THE ROAD TO INDPENDENCE THE ROAD TO INDPENDENCE

THE MERCANTILE THEORY  Policy of all major European nations from 16th to l8th 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.

Mercantilism Elements 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

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

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

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

The Menace Of Mercantilism  Downside to Mercantilism It hurt economic initiative It hurt economic initiative Southern planters were treated more favorably. Southern planters were treated more favorably. Mercantilism was humiliating to Americans Mercantilism was humiliating to Americans “Revolution broke out because England failed to recognize an emerging nation when it saw one”- my FAVORITE President“Revolution broke out because England failed to recognize an emerging nation when it saw one”- my FAVORITE President

1763  Pontiac’s Rebellion Fort Detroit British “gifts” of smallpox-infected blankets from Fort Pitt. The Aftermath: Tensions Along the Frontier

Pontiac’s Rebellion

BACKLASH!  Proclamation of 1763

The Stamp Tax Uproar  After the war, Brits wanted to start taxing the American Colonies. Why? Why?  George Grenville Prime Minister Prime Minister End of Salutary Neglect. End of Salutary Neglect.  Revenue Acts

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

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

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

The Townshend Tea Tax And The Boston Massacre  Charles “Champagne Charlie” Townsend emerges as PM  1767-Parliament passes the Townshend Acts  Colonists object Reasons Reasons  1768 British officials landed 2 regiments of troops (700) in Boston

Boston Massacre

The Seditious Committees Of Correspondence  Townsend Acts were a failure Repealed Tea?  Sam Adams Organized the local Committees of Correspondence in Mass Purposes? Sam Adams

Boston Tea Party  1773-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?

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 Able to sell tea more cheaply than the smuggled tea Cuts out the American middle-man Cuts out the American middle-man Angers colonists. Americans see as a trick to make the tax palatable. Angers colonists. Americans see as a trick to make the tax palatable.

Boston Tea Party  None of the tea cargo of the Company reached its destination. Maryland Maryland South Carolina South Carolina Boston — Boston — Dec. 16, 1773.Dec. 16, chests of tea smashed and dumped the tea into Boston harbor.342 chests of tea smashed and dumped the tea into Boston harbor. Boston Tea partyBoston Tea party

Boston Tea Party

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

Quebec Act  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? Why?

Quebec Before and After 1774

The Continental Congress And Bloodshed  First Continental Congress Philadelphia Philadelphia Reasoning? Reasoning?  12 Colonies  55 Delegates  Drew up a Declaration of Rights

The Continental Congress And Bloodshed  Expressed loyalty to Britain  Demanded repeal of all British laws taxing colonists  Banned all trade with Britain  Organized Continental Association to enforce the ban Nonimportation, nonexportation, nonconsumption  Advised each colony to form a militia  Pledged to meet again if demands were not met

Lexington and Concord  Sam Adams  John Hancock  Paul Revere  Shot Heard Round the World

Lexington

Strengths and Weaknesses  British Strengths  British Weaknesses  American Strengths  American Weaknesses