Transcript File

Unit #2
Exploration, Discovery, &
Colonization
Chapters 1—3
Chapter 5
From Empire to
Independence
Chapter 5 -Objectives
1. Explain how the British victory over France in the
Great War for Empire, the new government of
George III, and other factors worked together to
produce Grenville’s program.
2. Describe how the British policy toward the
colonies changed between 1763 and 1776.
3. Describe the colonists increasing protests against
British.
Chapter 5 -Objectives
4. Identify the key events in the growing
revolutionary protests.
5. Describe the important individual
contributions to the revolutionary cause.
6. Assess British and colonial responsibility
for the coming of the Revolution.
I.
Impact of the British
Victory in the Great War for
Empire
A. Situation after the British Victory over France
The British Empire
 In 1760, King George III became the monarch of the
Empire at war.
 Under Prime Minister Pitt, the British had managed to
remove the French from the North American mainland.
 The American colonies were diverse and bare
cooperated between themselves.
B. Rumblings of American Nationalism
American View of the War
 Most Americans content, but some discontented about
the behavior of the British Army in America (in war and
peace).
 Ben Franklin’s view of the war was positive.
 Despite celebrating the victory, colonists began to see
themselves as Americans and looked to the future with
confidence.
C. Awareness of Distinctions between British &
American Military Systems
British Military & American Militia
 The British military was one of the best trained on the
battlefield.
 A separate identity became evident in the war for empire
by the brutalities of the British military.
 Militias were used to supplement the troops in battle.
D. Retaliation of the British Government for
Colonial Actions in the War
Imperial Forces Won the War
Colonial Trade with the French
 Trading with the French in war (and now peace).
 Naval patrols and writs of assistance (search warrants).
Efforts to Use Writs of Assistance to Stop Trade
 In 1760, James Otis (Bostonian attorney) was hired by
merchants to argue against the writs of assistance.
E. Colonists Used the War to Exact
Concessions from Their Governors
The Role of the Colonies
 With the French out of the way, exactly how would the
American colonists play a role in the relationship with
Indians and the additional expenses of administering the
territory won in the war?
F. Problems of Managing Defense in the Newly
Captured Lands
Problems
 The issue of governing would
be complex (especially on the
new taxes and control
imposed by Parliament.
 Statesmanship of the
administers of George III in
question?
George III
II. British Politics & the
Colonies
A. Government of George III
Whig Ideology
 Whigs were opposed to James II (a tyrant king).
 Champions of individual liberty Parliamentary supremacy
over the monarch.
Instability in Administration
 Throughout the 1760s, the king place and removed
several Prime Ministers.
 Instability and inconsistency of Parliament.
B.
Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763
 To keep the peace on the frontier, Parliament passed
the act to prevent colonists from settling west of
Appalachia.
 The act also established the British administration of
Florida and Quebec.
 Most settlers ignored the law.
Proclamation Line of 1763
C. Grenville Program & Effects
Revenues for Troops in the West
 Under Lord George Grenville, the
protection of western lands was
critical and the colonists would have
to pay for it.
George Grenville
 Nearly 60% of the annual budgets
were tied to interest on the debt (built
up during the French & Indian War).
Vice-Admiralty Court
 A “maritime” court to deal with smugglers.
Sugar Act (or Revenue Act), 1764
 Reduced the tax on sugar by 50%, but levied new duties
on imports of foreign textiles, wine, coffee, indigo, and
sugar.
Currency Act, 1764
 Prohibited the colonists from printing their own
currency.
Stamp Act, 1765
 Revenue stamps were to be purchased and fixed on
legal documents and printed matter: newspapers,
diplomas, deeds, licenses, bonds, playing cards, etc.
 The colonists were not too pleased and organized the
“Stamp Act Congress” to attempt to repeal the act.
Quartering Act, 1765
 Colonists would have to supply British troops
stationed in the colonies.
D. Ideology of Colonial Reaction
Radical Whig Philosophy
 The protest of the Stamp Act brought about the revival
of the Whig ideology.
British Tyranny
 To the colonies, the Parliament (champion of liberty) was
now viewed as tyrannical.
“No Taxation without Representation”
E. Stamp Act Crisis, 1765—1766
Colonial Demonstrations
 The Stamp Act set off a wave of demonstrations and the
creation of the Sons of Liberty.
 Effigies and threats against of tax collectors were
present in all of the colonies.
Idea of Colonial Unity
Stamp Act Congress, October 1765
 Nine colonies sent delegates to New York and issued the
Declaration of the Rights & Grievances of the Colonies.
Rockingham (Charles Watson-Wentworth) Ministry
 Replaced the Grenville administration with a more
moderate leader who repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.
Repeal of the Stamp Tax, 1766
Declaratory Act, March 1766
Repeal of the Stamp Tax, 1766
III. Increasing Tensions
with British
A. Townshend Duties
Charles Townshend & New Taxes
 Prime Minister who pushed for the passage of new taxes on
goods such as lead, paint, glass, paper, and tea.
 The act also suspended New York Assembly.
 Created a Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston.
 The duties would collect taxes for the Crown and increase
regulation in Colonies.
B.
Colonial Reactions
John Dickinson’s Opposition
 Philadelphia lawyer who wrote “Letters from a
Farmer in Pennsylvania” protesting the Stamp Act
arguing against levying taxes for revenue-only.
Samuel Adams
 Political agitator who organized the Sons of Liberty
in Boston.
Sons of Liberty
John Dickinson
Samuel Adams
Sons of Liberty
James Otis
 Wrote a letter to other colonies (with Sam Adams) in an
effort to organize a unified front against “taxation without
representation.”
“Boston Massacre”
 On March 5, 1770, colonists gathered around the custom
house in Boston and taunted a single sentry.
 Reinforcements were called in as a fire bell rang.
 Five colonists killed (including Crispus Attucks).
 John Adams defended the British and two convicted of
murder.
John Adams
“Boston Massacre”
C. Townshend Duties Repealed (Except for
Tax on Tea)
Repealing the Townshend Duties
 News of the “Boston Massacre” led to the repeal of
the Townshend acts.
 The tax on tea would stay in place.
D. Two Years of Relative Peace
Colonial Moderation
 For nearly two years, there was relative peace in the
colonies.
 Soldiers were eventually recalled, but ships still
patrolled the coast for smugglers.
E. Frontier Protests
Vermont Created (1791)
Paxton Boys of Pennsylvania
 Frontier dispute between western Pennsylvanians
and Indians (Susquehannock in Lancaster), and
Indian converts who took refuge in Philadelphia .
South Carolina Regulators
 Societies who committed vigilante activities.
North Carolina Protests
 Western farmers organized resistance against
easterners who felt oppressed.
IV. Crisis Approaching
A. More Colonial Protests
H.M.S. Gaspee Burned, 1772
Committees of Correspondence Formed, 1772
Tea Act, 1773
 Parliament granted the East India Company a monopoly
to undercut their competitors by no paying any duties
while increasing the number of ships to stop smugglers.
Colonial Protests
“Boston Tea Party”
A. More Colonial Protests
“Boston Tea Party”
 On December 16, 1773, a group of Bostonian members
of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawks, boarded
three ships of the East India Company, and dumped 342
chests of tea into the harbor.
 Many outrages by many colonial leaders over the loss of
tea became public.
 Parliament and King pushed for strong action.
“Boston Tea Party”
B. British Respond with the Coercive Acts,
1774
Port of Boston Closed
Trials of Officials Transferred to England
New Quartering Act for Soldiers
Massachusetts’s Council & Law Enforcement Offices
General Thomas Gage & Martial Law in Massachusetts
Prohibition of Town Meetings
C. Quebec Acts, July 1774
The Quebec Act, 1774
 Quebec, under British rule, would not have an elected
assembly, but would be led by an appointed governor.
 It also gave land to Quebec which belonged to western
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Connecticut.
D. First Continental Congress, September
1774
Adopts “Declaration of American Rights”
 Stated that Parliament could only rule on matters which
regulated commerce imperial affairs.
 Each colony had the right to determine if military use was
needed in its own province.
Endorses Continental Association
Boycott of British Goods
Massachusetts in Rebellion
Restrictions on Trade
V. Conflict Spreads
A.
Colonists Take the Initiative
Loyalists
 Unorganized and
outnumbered (in New
England)
 Whig Committees (Patriots)
Formation of the Militia
 Training
 Minutemen
B. Beginning of the Revolutionary War
Massachusetts in
Rebellion
 Military Governor
Thomas Gage
General Thomas Gage
 Campaign to Arrest
Leaders of the
Provincial Congress
(Sam Adams &
John Hancock)
John
Hancock
Sam
Adams
March on Concord, April 18-19, 1775
 William Dawes & Paul Revere
 Lexington Green
 “Disperse you damn rebels!”
 Eight dead and ten wounded
C. Beginning of the Revolutionary War
The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”
Siege of Concord
March Back to Boston
D. Second Continental Congress
Second Continental
Congress
 Convened, May 10,1775
 No legal authority and no
resources
 John Adams nominates
George Washington as
Commander-in-Chief
E. Fall of Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, New York
 Ticonderoga taken by the Green Mountain Boys,
May 10, 1775.
 Ethan Allen & Benedict Arnold.
F. Continental Army Established
Washington’s Selection
 Experience in the French &
Indian War.
 A Virginian led the army.
 Training a professional
military.
 Headed to Boston to take
command.
The Continentals
G. Battle of Bunker Hill
Fortifying Boston

By June 1, 20,000 Patriots surrounded Boston, and
fortified the hills, waterways, and roads around the city.

Thomas Gage was replaced with British General Lord
William Howe who was more aggressive.

The British began fortifying the city.

On June 17, Howe ordered the burning of Charles
Town and siege of Breed’s Hill.
Battle of Bunker Hill

The British army moved across the Charles River and
organized several lines.

“The whites of their eyes”

The third attempt successful

After a cost of 1,054 casualties (only 400 Patriots were
killed), the British took the hill

Result:
(1) More cautious British generals, and
(2) Congress called for larger enlistments in the militia
Battle of Bunker Hill
“The British Take the Hill”
H. “Olive Branch Petition”
Olive Branch Petition
 Sent to the King (not to
Parliament).
 King George III rejected
the petition and sent more
troops.
 The king declared that
rebellion existed in the
King George III
colonies.
I. “Declaration of Taking Up Arms”
The Oath
 Congress believed it needed to increase the number of
militiamen ready to fight.
 This tended to divide many into two camps (Loyalist
militia or Patriot Militia).
 The lines were drawn leading to bloody civil fighting
(especially in South with more loyalists than in New
England).
J. Authorized Attack on Quebec
Battle of Quebec, July of 1775
 Two forces would converge on Quebec hoping to
open a northern front in the war.
 Smallpox and smaller numbers hindered the attempt.
 Richard Montgomery & Benedict Arnold.
K. Growth of Congress
Congress & the War
 Congress attempted to raise funds and provide
military stores for the war effort.
 Many called for independence as Congress
continued to hold back from this last step.
L. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, 1776
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, 1776
 Thomas Paine was a British writer who immigrated to
America in 1776 and authored Common Sense.
 Paine proposed a radical course for the war by stating
the colonies should declare independence from Britain,
establish a republic, and create a union of states.
 Paine also denounced King George III and the
monarchies of Europe.
Inspiring Independence
 The work inspired the
colonists to take the last step
toward independence.
 By June of 1776, the
Congress was ready for
action and selected a
committee to write a
declaration of independence.
VI. Declaration of
Independence
A. Role of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia delegate to Congress.

At 33, was selected to draft a
declaration supporting independence.
Natural Rights of ManJefferson believed in the Enlightenment,
and inalienable rights which the
government could not take away.
Thomas Jefferson,
Age 33
A. Role of Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence (1776)
A five-man committee was selected to
draft the document including Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Robert Livingston, and
Roger Sherman.
The Declaration is divided into the following four parts:
 The Preamble.
 Protection of “natural rights.”
 Grievances against King George III.
 A declaration asserting that the colonies were free and
independent states.
B. Local Declarations of Independence
Borrowing from Others

Jefferson drew upon the principles of his own draft
to the Virginia Constitution which was written in early
June of 1776.

He also used George Mason draft of Virginia’s
Declaration of Rights which appeared at the same
time in a Philadelphia paper.
C. George Mason’s Influence
Virginia’s Declaration of Rights

Mason discussed the natural rights in his
“Declaration of Rights.”

Natural rights was rooted in the Enlightenment
works of Locke and Baron von Montesquieu.
D. Contract Theory of Government
Locke’s Contract Theory
 Just powers come from the “consent of the governed.”
 Laws of nature allow a people to “alter or abolish” its
government and to have “inalienable rights” to “life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Proposing the Draft of the Declaration of Independence
E. Causes of the American Revolution
Causes of the War

Excessive regulation of trade.

Restrictions on settling west of Appalachia

Tax burden

Mounting debt of British merchants

The growth of a national conscience

Lack of representation in Parliament

Whig ideology and influence of the Enlightenment

Shift from Mercantile to Imperial policy after 1763

Class conflict

Revolutionary conspiracy of colonial leaders
Making Connections – Chapter 5
 Revolutionary rhetoric was important
not only for fighting the Revolution; it
also provided the framework for the
creation of state and national
governments after independence was
won.