Causes of The Revolution AN EMERGING AMERICAN IDENTITY
Starter – September 15th How did the French and Indian War lead to the American Revolution? - give two examples).
Change and Crisis Forming A New Identity Mid-1770s Population over 2.1 million Colonies had been established nearly 150 years Allowed large measure of independence, though still British subjects Each had own government, made own laws Began to identify less with Britain British colonies had expanded rapidly along east coast since early 1600s Offered opportunities not available in Great Britain Land plentiful, cheap Class system absent Good chance for advancement through intelligence, hard work By the mid-1700s dramatic new Enlightenment ideas had spread to North America, inspiring the British colonists to forge a new nation.
The Road To Revolution Salutary Neglect Even though the British believed in mercantilism, Prime Minister Robert Walpole espoused a view of "salutary neglect." This was a system whereby the actual enforcement of external trade relations was lax. He believed this enhanced freedom would stimulate commerce. The Enlightenment From the writings of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean- Jacques Rousseau, and the Baron de Montesquieu, the founding fathers gleaned the concepts of the social contract, limited government, the consent of the governed, and separation of powers.
The Great Awakening The Great Awakening did away with the notion that people couldn't pray directly to God or that predestination existed, and espoused much more democratic concepts. Ministers could no longer control the direction of religious life. It had been democratized and made accessible by people. People were put in charge of their own fate.
Opposing British Policies Britain began to assert its right to impose laws on colonies Britain defeated France in French and Indian War, 1763 France had to give up its North American colonies Britain decided to make colonies pay part of war costs in taxes
New Laws and Taxes Sugar Act: This act raised revenue by increasing duties on sugar imported from the West Indies. Quartering Act: Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary. Stamp Act: This required tax stamps on many items and documents including playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses. Townshend Acts: These taxes were imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops in Boston. 1773 – Tea Act: To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.
The Boston Massacre Tensions were high due to the presence of British troops in Boston. The Boston Massacre started out as a street fight between “patriots” throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks at a British squad. It ended with gunshots and the death of colonists. This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred.
The Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party was when colonists snuck onto English ships and dumped the tea into the water in protest of the tea tax. Parliament was swift in retaliation. The Intolerable Acts in March of One of the many things included in the Intolerable Acts was the closing of the Boston Port.
The First Continental Congress Called in Philadelphia, 1774 Colonists listed grievances against British Plan to reconcile differences with British presented Plan voted down
The Revolution Begins Shot Heard ‘Round The World Sons of Liberty expected war, hid weapons in countryside and towns west of Boston April 1775, British troops marched out of Boston to find weapons British troops confronted colonial militiamen in Lexington Shots rang out; the American Revolution began Common Sense Not all colonists wanted independence from Britain Thomas Paine argued in 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense, that colonies no longer needed British rule Said colonies deserved independence Paine’s pamphlet helped gain popular support for cause