THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION 1763 TO 1775 A CLASH OF NEW ATTITUDES.

THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION• 1763 TO 1775• A CLASH OF NEW ATTITUDES

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

• Chief Pontiac refused to surrender Lands– Led to an Indian alliance in Ohio Valley

and Great Lakes

• Germ Warfare• Proclamation 1763

MERCANTILISM• Before 1763

AN ECONOMIC THEORY

• PRINCIPLES– COLONIES EXIST TO BENEFIT THE

MOTHER COUNTRY.– COLONIES PROVIDE RAW MATERIALS– COLONIES PROVIDE MARKETS FOR

FINISHED PRODUCTS– COLONIES PROVIDE MILITARY

OUTPOSTS.

MORE PRINCIPLES

• COLONIES RECEIVE TRADING RIGHTS WITHIN THE EMPIRE

• COLONIES ARE PROTECTED BY THE MOTHER COUNTRY.

• THE MOTHER COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE A POSITIVE TRADE BALANCE.

• COLONIES CANNOT TRADE OUTSIDE THE COLONIAL SYSTEM.

BRITISH MERCANTILE POLICY

• NAVIGATION ACTS CONTROL TRADE WITHIN THE EMPIRE.– NAVIGATION ACT 1651- ALL MUST BE CARRIED

BY BRITISH SHIPS– NAVIGATION ACT 1660 – ENUMERATES

GOODS.AMERICANS CANNOT SELL OUTSIDE THE EMPIRE.

– NEW NAVIGATION ACT 1663- AMERICANS CAN ONLY BUY BRITISH GOODS.

POLICY OF SALUTARY NEGLECT

• NAVIGATION LAWS ONLY RANDOMLY ENFORCED

• AMERICANS OPENLY VIOLATE THE NAVIGATION ACTS.

• NO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES• “LAW WITHOUT SANCTION IS NO

LAW” IT IS A REQUEST.

MOLASSES ACT 1733• 6 PENCE PER

GALLON TAX ON MOLASSES

• CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED IN BRITISH WEST INDIES.

• AMERICAN OBJECT, LAW IS NOT ENFORCED.

VICTORY CHANGES BRITISH POLICY 1763

• FACED WITH NATIONAL DEBT• PARLIAMENT ABANDONS SALUTARY

NEGLECT• WILL NOW VIGOROUSLY ENFORCE

THE NAVIGATION ACTS.

THE GRENVILLE PROGRAM NEW LAWS

• GOAL:– GET AMERICANS TO PAY 1/3RD OF COST

OF DEFENSE.– REDUCE THE NATIONAL DEBT–MAKE THE AMERICAN COLONIALS

RESPECT BRITISH LAW

THE CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION

• A NEW AMERICAN ATTITUDE• SELF ASSURED• WANTED MORE SELF

CONTROL. DID NOT WANT TO BE SUBORDINATE

A NEW BRITISH ATTITUDE

• WANTED TO TIGHTEN CONTROL OF THE COLONIES.

• MAKE THE COLONIES PAY ONE THIRD THE COST OF THEIR DEFENSE.

BRITISH POLITICS• THE RISE OF

KING GEORGE III 1760

• THE END OF SALUTARY NEGLECT.

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.

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) couldn’t 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)

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.

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).

• 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

NEW COLONIAL POLICY

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

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

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

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.– Of British Good– England economy suffered from non-

importation– Was not decisive in reversing Parliament’s

decision

REPEAL OF THE GRENVILLE PROGRAM

• THE NEW MOLASSES TAX• THE DECLARATORY ACT 1766– Purpose was partly to save face – Claimed that Parliament had the right

to tax colonies in the future

• GRENVILLE IS REMOVED FROM POWER.

THE TOWNSHEND PROGRAM 1767

• CHARLES TOWNSHEND TAKES OVER.– NO DIRECT TAXES.

• Small import duty placed on glass, white lead, paper, paint, silk and tea.

• Tax was an indirect customs duty ("external tax")

–MAKES PROVISION TO PAY ROYAL GOVERNORS. • Revenues from taxes to pay salaries of royal

governors and judges

– CUT POWER OF THE PURSE.

• SUSPENDS THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE FOR REFUSING TO QUARTER TROOPS.– Certain colonies required to provide food &

quarters for British troops.

• INCREASES USE OF WRITS OF ASSISTANCE.

• SMUGGLERS TRIED IN ADMIRALTY COURTS– Established a commission and vice-admiralty

courts for enforcement. – Royal judges would be allowed to grant "writs of

assistance" in private homes, shops or warehouses. 

MORE:

AMERICAN REACTION TO TOWNSHEND DUTIES

• NEW NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT.• JOHN DICKENSON’S “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

• Massachusetts legislature, urged by Sam Adams and James Otis, supported Dickinson's arguments and called for other colonies to pass  petitions calling for Parliament to repeal the acts.

• OPEN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

THE BOSTON MASSACRE, 1770

• SON’S OF LIBERTY PROVOKED THE INCIDENT.

• 5 AMERICAN COLONIALS KILLED.

• JOHN ADAMS DEFENDS THE SOLDIERS.

• VIOLENCE INCREASES.

LORD NORTH BECOMES PRIME MINISTER

• TOWNSHEND DUTIES REPEALED

• EXCEPT FOR SMALL TAX ON TEA.

• NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENTS END. AMERICANS BUY SMUGGLED TEA .

THE FINAL CRISIS• BASIC ISSUES UNRESOLVED.• SAM ADAMS ORGANIZES “COMMITTEES OF

CORRESPONDENCE.”– Some colonial discontent continued as British

redoubled efforts to enforce the Navigation Laws. – Samuel Adams used propaganda to whip up colonial

resentment– Adams organized in Mass., Nov.1772. – To spread propaganda and info. by interchanging

letters in order to keep opposition to British policy alive.

– Intercolonial committees of correspondence emerged – Intercolonial groups evolved directly into the first

American congresses. • 1773 EAST INDIA COMPANY MONOPOLY ON TEA

TRADE WITH THE COLONIES. • PRICE FALLS BELOW SMUGGLED TEA.

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

• 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.

OTHER BRITISH REACTIONS

COLONIAL REACTION• CALL THE FIRST CONTINENTAL

CONGRESS 1774• DEMAND REPEAL OF THE

INTOLERABLE ACTS• “SUFFOLK RESOLVES”

WHICH DECLARE INTOLERABLE ACTS VOID.

FCC: Sept. 5 to Oct. 26, 1774 • 12 of 13 colonies present (except Georgia) • Delegates included S.Adams, J. Adams, G.

Washington, & Patrick Henry. • 1st Step: endorse several resolutions

known as the Suffolk Resolves. – Denounced "Intolerable" Acts – Urged colonies to organize militia for defensive

purposes – Called on colonies to suspend all trade with

rest of British empire – Urged citizens not to pay taxes.

• Rejection of Galloway Plan – Joseph Galloway called for a colonial union

required to approve all  parliamentary laws affecting the colonies

MORE…

• “DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES” – Gave colonists the legal right to assemble

in order to seek redress. – "Bill of Rights": established structure for

the Declaration of Independence (Preamble, list of grievances and mutual pledge)

• DEMAND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS.

OTHER REACTIONS• FORM THE ASSOCIATION TO ENFORCE

A BOYCOTT.– Called for a complete boycott of British

goods: nonimportation, nonexportation, and nonconsumption.

• ADVISED COLONIAL MILITIAS TO STOCKPILE WEAPONS AND POWDER.

• CALL FOR “THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS” TO MEET IN 1775.