American Revolution I Cracks in the British Empire 09 27 2011 The French and Indian War 1754 1763 Background Seven Years War French Indian part of a much larger conflict British vs French but first truly global war Britain gains tremendous amount of territory esp in North America Pride Angry that the British did not win more territory Outcome Colonists reactions Emerging Problems Fiscal War debt Colonists should help Population changes Doubles from 1750 to 1770 Mobility people moving within North American colonies immigrants pushing further West Indians Pontiac s Rebellion 1763 Indian chief in what is now Michigan bringing together Indian tribes imposed series of attacks on British ports Proclamation of 1763 line boundary the British colonists can settle on East of line Indians on the west creates problems Governance King Parliament tensions High turnover in the office of Prime Minister Distance between London and the colonies Regulator movement what is now North Carolina group of guys get together and make their own laws Recurring Issues Representation NA colonies candidates Widespread male suffrage 1 6 males able to vote England vs 2 3 Personal experience with voting colonists personally knew the Actual vs virtual A Parliament reps every colonists V Parliament reps colonies as a whole Rotten boroughs places that grew tremendous in population but had few members in Parliament This all leads to theories of how representation should work Parliamentary supremacy who gets to make the laws Salutary neglect colonists were left alone and was beneficial Mini Parliaments colonists formed own legislatures 18th century changes o Direct vs indirect taxation can Parliament make tax laws that affect colonists directly Or through duties on imports Colonists agreed on tax on imports trading indirect taxation Taxes and slavery Slavery dependent on the will of others Freedom control own property Taxes attack on property government telling you what to do American Revolution II Origins of Independence 09 27 2011 Grenville Program Reforms juries Revenue o Customs service collect taxes that are due on imports o Court systems for smuggling cases admiralty courts do not have o Sugar Act 1764 new tax law to raise revenue one of the lower taxes placed on molasses Stamp Act 1765 o Provisions stamp on any documents showing tax is paid o Reactions colonists hate the Stamp Act no taxation without representation o Resolution Declaratory Act 1766 agree to get rid of Stamp Act this act declares that the parliament has right to make laws for the colonies Unintended consequences o Hurt most able to resist lawyers merchants o Colonial unity Stamp Act Congress 1765 Townshend Acts 1767 o Series of laws that placed duties and tax on a number of goods not placed directly on merchants who import the goods o Colonial admin Reform reforms customs collection service and court system Reactions unlawful o MA Circular Letter 1768 argument that towns and duties are o Non importation groups citizens get together and agree to not buy any English goods boycott Outcome o Repeal Occupation of Boston Problems o Ideological standing army indicates their liberty is in danger o Practical o Rope walk brawl March 2 1770 o Boston Massacre March 5 1770 Tensions Tea Tea Act 1773 o British East India Company were experiencing financial problems danger of bankruptcy Parliament passed Tea Act a bailout of EIC Tea now shipped directly to colonies lower tax on tea o Objections seems like another direct tax on colonist object to idea of government favoring merchants with license o Tea Party 1773 British Response o Intolerable Acts 1774 series of unfair laws Quebec Act bring an English speaking government to French tradition Effects o Colonial unity Organizing Resistance First Continental Congress Sept 1774 o Significance of meeting send delegates from all colonies in Philadelphia o Petition to king o Boycotts Second Continental Congress May 1775 o Fighting underway battle of Lexington Concord already happened o One more petition to king Olive Branch Petition o Create a government Independence Common Sense Jan 1776 by Thomas Paine o Monarchy cannot be fixed o Independence is desirable will help colonies o Independence is possible o Declaration July 1776 Declaring independence is separate from document itself Signed Declaration in August 1776 American Revolution III The War Armies Strategies 09 27 2011 Armies Americans Self control honor hierarchy o Virginians Egalitarian community o NE Yankees Backcountry riflemen o Autonomy British Professional Successful Intense unit pride Hessians likes the sense of duty Pride skill Experience of Battle 18th century tactics o Volleys o Bayonet charge Deciding factor o Firing speed as fast as possible o Discipline Soldier trade Motivations fairly well paid benefits family at home plundering o Ranks 3 long lines of soldiers advance on enemy in unison goal is to break enemy s ranks to run away