Student Lecture Notes
Unit 2.1
THE ROAD TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: 1763-1775
I. The American colonies prior to the American Revolution.
A. In 18th century, large percentage
of American colonists were proud to belong to
British empire.
1. Newer studies suggest that by 1763 the American colonies
had achieved
tremendous
integration within the empire; did not forget their "Britishness"
2. On average, Americans had the highest standard of
living in the world.
a. Drop in price of British goods meant American consumers
had many
choices.
b. Landownership opportunities far better than in Europe.
B. "Salutary neglect"
(beginning about 1713)
1. Between 1713 and 1763 American colonials saw reduced
gov't intervention
in
colonial affairs.
a. Whig prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole,
believed leaving the
colonies alone to run their own affairs with little interference would
produce more wealth and commerce, and cause less friction.
b. Britain would provide peace, protection, commerce, ensure
law and
send more immigrants to America to increase numbers of customers.
c. Britain was focused on major wars in Europe.
d. Colonies left to raise, equip & train own militia for protection
against Indians.
e. In effect, colonies left alone; had to develop
self-reliance; effective
organization
3. Development of self-government
a. 13 separate colonial governments emerged; often
undermined the
authority of Parliament.
b. Local gov't was much more responsive to local needs
c. Americans became used to regulating their own affairs
without
significant
interference.
d. American manufacturing increased despite British policies
to protect
British
manufacturers (Navigation Laws)
-- Cost of American goods increased making merchants wealthy.
4. Smuggling
became rampant as British policy became lax in 18th century.
C.
Violent protests by western colonists toward eastern authority continued.
1. Paxton
Boys (1764): Philadelphia Scots Irish dissenters revolted against
Quaker leniency regarding gov’t Indian policy:
-- 20 peaceful Indians killed, followed by a march on Philadelphia demanding
better representation, protection against Indians on the frontier,
and funds for internal improvements.
2.
Regulator Movement (1771)
a. Eastern farmers in N. Carolina frustrated with British tax policies,
inadequate representation of western farmers in the colonial assembly,
and legislation favoring wealthy planters in the east.
b. Fighting lasted for three years.
3. These two
rebellions were similar to Bacon's & Leisler's rebellions in 17th
c.
and two future rebellions: Shays' Rebellion in 1787 and Whisky Rebellion
in 1794.
II. The Mercantilist System
A. Mercantilism: Colonies
existed for the benefit of the mother country
1. Colonies should add to empire's wealth, prosperity, and
self-sufficiency.
2.
Colonies' benefit to Great Britain
a. Ensure British naval supremacy by providing ships, ships'
stores, sailors
and trade.
b. Provide raw materials: tobacco, indigo, lumber, fish, etc.
c. Provide a
large consumer market for British goods.
d. Keep gold & silver in the empire through economic
self-sufficiency.
-- Britain would not need purchase good from foreign countries.
B. Navigation Laws
1. Purpose: enforce the mercantilist system
2. Motive: First enacted in 1651; aimed at rival Dutch
shippers who were
active
in the American trade.
3. Basic provisions of Nagivation Laws passed in 17th
and 18th centuries:
a. Restricted commerce to and from the colonies to English or
American
vessels.
b. Certain "enumerated" articles like
tobacco couldn’t be shipped to
any other foreign market except England, despite higher prices
in other markets.
c. All European goods going to America had to go through
England first.
d. Certain restrictions on colonial manufactures for export:
British did not
want manufacturing competition with the Colonies.
-- Forbade exportation of woolen cloth produced in America.
-- Beaver hats prohibited from exportation
--Encouraged colonists to produce pig and bar iron, but not build any new
steel furnaces, slitting mills, or plating forges.
e. Molasses Act (1733) -- Imposed heavy duties on all molasses,
rum and sugar imported form French Caribbean.
i. Colonists traded heavily with the French West Indies
ii. Some of the rum produced in America was traded for slaves
-- New England merchants heavily involved in the slave trade
C. Positive results of British Mercantilism
1. Until 1763, Navigation Laws did
not adversely impact the colonial economy.
2. Colonials had rights of
Englishmen and opportunities for self-government
3. Colonies had British military
protection free of charge
4. Colonies greatly profited from
manufacturing and trading.
D. Negative impact of mercantilism
1. Colonial manufacturing
was hindered by British policies.
2. Southern
colonies suffered as export prices dropped due to "enumeration."
-- Virginia especially affected; poor economic conditions resulted in unrest
3. New England
resented favorable British policies toward Southern colonies
(who produced tobacco, sugar and rice).
4. Writs of
Assistance
a. Search warrants by British customs officers harassed colonial shipping.
b. Aimed to reduce colonial smuggling (e.g. illegal triangular trade.)
c. 1761, James Otis, a young Boston lawyer, demanded Parliament
repeal
the acts.
i. Parliament refused but Otis’ efforts gained press
throughout the colonies.
ii. Later, Otis wrote famous words "no taxation without
representation."
E. End of "salutary neglect"
1. The Year 1763 marked a new era
in relations between England and the colonies.
a. George
Grenville new Prime Minister, sought to enforce Navigation Acts.
-- Americans particularly angry about increased authority of Admiralty Courts
that could now try smugglers, tax evaders, ship owners, and others accused
of
violating commercial restrictions; no trial by jury; located in Nova Scotia.
b. British
debt from the Seven Years' War was enormous
i. Half the debt due to protection of the colonies
ii. British thought colonists should pay 1/3 of maintaining a garrison
of 10,000 British soldiers to protect against Indian uprisings.
2. King George
III
a. Extremely stubborn and surrounded himself with successive
governments of
inexperienced,
inward-looking, narrow-minded men.
-- Five different prime ministers during the 1st 10 years of his
reign.
b. Sought to exercise increased control over the colonies.
c. 50 years of Whig power was about to give way to a
conservative
government
dominated by the king beginning in 1762.
3. Proclamation of 1763
a. Prohibited
colonials to move west of the Appalachians
b. British
aim: Settle land disputes with Indians fairly to prevent future
uprisings like Pontiac's Rebellion.
c. Colonials
infuriated
i. Many veterans had fought in the war and felt betrayed
ii. Land speculators believed Americans should have access to lands.
d. Colonists
generally ignored the Proclamation
4. Currency Act (1764)
a. British
restricted colonial printing of paper money
-- Wanted colonists to pay back debts and taxes with hard currency.
b. Trade
deficit between England & America hurt the colonies
i. Most gold & silver flowed to England from colonies since the colonies
imported
more than they exported.
ii. Lack of gold meant lack of hard cash; bartering increased
5. Sugar Acts passed in 1764
(updated version of Molasses Act of 1733)
a. First
act ever passed specifically that raised revenue for the crown.
b. Aimed to
regulate the illegal triangular trade by collecting duties that the
colonists had not paid for many years.
c. Reduced
taxes on molasses but taxed all molasses, not just molasses from
French West Indies.
d. Not
enforced effectively; duties eventually lowered after Stamp Act crisis.
6. Quartering Act, 1765:
Certain colonies required to provide food & quarters
for British troops.
III. Three great crises in the colonies led to the
American Revolution: Stamp Act,
Townshend Acts, & Tea Act
A. The Stamp Act of 1765 -- Perhaps the single
most important event leading to
the American Revolution
1. Purpose: Raise revenues to
support the new military force in the colonies
2. Provisions:
a. Official stamps on paper would serve as
proof of payment.
b. Tax
applied to published materials and legal documents e.g., pamphlets,
newspapers, diplomas, bills of lading, marriage certificates, death
certificates, mortgages, insurance policies, liquor licenses, & playing
cards.
c. Both
Sugar Act and Stamp Act provided for trying offenders in
admiralty courts where juries were not allowed
-- Burden of proof on defendants; were assumed guilty unless proved innocent.
3. Grenville’s' view
a. Stamp Act
was reasonable and just
b. Only
required colonials to pay their fair share for colonial defense
c. Stamp Act
in Britain had been much heavier and in effect for 2 generations.
4. Virginia Resolves (led by
Patrick Henry)
a. VA leaders believed Stamp Act attacked colonial's rights
as Englishmen
b. 5 of Henry’s 7 resolutions adopted by the House of
Burgesses including
non-importation.
c. Claimed that Virginia could only be taxed by Virginians.
-- "No taxation w/o representation"
d. Assemblies of 8 other colonies passed resolutions similar
to Virginia’s.
5. Colonist views distinguished
between "legislation" and "taxation"
a.
Legislation, "external taxes," the right of Parliament
regarding the
empire; e.g. customs duties (tariffs)
b. Taxation,
"internal taxes," exclusive right of local representative
gov't.
-- British taxation was robbery; attacking sacred rights of property
c.
Grenville’s response: colonies had "virtual representation" in
Parliament
-- All British subjects were represented, even those who did not vote for
members in Parliament.
d. Colonists dismissed "virtual representation"
i. "No taxation w/o representation"
ii. Did not really want "direct representation" (actual
representation)
-- Would mean increased taxes (as in Britain)
-- Increased responsibilities to the crown
-- Colonial reps. would be heavily outnumbered in Parliament
6. Stamp Act Congress (1765)
-- brought together 27 delegates from 9
colonies
a. Massachusetts invited colonies who adopted Virginia
Resolves to meet.
b. Drew up a statement of their rights and grievances and
demanded that the
king
and Parliament rescind the Stamp Act.
c. Largely ignored in England; of little consequence in the
colonies
d. Significance: Brought together reps from different
& rival colonies and
set
a precedent for future resistance to British rule.
-- Helped break down sectional suspicions within the colonies.
e. Non-importation agreements against British goods.
-- England economy suffered from non-importation but non-importation was
not decisive in reversing Parliament’s decision
7. Sons of
Liberty led by Samuel Adams violently enforced nonimportation
agreements against violators; (tarring & feathering was one painful
tactic).
a. Houses of
pro-Brisith officials were vandalized, theft occurred,
and the warehouse where stamps were stored was destroyed.
b. All stamp
act agents were forced to resign; no one risked selling stamps.
8. Stamp Act repealed in 1766
a. Lord
Rockingham saw the Stamp Act as a possible cause of civil crisis and
and encouraged British merchants to write Parliament to rescind the tax.
b.
Parliament passed the Declaratory Act at the same time
i. Purpose was partly to save face
ii. Claimed that Parliament had the right to tax colonies in the future.
c. Sugar Act
tax lowered significantly
B. Townshend Acts (1767)
1. Charles Townshend took control of
Parliament and sought to punish
the colonies
for the Stamp Act uprising.
2. Provisions:
a. Small
import duty placed on glass, white lead, paper, paint, silk and tea.
-- Tax was an indirect customs duty ("external tax")
b. Revenues
from taxes to pay salaries of royal governors and judges
c.
Established a commission and vice-admiralty courts for enforcement.
-- Royal judges would be allowed to grant "writs of assistance" in
private
homes, shops or warehouses.
3. Colonial reaction
a. Colonies angrily
interpreted the act as an inappropriate tax to raise revenue
b. John
Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
i. Challenged distinction between "internal" and "external"
taxes.
ii. Denied right to levy taxes for purpose of revenue.
iii. Prompted the Massachusetts Circular Letter
4. Massachusetts Circular Letter
(Feb. 1768)
a. Massachusetts
legislature, urged by Sam Adams and James Otis,
supported Dickinson's arguments and called for other colonies to pass
petitions calling for Parliament to repeal the acts.
b. In
response, Lord Hillsborough, sent troops to Boston and threatened to
dissolve Massachusetts' legislature if the letter not retracted.
-- Other colonies that voted for the circular would be dissolved.
c. Some
colonies reenacted previous nonimportation agreements
-- British exports to America fell 40% over the next few months.
d. Several
colonial legislatures dissolved as they supported Massachusetts:
MA,
MD, VA, DE, SC
5. Boston "Massacre"
a.
(Peaceful) Arrival of troops in Boston aroused American resistance
-- Colonials fearful of standing armies; believed Britain sought to suppress
colonial liberties.
b. March
5, 1770 British soldiers (having been provoked) fired on a crowd
i. Eleven civilians killed or
wounded
ii. Crispus Attucks, a mulatto merchant seaman, the "first to die in
the
revolution," and alleged leader of the unruly mob.
iii. Word of the "massacre" spread throughout the colonies (esp. by
Sons of
Liberty)
iv. Colonial propaganda grossly exaggerated the event.
6. Townshend Acts repealed
a. Lord
North, bowing to pressure, got Parliament to repeal the act in 1770.
i. Nonimportation agreements were pinching British manufacturers
ii. Three-pence tax on tea remained to demonstrate Parliament's right to tax.
-- Taxed tea still cost less than smuggled tea.
b. Half the
troops in Boston removed.
c. Until
1773, relations improved after Townshend Acts were repealed.
7. Gaspee Incident (1771) one
of only a few incidents between 1770-1773
to cause conflict
a. British warship "Gaspee" ran aground near in RI,
pursuing smugglers.
--
Ship was notorious for extorting smaller vessels and allowing men to
steal
cattle and cut fruit trees on local farms for firewood.
b. Sons of
Liberty members, dressed as Indians, took crew off the ship and set
it on fire; the commander was wounded
c.
"Gaspee" Commission was created by Lord Hillsborough to seek
retribution
but could not find the guilty parties; would have sent them to England for
trial.
8. Committees of Correspondence
a. Some
colonial discontent continued as British redoubled efforts to enforce the
Navigation Laws.
b. Samuel
Adams used propaganda to whip up colonial resentment
c. Adams
organized local committees of correspondence in Mass., Nov.1772.
d. Chief
function was to spread propaganda and info. by interchanging letters in
order to keep opposition to British policy alive.
e. In
particular, letters from the British gov't incl. those of Gov. Hutchinson
showed that Britain was acting on Hutchinson's advice and wishes.
f. Intercolonial
committees of correspondence emerged
g. Intercolonial
groups evolved directly into the first American congresses.
C. The Tea Act Crisis and the First Continental
Congress
1. Tea Act (1773)
a. British
gov't granted British East India Company a monopoly of
the American tea trade.
i. BEIC on the verge of bankruptcy which would have cost the
British
government huge revenues.
ii. Price of tea would be even
lower than existing prices, even with the tax.
b. Americans
reacted angrily: saw Tea Act as an attempt to trick colonies
into accepting the tax through cheaper tea.
2. Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16,
1773
-- Sons of
Liberty, dressed as Indians, boarded three ships, smashed 342
chests open, and dumped the tea into the harbor.
3.
"Intolerable Acts" (Coercive Acts)
a. 1774, Parliament passed the "Repressive Acts"
designed to punish Boston
b.
Boston Port Act -- harbor remained closed until damages were paid
and
law and order restored.
c. Massachusetts charter revoked
i. King had power to appoint the Governor's Council, not the
assembly
ii. Forbade town meetings except for election of town officials.
d. Enforcing
officials who killed colonists could now be tried in England
instead of the colonies (thereby avoiding colonial justice).
e.
Quartering Act: Provided for the quartering of troops once again in Boston.
4. Quebec Act --
coincidentally accompanied "Intolerable Acts"; not intended
to punish
the colonies
a. French in
Canada were guaranteed right to practice Catholicism.
b. Quebec
territory was extended down to the Ohio river, next to NY & PA
c. French
allowed to keep old customs and institutions which did not include
a representative assembly or trial by jury in civil cases.
d. The act
was actually an enlightened extension of British freedoms.
e. Colonial
reaction:
-- Viewed act as insidious attempt to create a new French Canadian
and Indian threa in the Ohio Valley region.
-- Anti-Catholic sentiment arose; seen as an attack on Protestantism
5. The First
Continental Congress
a. In response
to "Intolerable Acts," the committees of correspondence urged
the colonies to act quickly.
b.
Bostonians agreed to end all trade with Great Britain and invited other
colonies to join the resistance.
c. First
Continental Congress deliberated from Sept. 5 to Oct. 26, 1774
i. 12 of 13 colonies present (except Georgia)
ii. Delegates included S.Adams, J. Adams, G. Washington, & Patrick Henry.
d. 1st
Step: endorse several resolutions known as the Suffolk Resolves.
i. Denounced "Intolerable" Acts
ii. Urged colonies to organize militia for defensive purposes
iii. Called on colonies to suspend all trade with rest of British empire
iv. Urged citizens not to pay taxes.
e. Rejection
of Galloway Plan
i. Joseph Galloway called for a colonial union required to approve all
parliamentary laws affecting the colonies (like Franklin’s Albany Plan).
ii. Most members far too conservative to endorse such a radical view
f. Main
purpose: Petition for redress of grievances (Declaration and
Resolves)
i. Gave colonists the legal
right to assemble in order to seek redress.
ii. "Bill of Rights": established structure for the Declaration of
Independence
(Preamble, list of grievances and mutual pledge)
g. The
Association: most significant action of the Congress
-- Called for a complete boycott of British goods: nonimportation,
nonexportation, and nonconsumption.
h. Yet,
Congress restated allegiance to the King
-- No real desire to independent; merely wanted grievances redressed.
i. King and
Parliament did not respond to Declaration and Resolves.
-- Would have recognized Congresses right as a legislative body.
6. Lexington and Concord --
"The Shot Heard around the World"
a.
Parliament ordered General Gage, new Gov. of Massachusetts, to arrest
leaders of the rebellion and prepare for military action.
-- Gage sought to prevent bloodshed by disarming the local militia.
b. April
1775, 700 British redcoats sent secretly to nearby Lexington &
Concord to seize gunpowder and arrest Sam Adams & John Hancock.
-- Paul Revere and William Dawes warned the militia (Minutemen).
c. Battle of
Lexington and Concord began when Minutemen refused to
disperse on the Lexington Green and shots were fired.
i. 8 Americans killed, 10 wounded. Who fired the first shot?
ii. Redcoats continued on to Concord. 6 miles away.
d. Concord
-- British forced to retreat by American reinforcements
i. Militia picked-off British soldiers as they retreated to Boston
ii. By day’s end, 273 British casualties; 95 Americans casualties
e. Minutemen
encamped outside the city and lay siege to Boston.
IV. British Strengths and Weaknesses during the American
Revolution
A. British Strengths
1. Population favored Britain: 7.5
million to 2.5 for the colonies.
2. Superior monetary advantage and
best navy in the world
3. 20,000 slaves in Carolinas and
Georgia joined British (only 5K for rebels)
a. British
promised slaves freedom if they fought on their side
b. Many fled
with the British after the war and left the country
4. Many Indians also sided with
Britain and attacked Americans along the frontier
-- British
represented last hope for keeping land-hungry colonists out.
5. Britain possessed a 50,000 man
professional army
-- King
George hired an additional 30,000 German "Hessians" as mercenaries.
6. British also enlisted
about 50,000 loyalists
B. Weaknesses
1. Enormous
distance from England to the Colonies
-- Communication was inefficient to meet the need for immediate action.
2. America too
large a region for Britain’s army to effectively occupy;
population
was too dispersed
3. British
generals in America were poor leaders
a. Many British soldiers did not want to kill Americans, whom
they saw as
their countrymen.
b. Provisions for the army were poor
4. Americans had
only to tie in order to win; British had to win outright.
5. France was
waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge
6. London gov't
was ineffective; King George & Lord North inadequate
-- Whig factions in Parliament cheered American victories at the outset
V. American Strengths and Weaknesses
A. Strengths
1. Outstanding leadership e.g.,
George Washington; Benjamin Franklin (diplomat)
2. Economic aid from France at the
outset; later military aid was decisive.
3. Defensive military tactics worked
to their advantage
4. Agriculturally self-sustaining
5. Colonials were competent
marksmen; better than the redcoats
6. Moral advantage from belief in a
just cause
B. Weaknesses
1. Badly organized for the war and
lacked unity from the beginning.
a.
Continental Congress was weak and ineffective
b. Fought
almost the entire war without a constitution
2. Jealousy among colonies
a. Regarded
themselves as sovereign
-- Resisted Congress' to exercise its weak power
b. Quarrels
over the appointment of military leaders
3. Economic difficulties
a. Little
metal money
i. Paper money printed to the point that it was worthless
ii. Individual colonies had to later print paper money
b. Soldiers
deserted due to economic difficulties of their families
c. Debtors
paid their debts with seriously depreciated money.
4. Military challenges
a. Military
supplies were inadequate esp. firearms and gunpowder
b.
Militiamen highly unreliable
5. Morale in the Revolutionary army undermined
by greedy American profiteers
a. Sold
goods to British for payment in gold
b.
Speculators forced prices sky-high
c. Boston
merchants made profits of 50-200% while soldiers were dying.
6. Only a select minority of
Americans truly committed themselves to the cause.
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