Origins of the American War for Independence

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

1. Mercantilism– Thought of the British is that colonists

need to provide the Mother Country with a favorable balance of trade.

– In time, there is a shift and the Mother Country sees the colonies as a source of revenue—at the very least, they should pay for the cost of governance.

– Colonists get used to non-enforcement of mercantilist laws (salutary neglect) in the early part of the 18th century, so when the British try to enforce legislation (after Fr/Ind War), there is strong resistance.

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

2. Colonial attachment to local self-rule– Essentially, the power of the governor

decreased in the 18th century and the power of the assembly increased.

– There was also the diverging English and Colonial points of view regarding taxation and representation. (virtual representation vs. “no taxation without representation”)

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

3. Effects of French/Indian War– 3 wars precede the French/Indian

War (see p. 111)• King William’s War 1689-1697• Queen Anne’s War 1702-1713--

Britain receives large landholdings at the Treaty of Utrecht (1713)

• King George’s War 1744-1748--New Englanders upset that Louisbourg was handed back to France at the Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle (1748)

North America in North America in 17501750

North America in North America in 17631763

Ben Franklin Ben Franklin representatives representatives fromfrom New England, NY, MD, PA New England, NY, MD, PA

A Albany CongressAlbany Congress failed Iroquois failed Iroquois broke off relations with broke off relations with Britain & threatened to Britain & threatened to trade with the French. trade with the French.

1754 1754 Albany Plan Albany Plan of Unionof Union

BritishBritish

• March in formation or March in formation or bayonet charge. bayonet charge.

• Br. officers wanted toBr. officers wanted to take charge of colonials. take charge of colonials.

• Prima Donna Br. Prima Donna Br. officers with servants officers with servants & tea settings. & tea settings.

• Drills & toughDrills & tough discipline. discipline.

• Colonists should payColonists should pay for their own defense. for their own defense.

• Indian-style guerillaIndian-style guerilla tactics. tactics.• Col. militias servedCol. militias served under own captains. under own captains.

• No mil. deference orNo mil. deference or protocols observed. protocols observed.

• Resistance to risingResistance to rising taxes. taxes.

• Casual, Casual, non-professionals. non-professionals.

Methods ofMethods ofFighting:Fighting:

MilitaryMilitaryOrganization:Organization:

MilitaryMilitaryDiscipline:Discipline:

Finances:Finances:

Demeanor:Demeanor:

British-American British-American Colonial TensionsColonial Tensions

ColonialsColonials

France --> France --> lost her Canadian lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in possessions, most of her empire in India, and claims India, and claims to lands east of the Mississippi to lands east of the Mississippi River.River.Spain -->Spain --> got all French lands west got all French lands west of the Mississippi River, New of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to Orleans, but lost Florida to England.England.England -->England --> got all French lands in got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance commercial dominance in India.in India.

1763 1763 Treaty of Treaty of ParisParis

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 3. Effects of French/Indian War– French Indian War was a total victory by

Britain and they acquired nearly all of North America. The effects included:• Colonists gain sense of a bigger America

beyond the Appalachians

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 3. Effects of French/Indian War– The effects included:

• Colonists forced to cooperate on an unprecedented scale (somewhat fulfilling Franklin’s Albany Plan)

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 3. Effects of French/Indian War– The effects included:

• Trained a core of American soldiers

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 3. Effects of French/Indian War– The effects included:

• Removed French/Indian Threat decreasing the colonial dependence on Britain

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 3. Effects of French/Indian War–OTHER EFFECTS?

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 4. Failures of George III– He was determined to play an aggressive

role in government and take away power from parliament which they were unwilling to yield.

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 5. Failures of Parliament– Few had been to America– There was a communications problem

between colonists and mother country– Parliament held to principles of

parliamentary sovereignty (including virtual representation)

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 6. Enlightenment Philosophies/ Unification of American Political

Beliefs– The influence of John Locke– Representative Gov’t (Republicanism)– Local Assemblies have right to tax– Hatred of the royal veto– A moral component that was missing in

Britain

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 7. Divergence of the American Social System– 40%+ of population non-English (by 1775)– Difference in morality, social graces,

culture, etc.– Formal education better in America—

especially in the areas of law and political philosophy

ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

• 8. British Legislation (1763-1775)– Taxation w/o representation and an

infringement on their “natural rights”

Real WhigsReal Whigs

Q->Q-> What was the extent of ParliamentWhat was the extent of Parliament’’ss authority over the colonies?? authority over the colonies??

Absolute?Absolute? OR OR Limited?Limited?

Q->Q-> How could the colonies give or How could the colonies give or withhold consent for withhold consent for parliamentaryparliamentary legislation when they did not legislation when they did not havehave representation in that body?? representation in that body??

Theories of Theories of RepresentationRepresentation

1.1. Sugar Act - 1764 Sugar Act - 1764

2.2. Currency Act - 1764 Currency Act - 1764

4.4. Stamp Act - 1765 Stamp Act - 1765

3.3. Quartering Act - 1765 Quartering Act - 1765

George GrenvilleGeorge Grenville’’s s Program, 1763-1765Program, 1763-1765

Loyal NineLoyal Nine - 1765- 1765

Sons of LibertySons of Liberty – – began in began in NYC:NYC:Samuel Samuel Adams Adams

Stamp Act CongressStamp Act Congress – 1765– 1765 ** Stamp Act ResolvesStamp Act Resolves

Declaratory ActDeclaratory Act – – 17661766

Stamp Act CrisisStamp Act Crisis

17671767 William Pitt, P. M. & Charles William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, Secretary of Townshend, Secretary of the Exchequer. the Exchequer.

A Shift from paying taxes for Br. Shift from paying taxes for Br. war war debts & quartering of troops debts & quartering of troops paying col. govt. salaries. paying col. govt. salaries.A He diverted revenue collection He diverted revenue collection from from internal to external trade. internal to external trade.A Tax these imports Tax these imports paper, paint, paper, paint, lead, glass, tea. lead, glass, tea.A Increase custom officials at Increase custom officials at American ports American ports established a established a Board of Customs in Boston. Board of Customs in Boston.

Townshend Duties Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770Crisis: 1767-1770

1.1. John Dickinson John Dickinson 1768 1768 ** Letters from a Farmer inLetters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania..2.2. 1768 1768 2 2ndnd non-importation non-importation movement: movement: ** ““Daughters of LibertyDaughters of Liberty”” ** spinning beesspinning bees3.3. Riots against customs Riots against customs agents:agents: ** John Hancock John Hancock’’s ship, the s ship, the LibertyLiberty.. ** 4000 British troops sent 4000 British troops sent to Boston. to Boston.

Colonial Response to Colonial Response to the Townshend the Townshend

DutiesDuties

1.1. It increased her colonial empire It increased her colonial empire in in the Americas. the Americas.

2.2. It greatly enlarged England It greatly enlarged England’’s s debt.debt.

3.3. Britain Britain’’s contempt for the s contempt for the colonials colonials created bitter feelings. created bitter feelings.

Therefore, England felt that aTherefore, England felt that amajor reorganization of her major reorganization of her

American EmpireAmerican Empire was necessary! was necessary!

Effects of the War Effects of the War on Britain?on Britain?

1.1. It united them against aIt united them against a common enemy for the first common enemy for the first time. time.2.2. It created a socializing It created a socializing experience for all the experience for all the colonials who participated. colonials who participated.

3.3. It created bitter feelings It created bitter feelings

towards the British that towards the British that would only intensify. would only intensify.

Effects of the War on Effects of the War on the American the American

ColonialsColonials

17631763 PontiacPontiac’’s s RebellionRebellion

Fort DetroitFort Detroit

British British ““giftsgifts”” of smallpox- of smallpox-infected blankets from Fort Pitt.infected blankets from Fort Pitt.

The Aftermath: The Aftermath: Tensions Along the Tensions Along the

FrontierFrontier

PontiacPontiac’’s Rebellion s Rebellion (1763)(1763)

British British ProclamationProclamation Line of 1763. Line of 1763.

BACKLASH!BACKLASH!

Br. Gvt. measures to prevent Br. Gvt. measures to prevent smuggling:smuggling:

James OtisJames Otis’’ case case Protection of a citizenProtection of a citizen’’ss private property must private property must bebe held in higher regard held in higher regard than a parliamentary than a parliamentary statute. statute.

A 1761 1761 writs of assistancewrits of assistance

He lost He lost parliamentary parliamentary law and custom had law and custom had equalequalweight.weight.

Rethinking Their Rethinking Their EmpireEmpire