I. Intro + Deep Roots of Revolution - old world- humble people, would not question social status, changeless sourroundings - New World- nurtured new ideas od society, citizen& gov - Republicanism and radical whigs uprooted in colonies
II. Mercantilism & colonial grievances - Mercatilism 1. wealth=power. a country's economic wealth and therefore it's military and political power could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasurey 2. to gain more gold/silver, it was necessary for a country to export more than it imports. - colonies could supply raw materials to mother country, reducing their need for foreign imports - colonies provided a guaruntees market for exports - colonists were expected to do certain things while under british rule: 1. furnish products needed in mother country 2. refrain from exporting certain items such as woolen cloth of beaver hats 3. were only allowed to buy imported manufactured goods from britain 4. were not allowed to indulge in dreams of economic self sufficiency or, worse, self-government - Navigation law of 1763 - Br. inflicted currency shortage on the colonies b/c colonists bought more than they sold - King had right to nullify any colonial legislation if it effected mercatilism, angered colonists
III. The merit and menace of mercantilism - navigation act not strongly imposed, which lead to free trade, smuggling and a black market in the colonies -ship builders, tobacco planters and small navy/arm funded by Br. capitol - colonies like the moeny, did not like being dependent on britain for it -need for growth sparked revolution
IV. Stamp Tax Uproar - Br. had largest empire in the world but also the greatest debt
- Br. began strict enforcement of navigation laws - sugar act of 1764 increased duty on foreign sugar from West Indies (raised colonial tax revenue) -Quartering act of 1764 forced colonist to house british troops -Stamp Act (1765) mandated use of stamped paper on goods
-colonies angered by british taxation and restrictions set by crown - felt that local liberties and basic rights as englishmen were being threatened - felt Br was just trying to keep control over growing independence of colonies
-conflict ran too deep for any sort of compromise -colonies slowly began to deny authority of parliment altogether, pushing them to political independence and revolutionary ideas
V. Forced Repeal of the Stamp Act - Stamp act congress of 1765 wrote statement to the kind and parliment about their rights and grievances, told them to repeal legislation. Mostly ignored by england bt a step toward colonial unity
- non importation agreements
-Violence & protests; tar/featherings by sons and daughters of liberty, mobs invaded homes of unpopular officials, hanged stamp agents- forced to resign
- In 1766 parliment repealed stamp act, passed declaratory acted - Declaratory act reaffirmed right of parliment to 'bind colonies in all cases whatsoever'
VI. Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston 'Massacre' -Charles Townshend got control of Br Ministry and persuaded parliment to pass the Townshend Act - Townshend Acts; import duty on glass, whie lead, paper, paint and tea - taxation w/out representation upset colonists -Townshend revenues paid salaries of royal governers and judges and were veiwed by americans as an attempt to enchain them -Colonists ignoreds acts by avaiding the indiect tea tax & smuggling -Troops were sent to boston to try to restore order, resented by colonists -Boston Massacre- March 5, 1770, colonists started taunting redcoats, soldiers open fired in self defense killing 11 citizens
VII. Seditious Committees of Correspondence -King George III trying to inforce British monarchy -Townshend Acts not making enough money;proceeds from taxes no enough to pay military costs - Lord North (on of George III's yes men) persuaded parliment to repeal townshend duties except tea tax - Colonists upset b/c of tea taxes and redevoted efforts of Br. officials enforcing Navigation Laws
-Samuel Adams able to organize the MA committees of correspondence -colonies soon evolving into the 1st american congress
VIII. Tea Brewing in Boston - In Britain it was cheaper to buy tea from American tea company even after taxes because british tea was so expensive. -London government gave British East Indian Company control over the American Tea comany to help them make money. - Americans agravated, were not going to allow tea to break american dignit. -Sent back tea ships in new york and philly, british officials fled -Cember 1773 - boston tea party
IX. Parliment Passes the 'Intolerable Acts' -Boston Port Act closed boston hardor ntil cleaned and paid for, charters taken away from colonies in MA, restrictions on town meetings -Quartering Act gave local authority power to house soldiers in private homes -Quebec Acts 1774 allowed french to keep their cahtolic relision and retain old costums
X. Bloodshed -Continental Congress in 1774 met in Philly to figure out ways to work out colonial needs. 55 reps from all colonies but georgia - C.C. formed unity between colonies -1st C.C. - consultation/convention rather than congress. John adams swayed colleagues to a revolutionary course. boycott of br. goods - Lexington massacre- Br troops sent to lexington and concord to seize stores of colonial arms and capture the rebel ringleaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Colonial forces defend and force BR to retreat. -War for independence had begun
XI. Imperial Strengths and Weaknesses - Britain outnumbered colonists, were well trained , hired foreign soldiers and recruited american loyalists and indians - However many Br troops were in Ireland, france would side with America to get back at br, the lodon govt was inept, Britains didnt want to kill americans, and english whigs supported americans -Br. army struggled in north america because not only were they 3000 miles away from home base but they were treated brutally and had poor generals
XII. American PLusses and Minuses -America had great leaders like washington and franklin, france helped them, and their fighting techniques were defensive -However American rebels had poor orginization, jealousy between colonies, and economic dificulty
XIII. A Thin Line of Heroes -colonists formed an alliance w/ france b/c they needed a reliable source for supplies - Valley forge- food clothing and shoes were scarce during winter -many minute men but they were unreliable
