The Road to Revolution

1. The Road to Revolution Chapter 7

2. Essential Question? • Why did the American colonists rebel against Great Britain?

3. 7 Years War • British victory was very costly. • Parliament forced American colonists to pay the soldiers and other costs of war. • Revolution based on economic policies.

4. Roots of Revolution • Colonists influenced by the Enlightenment • Philosophers revived old Roman idea of Republic. • What is a Republic? • Also influenced by radical British politicians known as Whigs, who warned against absolute monarchs.

5. Mercantilism • What is mercantilism? • Hints: • You learned it in World and Civics!

6. Mercantilism • Wealth and power are determined by the amount of gold and silver a nation possesses. • A nation would become powerful by exporting more than they import. • How would having a colony benefit a nation under the mercantile system?

7. Mercantilism • The “mother country” can exploit the resources of a colony. • In addition, they could force the colony to buy goods manufactured in the “motherland”. • American colonies provided tobacco, sugar, pelts, and ship building supplies. • Laws were passed to ensure that this system was followed. * 1st law: Navigation Law (1650).

8. Mercantilism(Colonial Perspective) Pros Cons Currency shortage in colonies Competition stifled Perpetual economic adolescence • Loosely enforced prior to 1763 • Tobacco, ship-building monopoly • Protection of the British Army and Navy

9. Stamp Tax • Beginning in 1763 a series of taxes from Britain caused an uproar in America. • Stamp Act • Tax on all public papers including sales receipts, legal documents, newspapers, diplomas, etc. • A similar tax had existed in Britain for decades.

10. Colonial Reaction to the Stamp Act • Colonists were shocked to see that the crown had taxed them after a century of salutary neglect. • Violators of the Stamp Act would be tried in a court without a jury!! • Accused assumed to be guilty. • Funds raised through this act were to pay for the royal army located in the colonies. • Colonists began to ask why an Army was needed if there was not a war? • Parliament created the law, yet the colonists had no vote in Parliament!

11. Stamp Act • “No taxation without representation!”

12. Colonial Reaction to the Stamp Act • Colonies met for the Stamp Act Congress (1765). • Unified the colonies, who had before acted separately on all matters. • Colonies agreed to non- importation agreements on British goods. • Defiant colonists formed the Sons of Liberty, a radical group that terrorized British officials in the colonies and influenced other colonists. • Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.

13. Townshend Acts • 1767 • New tax on glass, lead, paper, paint, and TEA. • Most colonists drank tea • Parliament suspended the NY legislature for failure to enforce Townshend. • Non-importation agreements used as with the Stamp Act.

14. Boston Massacre? • To enforce the Townshend Act, British soldiers were sent to Boston. • 1770: colonists harass, taunt, soldiers; surround them and throw rocks and snowballs. • Soldiers fire into crowd, 5 died.

15. Boston Massacre • Word of the event spread quickly and unified the colonies. • Crispus Attucks -> • Died at the Boston Massacre

16. British Figures King George III Prime Minister Lord North

17. Committees of Correspondence • Network between cities; established to exchange anti-British propaganda. • Eventually became a major communications tool. Samuel Adams ->

18. Tea Time • Parliament awarded the British East India Company a monopoly for supplying tea to the colonies. • What could happen if a monopoly is established???

19. Boston Tea Party • 1773: To protest the monopoly, the Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians, boarded a boat in Boston Harbor, and dumped all of the tea they could find into the ocean.

20. British Reaction • Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts • Closed Boston Harbor • Soldiers were sent to Britain for trial rather than be tried in the colonies. • Quartering Act • Allowed British soldiers to take homes of colonists. • Quebec Act : made unsettled Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, etc., part of Quebec . • Colonists feared Quebec, why?

21. 1st Continental Congress • 12 colonies agree to a meeting in 1774. • Colonies sent representatives like George Washington, S. Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock. • Wrote the Declaration of Rights: an appeal to the King to repeal taxes and laws in dispute. • Boycott of British goods. • 1st Continental Congress does not seek independence!!!!

22. Shot Heard Round the World • British near Boston feared the local colonial militia. • Troops sent to seize militia weapons and arrest Sons of Liberty. • A band of colonists met the soldiers outside of Boston in Lexington, MA. • British soldiers ( Redcoats) and colonists exchange fire. • 8 Americans Dead!!!!

23. Shot Heard Round the World • British continued on their march toward the colonial arsenal. • Colonists regrouped, met them in Concord, MA. • Intense battle raged. • Colonists kill 300, Redcoats must retreat.

24. The Match-up! Great Britain 13 Colonies 2.5 million Militias Defensive war Highly dispersed population Aid from foreign nations Great leadership Abundant agriculture Colonies often squabbled Lack of $ No manufactured goods Fighting for LIBERTY! • 7.5 million (population) • Established army • World’s best navy • Lots of $ • Hired mercenaries from other country • Many colonists stayed loyal • 3,000 miles from home • Problems in Europe • Manufactured goods

25. American Patriots George Washington Benjamin Franklin

26. American Patriots John Hancock Samuel Adams

27. American Patriots John Adams Thomas Jefferson

28. American Patriots Patrick Henry “Give me liberty, or give me death.”

29. American Patriots? Marquis de Lafayette Baron von Stueben

30. Essential Question? • Why did the American colonists rebel against Great Britain?