1. Colonial Resistance: Ideals of Self-government
Key Concept 3.1.II
Benny Cai
Period 5
11/21/16

2. Infringement of Colonial Economic Rights
The Acts that Led to the Revolution:
Navigation Act, Molasses Act, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts
Purpose of taxation shifts from regulation of trade  generation of revenue (economic deficit in Britain following Seven Years War)
Raises question of whether British Parliament can tax without direct colonial representation or consent
Coins rallying cry: “no taxation without representation”
Intolerable Acts passed as punishment in response to Boston Tea Party: closes Boston port with Boston Port Act, believed to be “last straw hence the name
Proclamation of 1763
Restricted colonists from migrating westward to seek cheaper lands (boundary set at Appalachian Mountains) and set to avoid conflict with natives
Political Cartoon protesting against the Intolerable Acts

3. Enlightenment Thoughts Shape Revolutionary Beliefs
Adam Smith
European philosophes shape American revolutionary Ideals
John Locke: natural rights – all humans are born free and equal
Voltaire: protection of freedom of religion and speech
Montesquieu: separation of powers into three separate branches
Rousseau: social contract, gov. provides protection to its subjects
Beccaria: elimination of unusual punishments, right to fair trial
Adam Smith: laissez-faire
Wollstonecraft: equal rights for women
Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”
Widely published and popular book, emphasized how illogical it was for a smaller body to rule the larger one, strongly favors republican government
Rights of British subjects that supposedly applied to colonists were denied
Issues of American separation with Britain
Colonists felt physically separated
Economically separated: Used under mercantilism, colonial currency not interchangeable
John Locke
Rousseau

4. Political Activism and Rising Leaders
Patrick Henry
Speech publicizes opposition to acts/taxes
Stamp Act Congress
Benjamin Franklin
Helps in revolutionary effort: creation of political cartoons and receives financial support from France
George Washington
Military leadership
Other Revolutionary Organizations:
Sons of Liberty:
Led by Samuel Adams
Resorted to violently enforced boycotts
Daughters of Liberty:
Made home made goods to support boycotts
Participate in boycotts
Committees of Correspondence:
Letter writing network, communication system
Organized resistance
Daughters of Liberty
Samuel Adams
Militia meeting

5. Diplomacy and Local Support
Britain had overwhelming advantage and still retained colonial support among loyalists
Best trained and equipped army
Estimated 50,000 Tories
Economic advantage
BUT… America possessed advantages as well
Strong leadership and military leaders (e.g. George Washington)
Defined cause among colonial militias
Home-field advantage
Support from foreign allies
Franklin negotiates terms with French monarch Louis XVI and gains financial support
Support from civilians
Women, laborers, and artisans highly involved in war effort
Loyalists
Patriots