITIZENS WILLINGLY SUBORDINATE THEIR PRIVATE INTERESTS FOR THE COMMON GOOD

• RADICAL WHIGS FEARED THREAT TO LIBERTY THROUGH CORRUPTION THROUGH MONARCH AND PARIAMENT (PATRONAGE/BRIBES)

• COLONISTS BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS

• DISTANCE WEAKENS AUTHORITY

MERCANTILISM AND COLONIAL GRIEVANCES

• MERCANTALISM -> WEALTH WAS POWER

• EXPORT MORE THAN IMPORT = MORE GOLD AND SILVER

• COLONIES PROVIDE RAW MATERIALS (LIMIT IMPORTS) AND MARKET FOR EXPORTS

• BRITISH GOV’T:

• COLONIES EXPECTED TO GIVE CERTAIN PRODUCTS (TOBACCO, SUGAR, ETC.)

• REFRAIN FROM EXPORTING CERTAIN ITEMS

• BUY IMPORTED MANUFACTURED GOODS EXCLUSIVELY FROM BRITAIN

• STOP BELIEFS OF ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY OR SELF-GOVERNMENT

• PASSAGE OF NAVIGATION LAWS (EVERYTHING DONE THROUGH BRITAIN)

• BEGAN TO CREATE A MONEY SHORTAGE IN COLONIES (USED OTHER THINGS)

• BRITAIN HAD RIGHT TO NULLIFY ANY LEGISLATION PASSED IN COLONIAL ASSEMBLIES

• GENERAL WELFARE BEING SACRIFICED FOR BRITAIN’S WELL-BEING?

GOOD/BAD NEWS OF MERCANTILISM

• SEEMS SELFISH AND CRUEL

• LOOSELY ENFORCED NAVIGATIONAL LAWS

• SMUGGLING BECOMES EASY (JOHN HANCOCK)

• COLONIES GAIN FROM BRITISH CONTROL

• LONDON WANTS SHIP PARTS

• MONOPOLY OF TOBACCO IN BRITAIN

• PROTECTION FROM THE WORLD’S GREATEST ARMY/NAVY

• BURDENED BY LIABILITIES

• LOWERED ECONOMIC INITIATIVE

• COLONIES BEGIN TO FEEL USED

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

• BRITAIN IN HUGE DEBT AFTER FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

• P.M. GEORGE GRENVILLE ORDERS NAVY TO STRICTLY ENFORCE NAVIGATION LAWS

• PASSED THE SUGAR ACT

• RAISED TAX REVENUE IN THE COLONIES BY TAXING IMPORTED SUGAR

• QUARTERING ACT

• REQUIRED COLONIES TO PROVIDE FOOD AND QUARTERS FOR BRITISH TROOPS

• STAMP TAX

• MANDATED THE USE OF STAMPED PAPER SHOWING THE PAYMENT OF TAXES

• COLONISTS BECOME ANGRY -> TAKING AWAY RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

• “GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT” IN ADMIRALTY COURTS

• “NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

• LEADS TO COLONIES WANTING POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE

COLONIES FIGHT BACK

• STAMP ACT CONGRESS

• DEVISED PLAN TO REPEAL LEGISLATION

• NONIMPORTATION AGREEMENTS

• COLONISTS BECOME SELF-RELIANT

• DEVELOPMENT OF SONS/DAUGHTERS OF LIBERTY

• CONSTANTLY HECKLED STAMP AGENTS

• BRITAIN RESPONDS WITH THE DECLARATORY ACT

• ABSOLUTE POWER OF THE COLONIES

TOWNSHEND ACTS

• NAMED AFTER CHARLES TOWNSHEND – LEADING GOVERNMENT MINISTER AT TIME

• PLACED DUTIES ON IMPORTED GOODS SUCH AS GLASS, LEAD, PAINT, AND PAPER (CAME FROM BRITAIN)

• 3 PENNY TAX ON TEA (MOST POPULAR DRINK)

• PROTESTS BRING SLOGAN “TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

• BOYCOTT OF BRITISH GOODS – DEVELOPMENT OF THINGS SUCH AS SPINNING BEES BY WOMEN

• BRITISH SEIZED THE LIBERTY (BELONGED TO JOHN HANCOCK)

• TRIGGERED RIOTS = BRITISH STATIONED TROOPS (REDCOATS)

THE BOSTON MASSACRE

• COMPETITION BETWEEN COLONISTS AND POORLY PAID SOLDIERS

• MARCH 5, 1770

• FIST FIGHT BROKE OUT

• MOB GATHERED OUTSIDE CUSTOMS OFFICE AND BEGAN TAUNTING THE GUARDS

• SHOTS FIRED = 5 DEAD

• DEFENSELESS CITIZENS WERE KILLED

• THINGS CALMED DOWN FOR 2 YEARS

• RHODE ISLAND COLONISTS ATTACKED A BRITISH PATROLMAN

• COMMITTEES OF CORRESPONDENCE = COMMUNICATION NETWORK

BOSTON TEA PARTY

• BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY WAS OVERSTOCKED WITH TEA BECAUSE OF BOYCOTTS

• ENGLAND IMPOSES THE TEA ACT

• ALLOWED THE COMPANY TO SELL TEA FREE OF TAXES

• CUT OUT COLONISTS; HOPED COLONISTS WOULD BUY CHEAPER TEA

• PROTESTED VIOLENTLY

• DECEMBER 1773 – COLONISTS DRESSED AS NATIVE AMERICANS TOOK ACTION ON 3 BRITISH SHIPS

• DUMPED 18,000 POUNDS OF TEA INTO BOSTON HARBOR

INTOLERABLE ACTS

• MULTIPLE LAWS PASSED IN RESPONSE TO THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

• SHUT DOWN BOSTON HARBOR

• MARTIAL LAW – RULE BY MILITARY

• COMMITTEES OF CORRESPONDENCE REACTED BY ESTABLISHING THE 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

• 56 DELEGATES MEET IN PHILADELPHIA AND COMPOSE A LIST OF COLONIAL RIGHTS

BLOODSHED

• FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

• RESPONSE TO THE INTOLERABLE ACTS WHICH INCLUDED A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

• PARLIAMENT REJECTED THE “CONGRESS’S” PETITIONS

• CONTINUED PROTESTS AGAINST PEOPLE WHO WERE AGAINST THESE IDEAS

• TROOPS GO TO LEXINGTON AND CONCORD

• SEIZE ARMORY

• MINUTEMEN DEFENDED IT -> SAID TO BE THE FIRST SHOTS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR

IMPERIAL STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS• BRITAIN HAD THE ADVANTAGE ON MANY LEVELS (POPULATION, MILITARY,

ETC.)

• ALSO HAD HELP FROM THE HESSIANS (HIRED GERMAN MERCENARIES), SOME NATIVE AMERICANS, AND AMERICAN LOYALISTS

• BRITAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR WATCHING IRELAND

• FRANCE WANTING RETALIATION

• WHIGS FEAR WINNING THE WAR WOULD CREATE A TYRANNY LIKE GOV’T

• SENT SECOND RATE GENERALS TO LEAD, POOR CONDITIONS FOR SOLDIERS, FIGHTING 3K MILES FROM HOME

• COLONIES HAD NO URBAN CENTER TO CAPTURE

AMERICAN STRENGTHS

• OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN THE COLONIES (EX. -> G.W.)

• FOREIGN AID FROM FRANCE

• MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE

• PLAYING A DEFENDING ROLE

• SELF SUSTAINED THROUGH AGRICULTURE

AMERICAN WEAKNESSES• POORLY ORGANIZED FOR WAR

• POORLY UNITED LEADERSHIP

• INDIVIDUAL PRIDE WITHIN EACH REGION

• ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY

• PRINTED MONEY = INFLATION = INCREASE IN PRICES

• LACK IN MILITARY SUPPLIES (TOO DEPENDENT ON BRITAIN?)

• POORLY TRAINED MILITIAMEN

• VALLEY FORGE, PA

• SOLDIERS FACED A BRUTAL WINTER WITH VERY LITTLE FOOD

• DID NOT HAVE CLOTHING OR SHOES

A THIN LINE OF HEROES• WOMEN PLAY ROLE IN WAR

• MAINTAINED FARMS/BUSINESSES, COOKED FOR ARMIES, ETC.

• BARON VON STEUBEN -> BECOMES GENERAL IN COLONIAL ARMY AND PROVIDES VERY STRICT BUT WELL-NEEDED TRAINING

• BLACKS FIGHT IN WAR FOR COLONIES

• ALSO SERVE AS COOKS, GUIDES, SPIES, DRIVERS, AND ROAD BUILDERS

• AMERICAN PROGRESS HINDERED BY PROFITEERS

• PUT THEIR OWN PROFITS BEFORE THE “AMERICAN CAUSE”