Transcript road to revolution1

These are the times which try men’s souls – Thomas
Payne
Taxation without Representation

Let’s look at the cartoon and see some
riots which have been dividing the
colonies and England.
Taxation without Representation
Growing Distrust
 If you were to take a poll in 1763 of the
people who lived in the colonies, the
majority would say they were satisfied
with the leadership from England, which
was King George.
 So, how do you upset an entire
hemisphere of people without ever
setting foot, well, ask King George…

Taxation without Representation
Colonists felt threatened by the high
number of troops, which they felt may
interfere with their liberties. Remember
that word.
 Proclamation of 1763, forbid settlement
west of the Appalachian Mountains.
 This would be a problem if you had
bought land, being a speculator.
 A person who invests in land to sell or
build on.
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Taxation without Representation
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These lands would be lost, as well the
money they invested.
Taxation without Representation
Britain had created a great deal of debt
from the French & Indian War.
In order to pay for this debt, they began to
raise taxes on the colonists, as well as
others.
The King and Parliament set off a series of
new taxes on the colonists, a series of
events which would change the world.
Taxation without Representation
1764, George Grenville, England’s
finance minister, or money guru,
enacted a law against smuggling within
the colonies.
 What is smuggling?
 Writs of Assistance – a law which
allowed custom officers to enter homes
and businesses without warning to
search for possible contraband.

Taxation without Representation
Sugar Act, 1764.
 Was intended to stop smuggling between
the colonies and French West Indies.
 Lowered the tax on molasses imported by
colonists. Hope was colonists would be
more likely to buy foreign molasses, thus
creating more revenue.
 Colonists considered this an interference
on colonial life and were horrified the
English would use taxes to raise money.

Taxation without Representation
Interesting note, British law said
Englishmen could not be taxed, among
other things if they were not
represented. Remember that.
 James Otis, a Boston-based lawyer,
argued colonists should not be taxed by
Parliament since they could not vote on
who was in Parliament.
 Otis said, “Taxation without
representation is tyranny.”

Taxation without Representation
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1765, Stamp Act, this was even more
disturbing, this act placed a tax on all
printed material in the colonies,
everything from newspapers to
pamphlets to wills to playing cards.
Everything needed to have a stamp, this
one…

Next slide please…
Taxation without Representation
Taxation without Representation

First formal protest came from Patrick
Henry and the VA. House of Burgesses
Taxation without Representation
A resolution was passed, which was a
formal expression of opinion – they
declared it had “the only and sole
exclusive right and power to lay taxes”
on its citizens.
 SURPRISE!!! Protest mounted in Boston
as well.
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Taxation without Representation

Samuel Adams, yes he is a real person,
helped start the Sons of Liberty.
Taxation without Representation
Members took to the streets to openly
protest the Stamp Act.
 Other chapters also organized in cities
throughout the colonies.
 Summer of 1765, protesters burned
effigies – rag figures – which portrayed
unpopular tax collectors.

Propaganda
Taxation without Representation
Stamps were boycotted,
 Thousands of merchants, artisans, and
farmers signed non-importation
agreements.
 After some thought and discussion,
Britain repealed the Stamp Act.

Taxation without Representation
Propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda
Work on your posters.
 If you are done, you have worksheets to
complete.

More taxes…YAY!
1767, Parliament passed the
Townshend Acts.
 This was an attempt to rectify the Stamp
Act.
 Here was the British learned from the
Stamp Act…

 Colonists would not tolerate internal taxes –
those levied or paid inside the colonies
 Result: the new taxes applied only to
imported goods.
More taxes…YAY!
Goods taxed: glass, tea, paper and lead.
 These goods were imported b/c the
colonists could not or did not produce
them for themselves.
 Colonists responded by boycotting,
however, this was more widespread
than the Stamp Act

More taxes…YAY!
Women for the first time took an active
role, forming a group known as the
“Daughters of Liberty”
 Women urged Americans to wear
homemade fabrics and produce other
goods that were available
 The hope was to make America
economically independent.
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Something Different

Two things have become unofficially
clear…
 1. Colonists have recognized themselves as
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Americans…thus America as a somewhat
independent and sovereign nation.
2. The Revolution has started.
These things generally start with pencil and
paper rather than bombs and bloodshed.
Uhmm…there’s something to think about
Perhaps the Civil War will follow the same
trend…just saying
Colonial Unity
First of all, what is it and how do you
inspire it.
 This is difficult…why?
 Biggest problem…in order to have
colonial unity, you need to have a sense
of nationalism, which means enough
people in each colony need to feel the
passion to rise up.

Colonial Unity
This is why Revolutions are so incredibly
hard to begin, to maintain and to win.
 So here is what you need, in a nutshell,
to have a Revolution,

 Support from a significant part of the
population.
○ Side note, you don’t need more than 50%, you
need about 35%, with another 15%-40% on
the fence.
Colonial Unity

You need resources
 You can argue this may be the most
important; if you can’t arm, feed, and
otherwise support in every effort, you have
no chance of revolting.
 To go along with resources, you need
leadership, both experienced and willing.
○ Not easily gained…Anybody can say they will
lead, however it is an entirely different thing to
make decisions best for the movement and
not get caught up in ones own egotistical
agenda. (GULP…)
Colonial Unity

Finally…
 If you did win, you would then have to create
and sustain a new government, and in our
case, one which wants to share
responsibility.
 Imagine a lion, a tiger, and a hyena hunting
and running down a water buffalo,
successfully taking down the beast, and
then allowing each to have their fair share at
the table.
Colonial Unity

Sounds like Flipper has a better chance
of winning a thumb-war.