THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION

1
THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION

• 1763 TO 1775
• A CLASH OF NEW ATTITUDES

2
THE CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION

• A NEW AMERICAN ATTITUDE
• SELF ASSURED
• WANTED MORE SELF CONTROL. DID NOT WANT TO BE
  SUBORDINATE

3
A NEW BRITISH ATTITUDE

• WANTED TO TIGHTEN CONTROL OF THE COLONIES.
• MAKE THE COLONIES PAY ONE THIRD THE COST OF
  THEIR DEFENSE.

4
BRITISH POLITICS

• THE RISE OF KING GEORGE III 1760
• THE END OF SALUTARY NEGLECT.

5
Who is King George III?

• Extremely stubborn
• His government was filled with men who were
• Inexperience
• Inward-looking
• Narrow minded
• Wanted to control the colonies
• 50 years of Whig power was about to give way to a
  conservative government dominated by the King.

6
Navigation Laws

• Purpose enforce the mercantilist system
• Motive First enacted in 1651 aimed at rival
  Dutch shippers who were active in the American
  trade.
• Basic provisions passed in 17th and 18th
  centuries
• Restricted commerce to and from the colonies to
  English or American vessels.
• Certain "enumerated" articles (tobacco) couldnt
  be shipped to any other foreign market except
  England
• All European goods going to America had to go
  through England first.
• Certain restrictions on colonial manufactures for
  export British did not want manufacturing
  competition with the Colonies.
• Molasses Act (1733)

7
Positive Impact

• Until 1763, it did not adversely impact the
  colonial economy.
• Colonials had rights of Englishmen and
  opportunities for self-government
• Colonies had British military protection
• Colonies greatly profited from manufacturing and
  trading.

8
Negative Impact

• Colonial manufacturing was hindered by British
  policies.
• Southern colonies suffered as export prices
  dropped
• New England resented favorable British policies
  toward Southern colonies (who produced tobacco,
  sugar and rice).

9
NEW COLONIAL POLICY

• THE USE IF WRITS OF ASSISTANCE
• Search warrants by British customs officers
  harassed colonial shipping.
• Aimed to reduce colonial smuggling
• JAMES OTIS PROTESTS THEIR USE AS A VIOLATION OF
  THE RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN.
• Otis efforts gained press throughout the
  colonies.
• Wrote famous words "no taxation without
  representation."
• THE PROCLAMATION OF 1763

10
THE GRENVILLE PROGRAM 1763- 1766

• THE SUGAR ACT OF 1764
• First act ever passed specifically that raised
  revenue for the crown.
• Aimed to regulate the illegal triangular trade
• Reduced taxes on molasses but taxed all molasses
• Not enforced effectively

11
Continued.

• THE STAMP ACT 1765 THE FIRST DIRECT TAX.       
• Purpose Raise revenues to support the new
  military force in the colonies
• Provisions
• Official stamps would serve as proof of payment.
• Tax applied to published materials and legal
  documents e.g., pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas,
  bills of lading, marriage certificates, death
  certificates, mortgages, insurance policies,
  liquor licenses, playing cards.
• Both Sugar Act and Stamp Act provided for trying
  offenders in admiralty courts where juries were
  not allowed

12
THE AMERICAN REACTION

• THE STAMP ACT CONGRESS
• Brought together 27 delegates from 9 colonies
• Massachusetts invited colonies who adopted
  Virginia Resolves to meet.
• Drew up a statement of their rights and
  grievances Largely ignored in England of little
  consequence in the colonies
• Significance Brought together reps from
  different rival colonies and set a precedent
• RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST TO THE KING

13
THE AMERICAN REACTION (cont)

• THE SONS OF LIBERTY LEAD BY SAMUEL ADAMS
• Violently enforced nonimportation agreements
  against violators (tarring feathering was one
  painful tactic).
• NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENTS.

14
REPEAL OF THE GRENVILLE PROGRAM

• THE NEW MOLASSES TAX
• THE DECLARATORY ACT 1766
• GRENVILLE IS REMOVED FROM POWER.
• NEW YORK BUILDS A MONUMENT TO KING GEORGE III

15
THE TOWNSHEND PROGRAM 1767

• CHARLES TOWNSHEND TAKES OVER.
• NO DIRECT TAXES. MAKES PROVISION TO PAY ROYAL
  GOVERNORS. CUT POWER OF THE PURSE.

16
MORE

• SUSPENDS THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE FOR REFUSING TO
  QUARTER TROOPS.
• INCREASES USE OF WRITS OF ASSISTANCE.
• SMUGGLERS TRIED IN ADMIRALTY COURTS

17
AMERICAN REACTION TO TOWNSHEND DUTIES

• NEW NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT.
• JOHN DICKENSONS LETTERS FROM A FARMER.
• Challenged distinction between "internal" and
  "external" taxes.
• Denied right to levy taxes for purpose of
  revenue.
• Prompted the Massachusetts Circular Letter
• OPEN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

18
THE BOSTON MASSACRE, 1770

• SONS OF LIBERTY PROVOKED THE INCIDENT.
• 5 AMERICAN COLONIALS KILLED.
• JOHN ADAMS DEFENDS THE SOLDIERS.
• VIOLENCE INCREASES.

19
LORD NORTH BECOMES PRIME MINISTER

• TOWNSHEND DUTIES REPEALED
• EXCEPT FOR SMALL TAX ON TEA.
• NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENTS END. AMERICANS BUY
  SMUGGLED TEA .

20
THE FINAL CRISIS

• BASIC ISSUES UNRESOLVED.
• SAM ADAMS ORGANIZES COMMITTEES OF
  CORRESPONDENCE.
• 1773 EAST INDIA COMPANY MONOPOLY ON TEA TRADE
  WITH THE COLONIES.
• PRICE FALLS BELOW SMUGGLED TEA.

21
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. 1773

• SONS OF LIBERTY
• DUMP 750,000 WORTH OF TEA.
• BRITISH RESPOND BY PASSING
• THE COERCIVE ACT OR INTOLERABLE ACTS 1774
• CLOSE BOSTON HARBOR

22
OTHER BRITISH REACTIONS

• SUSPEND MASS. LEGISLATURE AND TOWN MEETINGS.
• PASS THE QUARTERING ACT 1774
• PARLIAMENT PASSES THE QUEBEC ACT 1774
• BRITISH OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF CRIME WILL BE TRIED
  IN BRITAIN.

23
COLONIAL REACTION

• CALL THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1774
• DEMAND REPEAL OF THE INTOLERABLE ACTS
• SUFFOLK RESOLVES WHICH DECLARE INTOLERABLE
  ACTS VOID.

24
MORE

• DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES
• DEMAND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS.

25
OTHER REACTIONS

• FORM THE ASSOCIATION TO ENFORCE A BOYCOTT.
• ADVISED COLONIAL MILITIAS TO STOCKPILE WEAPONS
  AND POWDER.
• CALL FOR THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO
  MEET IN 1775.