Road to the American Revolution

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Road to the American Revolution

• When did the tension between England and the
  colonists turn from minor squabble to
  revolutionary?
• 8/31-9/1 Lecture

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A Quick Overview
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Mercantilism

• Definition
• Wealth is power
• Must export more than import
• Colonies exist to benefit mother country
• Positives for the colonies
• Negatives for the colonies

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Navigation Acts (1650, 1660, 1663, 1673)

• Impact on colonial economy
• Trade
• Transportation of goods
• Middlemen
• Dominion of New England (1686)
• Bolster defense
• Sir Edmund Andros
• Stepped on local government

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French and Indian War Fallout

• Changes in colonial mindset
• Britain wants colonies to take responsibility for
  their own defense

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Attempts to Raise Revenue

• Sugar Act (1764)
• Quartering Act (1765)
• Stamp Act (1765)

• Colonial Reaction
• Rights of Englishmen
• Taxation without Representation
• Stamp Act Congress (1765)
• Nonimportation Agreements
• Stamp Act repealed, but Parliament responds with
  Declaratory Act (1766)

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Townshend Acts (1767)

• Import taxes
• Reaffirmation of Quartering Act
• Colonial Reaction
• Boston Massacre (1770)
• Boston Tea Party (1773)
• Committees of Correspondence

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Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Economic restrictions
• Political restrictions
• Social restrictions

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Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Economic restrictions
• Political restrictions
• Social restrictions
• Colonial Reaction
• 1st Continental Congress (1774)
• Intimidation of Loyalists

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Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Economic restrictions
• Political restrictions
• Social restrictions
• Colonial Reaction
• 1st Continental Congress (1774)
• Intimidation of Loyalists
• Lexington and Concord (1775)
• 2nd Continental Congress (1775)
• Declaration of Independence (1776)

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As Revolution Begins

• British Strengths
• More people
• More wealth
• Greater naval power
• Professional army
• Could pay for foreign soldiers
• British Weaknesses
• Limited supplies
• Operating from far away

• Colonial Strengths
• Good leadership
• Foreign aid
• Self-sustaining b/c agriculture
• Self-reliant
• Thought justice was on their side
• Colonial Weaknesses
• Poor organization
• Jealousy
• Poor economy

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Should they rebel?

• Write a dialogue between two colonists, one who
  supports revolution and one who opposes it. Be
  sure to address what both sides consider the
  social, political, and economic benefits of their
  position for the colonies.