The Deep Roots of Revolution: The Mercantile Theory and the Stamp Act Uproar

1. THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION -1763-1778 Chapter 7

2. THE DEEP ROOTS OF REVOLUTION • American Revolution was a revolution in thought and perception about who the colonists were. • Reasons?

3. THE MERCANTILE THEORY • Policy of all major European nations from 16th tol8th centuries. • Mercantilism – Belief that wealth was power and that a country’s economic wealth (both military and political power) could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury.

4. MercantilismElements of the Theory • To get gold, must export more than import • Colonies provide export markets • Colonies provide source for raw material • Colonies can’t trade with others • Colonies can’t produce their own finished goods • Encourage colonies to produce what mother country must import

5. Mercantilism Trammels On Trade • Parliament passed many laws to enforce the mercantile system • Navigation Laws– most famous • Significance • Other Laws

6. The Money Problem • All currency came from outside. • Had to use British, French and Spanish Coins • Colonists buying more than could sell under Mercantile policies, so chronic shortage of hard currency

7. The Money Problem • What did colonists use for currency besides coins? • Barter • On the eve of revolution, colonies issue paper money of dubious value • Why value “dubious”? • Parliament eventually bans, which is one more grievance of colonists

8. Merits of Mercantilism • Salutary Neglect. • Robert Walpole. • Smuggling. • Americans did reap many direct benefits from Mercantilism. • What were they?

9. Benefits of Mercantilism • Price supports and subsidies helped them compete against the Europeans. • Tobacco monopoly. • They had rights of Englishmen and opportunities for self-government. • Protection of the strong British army and Navy • Prosperity trickled down

10. The Menace Of Mercantilism • Downside to Mercantilism • It hurt economic initiative • Southern planters were treated more favorably. • Cash Crop farmers forced into debt • Mercantilism was humiliating to Americans

11. The Stamp Tax Uproar • After the war, Brits wanted to start taxing the American Colonies. • Why? • For what Purpose? • George Grenville ordered End of Salutary Neglect. • Revenue Acts

12. New Mercantilist Laws • Sugar Act—1764 • Quartering Act of 1765 • Currency Act • Stamp Act —1765 • This Act became the most hated

13. Stamp Act • What it required • Who it antagonized • British view of its fairness • American view of its fairness • No taxation without representation • Virtual representation

14. Parliament Forced To Repeal The Stamp Act • Stamp Act Congress of 1765 • Non-importation agreements of British goods • Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty • Declaratory Act Tarring and Feathering a Tax Stamp Agent

15. The Townshend Tea Tax And The Boston Massacre • Charles “Champagne Charlie” Townsend emerges as PM • In 1767 he persuades Parliament to pass theTownshend Acts • Colonists object • Reasons • 1768 British officials landed 2 regiments of troops (700) in Boston

16. Boston Massacre

17. The Seditious Committees Of Correspondence • Townsend Acts were a failure • In1770 Townshend Acts repealed. But the tax on tea remained • Sam Adams, master propagandist • Organized the local Committees of Correspondence in Mass • Led to Inter-colonial committees of correspondence Sam Adams

18. Boston Tea Party • 1773 the British East India Company had a big problem • What was it? • How did Parliament try to remedy it? • Why was Parliament so motivated to fix the problem?

19. Tea Act 1773 • Britain gave BEIC a complete monopoly on the American tea business. • Consequences: • Able to sell tea more cheaply than the smuggled tea, even with the tax. • Cuts out the American middle-man • Angers colonists. Americans see as a trick to make the tax palatable.

20. Boston Tea Party • None of the tea cargo of the Company reached its destination. • Annapolis — colonistsburned cargo and the ships. • Charleston—Governor stores in a warehouse. Is eventually sold during the war to pay for uniforms. • Boston— band of white townspeople dressed as Indians boarded the 3 tea ships on Dec. 6, 1773. They smashed 342 chests and dumped the tea into Boston harbor. Boston Tea party

21. Boston Tea Party

22. Response to Boston Tea Party • Reactions of public • Reaction of Parliament • Intolerable Acts • Boston Port Act • Mass. Government Act • Quartering Act • Admin. of Justice Act

23. Quebec Act - 1774 • Not part of the Intolerable Acts. But passed at the same time. • What did it say? • Colonists believed it was “intolerable” and designed to punish them. • Why?

24. Quebec Before and After 1774

25. The Continental Congress And Bloodshed • 1774--In response to the Intolerable Acts colonists call First Continental Congress • Met in Philadelphia to discus ways of redressing colonial grievances. • 12 of 13 colonies sent 55 men • Drew up a Declaration of Rights

26. The Continental Congress And Bloodshed • Continental Congress helped create the Association. • Attempt to get Brits to repeal the Intolerable Acts and taxes. • What was it? • Called for a complete boycott of British goods. non-import, non-export and non-consumption. • Was a move toward unity.

27. Lexington and Concord • Sam Adams • John Hancock • Paul Revere • Shot Heard Round the World

28. Lexington

29. Strengths and Weaknesses • British Strengths • British Weaknesses • American Strengths • American Weaknesses

30. A THIN LINE OF HEROES