1. Causes of the American Revolution Day 89

2. American Revolution (1775-1783) A war between the American Colonies and the British that resulted in the colonies separating from Great Britain and becoming independent. Led to the colonies becoming the United States of America.

3. From 1607 until 1763, Great Britain practiced a policy of “salutary neglect” with the colonies. Basically, this meant that the British did not strictly enforce parliamentary laws in the colonies. They did this because the Prime Minister at the time, Robert Walpole, convinced Parliament that “If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish.” This policy allowed the enforcement of trade laws to be lenient.

4. Beginning in 1763, however, the British changed their position on this. Now they wanted to heavily and tax and regulate the colonies. Do you remember why from the previous lesson? Because they needed money to pay for the long war they had just fought with France for colonial control in various places around the world. Also because they wanted the colonists to pay the bill for building and manning forts along the Proclamation Line they had just set in 1763.

5. Adopting policies that the colonies should pay a larger proportion of the costs of supporting the British empire was not popular with the colonists. This was followed by other laws intended to demonstrate British authority over the colonies; this too was unpopular in America. They had become quite comfortable with the salutary neglect policy.

6. But even before the British began to impose more taxes and regulations on the colonists, other thoughts about freedom and liberty and independence were being discussed. The period leading up to the American Revolution is sometimes called the Age of American Enlightenment. It was a time when colonial leaders were beginning to question many some of the social and political decisions that had been previously made.

7. Enlightenment means to see things more clearly or perhaps in a new way. Enlightenment ideas included such things as freedom, liberty, natural rights, self-government, things that we take for granted now, but things that were new and ground-breaking in the mid 18 th century. With these ideas in mind, the American Enlightenment would ultimately lead to a new sense of political and social identity. Taxes and regulations imposed by King George III only served to convince the Founding Fathers that their Enlightenment ideas were reasonable and that independence was their best alternative. Enlightenment

8. With no regard to how the colonists felt, the British king imposed heavy taxes, collectively known as the Objectionable Acts. Navigation Act – restricted colonial trade Sugar Act – taxed sugar and molasses Stamp Act – taxed all paper items Quartering Act –forced colonists to house and feed British soldiers Declaratory Act – British empowered to make more laws governing the colonies Townshend Acts – taxed glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea

9. Discussion questions: If you had been a colonist, what action would you have taken to protest these new taxes imposed by the king? What actions can citizens take today if they disagree with government decisions? What is the difference between then and now?

10. British Mercantilism Colonists objected to the British policy of mercantilism--an economic system under which the British controlled all colonial trade and taxes. Colonists objected to mercantilism, because it meant they were only allowed to trade with the British, and were expected to import only British goods.

11. Because the colonies lacked elected representation in the British Parliament, many colonists considered the laws to be illegitimate and a violation of their rights as Englishmen. The opinion of the British government, which was not unanimous, was that the colonies enjoyed “virtual representation.” What do you think virtual representation means?

12. A motivating force behind the need for revolution was the idea of “republicanism.” This is a belief that the supreme power in a country should have to answer to the people who elect him/her. Even in Britain, a political group was emerging that pointed out that the British government had become corrupt. Americans feared the corruption was crossing the Atlantic. The idea of a “revolution” (a dramatic change) began to be discussed.

13. The commitment of most Americans to republicanism and to their individual rights energized the revolution. Britain was increasingly seen as hopelessly corrupt and hostile to American interests. Britain threatened to take away the established liberties that Americans had become accustomed to having.

14. Thomas Paine's best-selling pamphlet Common Sense fueled the fire. It appeared in January 1776, after the Revolution had started. It was widely read by colonists and spread the ideas of republicanism and liberalism. This pamphlet promoted the idea of separating from Britain. It encouraged recruitment for the Continental Army. Common Sense asks the reader to look to the future but make a choice right now. It offered a solution to Americans who were disgusted by British control and tyranny (cruel and unjust authority by a government).

15. Because of the policy of salutary neglect, the colonists had basically been left to govern themselves. The effects of this led to the colonies considering themselves separate from Great Britain anyway. It also led them to form a collective identity. What is the term for a group of states that are loosely allied with one another? C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N When Parliament tried to reassert its power by making the colonists trade only with Great Britain, the colonists revolted. O N F E D E R A T I O

16. General Causes: End of salutary neglect Stricter laws and taxes British mercantilism No representation in Parliament Desire for self-government Enlightenment ideas like republicanism, liberty, independence General Consequences: U.S. independence recognized Right to settle lands west of the 13 colonies New national government New Constitution Freedom, liberty, civic rights