🫖American Revolution Unit 2 – The Road to Revolution

Key Events and Timeline

• 1754-1763: French and Indian War fought between British colonies and New France, resulting in British victory and acquisition of French territories in North America
  • 1754: Albany Congress held to discuss colonial unity and defense against French threat
  • 1756: Britain officially declares war on France, marking the start of the Seven Years' War in Europe
  • 1759: British capture Quebec, a major turning point in the war
  • 1763: Treaty of Paris ends the war, with France ceding its North American territories to Britain
• 1763: Proclamation of 1763 issued by King George III, prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to maintain peace with Native Americans
• 1764: Sugar Act passed by British Parliament, imposing duties on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies
• 1765: Stamp Act passed, requiring colonists to pay a tax on printed materials (newspapers, legal documents, playing cards)
  • Stamp Act Congress convenes in New York to coordinate colonial response and petition against the act
• 1766: Declaratory Act passed, asserting Parliament's authority to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever"
• 1767: Townshend Acts passed, placing duties on imported goods (glass, lead, paper, paint, tea) and establishing a Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston
• 1770: Boston Massacre occurs, with British soldiers firing upon a crowd of colonists, killing five and wounding six
• 1773: Tea Act passed, granting the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies
  • December 16: Boston Tea Party takes place, with colonists dumping tea into Boston Harbor in protest

Colonial Grievances

• Taxation without representation: Colonists argued that they should not be taxed by a government in which they had no elected representatives
  • Virtual representation, the British counter-argument, asserted that Parliament represented all British subjects, regardless of direct election
• Lack of self-governance: Colonists resented the increasing control exerted by the British government over colonial affairs
  • Colonies had long enjoyed a degree of self-governance through elected assemblies and local government
• Economic restrictions: British mercantile policies limited colonial trade and manufacturing to benefit the mother country
  • Navigation Acts required colonies to trade primarily with Britain and transport goods on British ships
  • Colonies were prohibited from producing certain finished goods (wool, hats) that would compete with British manufactures
• Quartering of British troops: Colonists were required to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies
  • Quartering Act of 1765 allowed British commanders to house soldiers in private homes and public buildings
• Perceived threats to colonial rights and liberties: Colonists viewed British policies as an infringement upon their rights as English subjects
  • Trial by jury, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to petition the government were seen as fundamental rights
• Cultural and social differences: Growing sense of a distinct American identity, separate from British culture and society
  • Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, self-governance, and liberty gained traction among educated colonists
  • Great Awakening, a religious revival movement, emphasized individual spirituality and challenged traditional authority

British Policies and Acts

• Navigation Acts (1651-1733): Series of laws regulating colonial trade, requiring colonies to trade primarily with Britain and transport goods on British ships
  • Aimed to maintain Britain's mercantile dominance and protect British manufacturers from colonial competition
• Proclamation of 1763: Royal decree prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains
  • Intended to maintain peace with Native Americans and control colonial expansion
  • Colonists resented the restriction on their ability to acquire new land
• Sugar Act (1764): Imposed duties on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies
  • Aimed to raise revenue to help pay for the cost of the French and Indian War
  • Enforced more strictly than previous trade regulations, with violators tried in vice-admiralty courts without juries
• Stamp Act (1765): Required colonists to pay a tax on printed materials (newspapers, legal documents, playing cards)
  • First direct tax imposed on the colonies by Parliament
  • Met with widespread resistance and protests, leading to its repeal in 1766
• Declaratory Act (1766): Asserted Parliament's authority to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever"
  • Passed alongside the repeal of the Stamp Act to maintain Parliament's supremacy
• Townshend Acts (1767): Placed duties on imported goods (glass, lead, paper, paint, tea) and established a Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston
  • Intended to raise revenue and assert Parliament's authority to tax the colonies
  • Led to colonial boycotts of British goods and increased tensions
• Tea Act (1773): Granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies
  • Aimed to help the financially struggling company and undercut colonial tea smugglers
  • Perceived by colonists as another attempt by Parliament to assert its power and control colonial trade

Colonial Resistance Movements

• Non-importation agreements: Colonists boycotted British goods to protest taxes and assert economic power
  • Merchants and consumers agreed to stop importing and purchasing British manufactures
  • Effective in pressuring British merchants and manufacturers, who lobbied Parliament for relief
• Committees of Correspondence: Network of communication among colonial leaders to share information and coordinate resistance
  • Established in response to the Townshend Acts to maintain unity and organize opposition
  • Played a crucial role in spreading news and ideas, laying the groundwork for future collaboration
• Sons of Liberty: Radical organization formed to resist British policies through intimidation and violence
  • Led by prominent figures such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere
  • Organized protests, boycotts, and acts of resistance (Boston Tea Party)
• Petitions and remonstrances: Formal appeals to the British government to address colonial grievances
  • Stamp Act Congress (1765) petitioned Parliament and the King to repeal the Stamp Act
  • Continental Congress (1774) sent a petition to King George III outlining colonial grievances and seeking reconciliation
• Pamphleteering and public discourse: Colonists used print media to spread ideas and arguments against British policies
  • "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" by John Dickinson argued against the Townshend Acts
  • "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine advocated for independence and challenged the legitimacy of British rule
• Intercolonial cooperation: Colonies began to work together to coordinate resistance and present a united front
  • Stamp Act Congress (1765) and Continental Congresses (1774, 1775) brought together representatives from multiple colonies
  • United resistance increased colonial leverage and sense of shared purpose

Influential Figures and Leaders

• Samuel Adams: Radical leader and organizer in Boston, instrumental in the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence
  • Played a key role in organizing resistance to the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party
• John Adams: Lawyer and political leader, advocate for colonial rights and later President of the United States
  • Defended British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, demonstrating commitment to the rule of law
  • Served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and played a crucial role in drafting the Declaration of Independence
• Benjamin Franklin: Prominent inventor, writer, and diplomat, initially sought reconciliation with Britain but later supported independence
  • Represented colonial interests in London and testified against the Stamp Act in Parliament
  • Served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris (1783)
• Patrick Henry: Fiery orator and leader in Virginia, known for his "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech
  • Opposed the Stamp Act and advocated for colonial rights in the Virginia House of Burgesses
• Thomas Jefferson: Political philosopher and principal author of the Declaration of Independence
  • Articulated Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, self-governance, and the social contract
  • Served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as the third President of the United States
• George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first President of the United States
  • Demonstrated leadership and military skill during the French and Indian War
  • Presided over the Continental Convention and played a unifying role in the early republic

Ideological Foundations

• Enlightenment philosophy: Ideas of natural rights, self-governance, and the social contract influenced colonial thinking
  • John Locke's "Two Treatises of Government" argued for the protection of life, liberty, and property
  • Montesquieu's "The Spirit of Laws" advocated for the separation of powers and checks and balances in government
• Classical republicanism: Emphasis on civic virtue, public service, and the common good
  • Colonists drew inspiration from the Roman Republic and the idea of a government based on the consent of the governed
• Whig political thought: Opposition to arbitrary power and support for the rights of English subjects
  • Colonists saw themselves as defending traditional English liberties against an overreaching Parliament
• Social contract theory: Idea that government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed
  • Colonists argued that they had not consented to taxation without representation or the abrogation of their rights
• Natural rights: Belief in the inherent rights of individuals, including life, liberty, and property
  • Declaration of Independence asserted these rights as "self-evident" and accused the King of violating them
• Religious influences: Puritan heritage and the Great Awakening emphasized individual conscience and challenged traditional authority
  • Many colonial leaders drew upon religious language and imagery to justify resistance and independence

Economic Factors

• Mercantilism: British economic policy aimed at maintaining a favorable balance of trade and protecting domestic industries
  • Colonies were seen as a source of raw materials and a market for British manufactured goods
  • Trade restrictions and regulations (Navigation Acts) limited colonial economic autonomy
• Trade imbalances: Colonies often ran trade deficits with Britain, leading to a shortage of currency and reliance on credit
  • Lack of specie (gold and silver) made it difficult for colonists to pay taxes and debts
• Taxation: British efforts to raise revenue through taxes on the colonies (Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts)
  • Colonists argued that these taxes were an unconstitutional burden and infringed upon their rights
• Economic competition: Colonies developed their own industries and trade networks, which sometimes competed with British interests
  • Growth of colonial manufacturing and trade with other nations challenged British mercantile dominance
• Debt and inflation: Seven Years' War left Britain with significant debt, leading to increased taxation of the colonies
  • Issuance of paper money by colonial governments to pay war debts led to inflation and economic instability
• Land speculation: Proclamation of 1763 limited colonial expansion and opportunities for land speculation
  • Many colonists, including George Washington, had invested in western land claims and resented the restriction

Global Context and Implications

• Seven Years' War (1756-1763): Global conflict between Britain and France, with fighting in Europe, North America, and Asia
  • British victory solidified its position as the dominant colonial power but left it with significant debt
  • Acquisition of French territories in North America (Canada, Louisiana) expanded British colonial holdings
• Geopolitical rivalries: American Revolution took place against the backdrop of ongoing competition among European powers
  • France, Spain, and the Netherlands saw an opportunity to weaken British power by supporting the American cause
  • French military and financial assistance played a crucial role in the American victory
• Enlightenment ideas: American Revolution was influenced by and contributed to the spread of Enlightenment ideals
  • Declaration of Independence and the formation of a republican government inspired similar movements in Europe and Latin America
  • Success of the American Revolution challenged the legitimacy of monarchical rule and the divine right of kings
• Economic disruption: American Revolution disrupted trade networks and economic relationships
  • British merchants and manufacturers lost access to colonial markets and raw materials
  • Colonies had to develop new trade partnerships and domestic industries to replace British goods
• Diplomatic realignments: American Revolution altered the balance of power in Europe and the Americas
  • United States emerged as a new nation and potential ally or rival for European powers
  • Britain's loss of the colonies weakened its position and led to a reassessment of its imperial strategy
• Legacy of colonialism: American Revolution was a product of and a reaction against the colonial system
  • Issues of self-governance, representation, and economic autonomy reflected tensions inherent in colonial relationships
  • Revolution set a precedent for other colonies seeking independence and challenging imperial rule