Road to War. Wars for Empire British and French would wage a series of conflicts over global influence and expansion. America was one of the many.

Road to WarRoad to War

Wars for EmpireWars for Empire

British and French would wage a British and French would wage a series of conflicts over global series of conflicts over global influence and expansion. influence and expansion.

America was one of the many fronts America was one of the many fronts in these conflictsin these conflicts– King William’sKing William’s– Queen Anne’sQueen Anne’s– King George’sKing George’s– French and IndianFrench and Indian

French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War

Proved to be the decisive conflictProved to be the decisive conflict Bitter conflict on the frontierBitter conflict on the frontier

– French and Indian allies were effective French and Indian allies were effective guerilla fightersguerilla fighters

Tension between British and Tension between British and colonistscolonists– British viewed colonial troops as British viewed colonial troops as

undisciplined rabbleundisciplined rabble

William PittWilliam Pitt

Takes over British war effortTakes over British war effort– Puts maximum effort into AmericasPuts maximum effort into Americas– Puts money into coloniesPuts money into colonies– Revives colonial moraleRevives colonial morale

Indian forces start to abandon French Indian forces start to abandon French alliesallies

Decisive Battle—Quebec 1759Decisive Battle—Quebec 1759 French forced to abandon North AmericaFrench forced to abandon North America Appears that British North America is Appears that British North America is

stable and securestable and secure

Changing British PerspectiveChanging British Perspective

Massive debt as a result of colonial warsMassive debt as a result of colonial wars– British already heavily taxedBritish already heavily taxed

Victory meant more land to police.Victory meant more land to police.– Left 7,000 troops in AmericaLeft 7,000 troops in America

British leadership felt that since British leadership felt that since colonials benefited, should pay for colonials benefited, should pay for protectionprotection– Never asked for colonials to pay off national Never asked for colonials to pay off national

debtdebt

British viewBritish view

British had won the war despite British had won the war despite colonial obstruction.colonial obstruction.

Needed to centralize control over Needed to centralize control over coloniescolonies– Fear that rapidly slipping out of controlFear that rapidly slipping out of control

Unfortunately, every step Unfortunately, every step undermined colonial supportundermined colonial support

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763

Sought to regulate western Sought to regulate western settlementsettlement

Wanted to keep Indians pacifiedWanted to keep Indians pacified– Established line in the AppalachiansEstablished line in the Appalachians

No settlement west without British No settlement west without British permissionpermission

Indian conflict still occurredIndian conflict still occurred Colonists greatly resented the British Colonists greatly resented the British

control over western developmentcontrol over western development

Sugar Act(1764)Sugar Act(1764)

First in a number of revenue generating First in a number of revenue generating action by British government.action by British government.

Placed duty on wine, coffee and molassesPlaced duty on wine, coffee and molasses– Hoped to great big money from molassesHoped to great big money from molasses

Most molasses was illegally imported French Most molasses was illegally imported French molasses—cheapmolasses—cheap

British launch war against smugglers and British launch war against smugglers and briberybribery

Severe penaltiesSevere penalties Hated by colonies—prompted protestHated by colonies—prompted protest

Stamp ActStamp Act

Required printed documents to bear Required printed documents to bear a revenue stampa revenue stamp– NewspapersNewspapers– Legal contractsLegal contracts– Playing cardsPlaying cards

11stst direct tax applied to the colonies. direct tax applied to the colonies. Anticipated trouble, but not level of Anticipated trouble, but not level of

reactionreaction

Stamp ActStamp Act

Had the affect of unifying the Had the affect of unifying the colonies like nothing elsecolonies like nothing else– Discover they had more in common than Discover they had more in common than

with Londonwith London– Impacted most articulate elements of Impacted most articulate elements of

communitycommunity

Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction

First, voice protests through colonials First, voice protests through colonials legislatures and newspaper editorialslegislatures and newspaper editorials

Colonies sent petitions protesting Colonies sent petitions protesting tax-illegaltax-illegal

Realize written and spoken word not Realize written and spoken word not enough, need new directionenough, need new direction

Stamp Act ResistanceStamp Act Resistance

Boston took lead in physical resistanceBoston took lead in physical resistance– Sons of LibertySons of Liberty

Initial target—Andrew OliverInitial target—Andrew Oliver– Burned in effigyBurned in effigy– Demolished “Stamp Office”Demolished “Stamp Office”– Oliver resignsOliver resigns– Move on to Lt. Gov Thomas HutchinsonMove on to Lt. Gov Thomas Hutchinson

No one punished for riotNo one punished for riot

Colonial ActionColonial Action

Others, except Georgia, follow Others, except Georgia, follow Boston’s leadBoston’s lead

Force stamp masters to resign before Force stamp masters to resign before law goes into effectlaw goes into effect

With nobody to distribute stamps—With nobody to distribute stamps—dead issuedead issue

British reactionBritish reaction

1766 Repeal Stamp Act1766 Repeal Stamp Act Pass the Declaratory ActPass the Declaratory Act

– Full power of Parliament to make laws Full power of Parliament to make laws for coloniesfor colonies

– No specific mention of taxesNo specific mention of taxes– ““Face-saving” gestureFace-saving” gesture– Ignored by coloniesIgnored by colonies

Impact of CrisisImpact of Crisis

Prior to 1765, Parliament generally Prior to 1765, Parliament generally ignored Americasignored Americas– Strong anti-American feeling growingStrong anti-American feeling growing

Many convinced Americans would Many convinced Americans would only settle for independenceonly settle for independence– Reach conclusion long before AmericansReach conclusion long before Americans

Townshend ActsTownshend Acts

Charles Townshend, chancellor of the Charles Townshend, chancellor of the exchequerexchequer

Revenue Act of 1767, new duties on Revenue Act of 1767, new duties on tea, glass, lead, papertea, glass, lead, paper

Assumed that external taxes would be Assumed that external taxes would be more acceptable than internal taxesmore acceptable than internal taxes

Portion of revenue used to pay Portion of revenue used to pay colonial governorscolonial governors– Eliminates power of assemblyEliminates power of assembly

ReactionReaction

A boycott of British products was A boycott of British products was establishedestablished

John Dickenson’s John Dickenson’s Letters From a Letters From a Farmer in PennsylvaniaFarmer in Pennsylvania– Questions the rights of Parliament to tax Questions the rights of Parliament to tax

the coloniesthe colonies

Eventually repealed by British, Eventually repealed by British, except for tax on tea.except for tax on tea.

““Boston Massacre”Boston Massacre”

British troops stationed in Boston to British troops stationed in Boston to keep peacekeep peace

Townspeople taunted British soldiers Townspeople taunted British soldiers at the Customs Houseat the Customs House– Attacked with snowballs and rocksAttacked with snowballs and rocks

““green” soldiers respond with fivegreen” soldiers respond with five Kill 5 Boston citizensKill 5 Boston citizens Propagandists call it a massacrePropagandists call it a massacre

– Play up the eventPlay up the event

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

Cooler heads prevailCooler heads prevail John Adams volunteered to represent John Adams volunteered to represent

soldiers on trialsoldiers on trial Most acquitted—rest treated Most acquitted—rest treated

lenientlyleniently

Rise of Sam AdamsRise of Sam Adams

Keep protest alive in quiet periodKeep protest alive in quiet period– PublicityPublicity

Was a genuine revolutionaryWas a genuine revolutionary Initially viewed by most as too Initially viewed by most as too

radical, British actions give him an radical, British actions give him an audienceaudience

Tea Act of 1773Tea Act of 1773

Attempt by British government to help Attempt by British government to help British East India CompanyBritish East India Company

Proposes to sell tea at a very low price Proposes to sell tea at a very low price with a dutywith a duty

Colonists believe it is a plot to get Colonists believe it is a plot to get them to pay the tea tax.them to pay the tea tax.

Pressured special tea agents to resignPressured special tea agents to resign Only in Boston was tea imported.Only in Boston was tea imported.

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Battle between royal government Battle between royal government and sons of libertyand sons of liberty

Colonists take actionColonists take action– Group of colonists dressed as Indians Group of colonists dressed as Indians

destroy the tea while a crowd watched. destroy the tea while a crowd watched. – Took 3 hours, a crowd of 2,000 watched.Took 3 hours, a crowd of 2,000 watched.

Coercive ActsCoercive Acts

British response was swift and directBritish response was swift and direct– Series of laws passed to punish Boston for Series of laws passed to punish Boston for

destroying tea.destroying tea.Closed Boston Harbor until tea paid forClosed Boston Harbor until tea paid forGovernment brought under direct British controlGovernment brought under direct British controlBritish officials would be tried in EnglandBritish officials would be tried in EnglandBritish troops could be quartered in private British troops could be quartered in private

homeshomesQuebec ActQuebec Act

11stst Continental Congress Continental Congress(Sept 1774)(Sept 1774)

All colonies but Georgia send All colonies but Georgia send representatives to Philadelphiarepresentatives to Philadelphia

Group generally wished to avoid warGroup generally wished to avoid war Favored economic coercionFavored economic coercion Demanded that British repeal all acts Demanded that British repeal all acts

passed since 1763passed since 1763

Enforce SanctionsEnforce Sanctions

Establish local committeesEstablish local committees– Organize militia companiesOrganize militia companies

Took over many of the functions of Took over many of the functions of local governmentlocal government

Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord

General Gage sent troops from General Gage sent troops from Boston to seize stores of cannon and Boston to seize stores of cannon and ammunition stored in town of ammunition stored in town of ConcordConcord

Becomes extended skirmish between Becomes extended skirmish between colonial militia and British Armycolonial militia and British Army