Mercantilism & the Causes of the American Revolution

1. Mercantilism & the Causes of the American Revolution America’s History Ch. 5

2. - Author- Place & Time- Prior Knowledge- Audience- Reason- The Main Idea- Significance

3. I. Mercantilism – a nation’s power depends on its wealth • More exports than imports • Colonies produce agricultural goods & raw materials & buy manufactures • GB pursued policies that subsidized (funding) & charters to stimulate manufacturing & foreign trade • Ex: East India Tea Company; Royal African Company • Lords of Trade (1621) created to promote colonial trade & plantations • 1624, makes Virginia a Royal Colony • 1686, approves the Dominion of New England

4. II. Navigation Acts • 1651 –Prevented French & Dutch from using American Ports • Ships had to be owned by GB or American colonial merchants • 1660 –Colonists export sugar & molasses only to GB • 1663 –All imports to the colonies must pass through GB first • Vice-Admiralty Courts established to punish violators • Seldom enforced in the colonies

5. Naval Warfare • Attacked Dutch ships & forts in West Africa • 1664 –drove Dutch out of New Amsterdam • Rise of Merchant Shipping • The amount of tonnage shipped b/w the colonies & GB double b/w 1640 - 1690

6. AP PARTS • By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,Here once the embattled farmers stood,And fired the shot heard round the world. • The foe long since in silence slept;Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;And Time the ruined bridge has sweptDown the dark stream which seaward creeps. • On this green bank, by this soft stream,We set to-day a votive stone;That memory may their deed redeem,When, like our sires, our sons are gone. • Spirit, that made those heroes dareTo die, and leave their children free,Bid Time and Nature gently spareThe shaft we raise to them and thee.

7. Effects of the F&I War • IV. Salutary Neglect ends -1763 • replaced by imperial administration • More than 10,000 troops left in the colonies after F&I war • ‘To secure the dependence of the colonies on GB’ • GB comes to terms with the fact that Royal governors often had less power than colonial assemblies • many assemblies paid the governor’s salary • Assemblies often decided whether or not to call out the militia • Bureaucracy doubles (to administer new empire) • GB debt climbs from 75 million to 133 million • Debt is 60% of national budget

8. V. Legislation • Revenue Act, 1762 –enforces trade duties • Currency Act, 1764 • Paper money no longer legal tender; only gold or silver accepted • Sugar Act, 1764 • Customs duty added to French molasses • Custom enforcement tightened • Vice-admiralty courts in the colonies for smugglers –no jury trials

9. VI. Colonial Reaction to Unjust Authority (Scots-Irish) • Regulator Movement, 1766-1771 • NC farmers in debt due to falling Tobacco prices • Merchants & other creditors used courts to confiscate property • Mobs of farmers attacked judges, closed courts • Asked for lower property taxes • Gov. Tryon refused; Used eastern NC militia & British soldiers to defeat Regulators • Paxton Boys,1763 • Non-Quakers want Natives expelled, Quaker controlled gov’t refuses • Western PA farmers attack peaceful Conestoga tribe & march towards Philadelphia declaring to burn it • Ben Franklin negotiates truce • Failed to be brought to justice due to lack of witness

10. VII. Political Factions • Tories –Typically members of the House of Lords • Pro-Empire; expansion of government • Whigs –Typically members of the House of Commons • Republican ideals; sympathy w/Commonwealth, Puritan gov’t (Oliver Cromwell) • Anti-empire (too expensive) • *Typically the faction out of power

11. The Beginning of the End • VIII. Stamp Act , 1765 -tax on printed items (documents, newspapers, cards) • Purpose • To raise $ to support the army in the Americas • Similar to one in England • Lack of Success • The Mob; urban resistance • Boycott –Sons & Daughters of Liberty • Stamp Act Congress, NYC, 1765 • Letter of grievances • Eventually Repealed

12. IX. ‘No taxation, without representation’ • Declaratory Act, 1766 –Parliament has the authority to pass any law of regulation on trade on the colonies • Townshend Acts, 1766 • Tax paper, paint, tea, glass • Restraining Act –limited colonial legislatures • Purpose • Pay the salaries of royal officials in the colonies (governors, no longer controlled by colonial legislatures • Resistance • Raised revenue, instead of regulated trade • Colonists argued that taxing to raise revenue, should only be done if the people are represented in the decision • Boycott hurt British merchants • Boston Massacre, 1770 • –repealed in 1770, except tea tax

13. X. From Englishmen to Americans (1770 – 1775) • Committees of Correspondence, 1772 • ‘to state the rights of English men’ • Organizer Samuel Adams (Boston chapter, led to 80 more in MA w/in a year –spread to SC within a year) • Attack of the Gaspee, 1772 – British Customs ship destroyed off the coast of RI • Tea Act, 1773 • East India Tea Co. gets a monopoly of tea • Lowers prices –makes ‘English’ tea cheap, even w/ new tax • Boston Tea Party, 1773 • Coercive (Intolerable) Acts, 1774 • Boston Port Bill • Quartering Act • Justice Act • Quebec Act* Catholicism allowed in former French territory • 1st Continental Congress, 1774 • 12 colonies • Asked for redress & removal of Coercive Acts • King George III unresponsive

14. Battle of Lexington & Concord, April 1775 • Rural farmers come to support the cause later • Begin hiding guns, powder from British troops • Train ‘minutemen’ • 2nd Continental Congress • OliveBranch Petition, Summer 1775 • Attempt to make peace after the hostilities • George III refuses to read document • By July 1776 produces the Declaration of Independence