Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of the American Revolution Anglo-French Imperial Competition • Background – History – Rivalry French Forts • Settled in Ohio Valley • Sought to keep British from moving west Early Conflicts • King William’s War (1689-1697) • Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713) • King George’s War (1744-1748) • Albany Plan of Union (1754) – Proposed by Benjamin Franklin – Confederation, focused on defense – Rejected by Parliament and colonial legislatures French and Indian War (1754-1763) • Fought over: – Control of North America • Land DID YOU KNOW: In Europe, the French and Indian War is known as the Seven Year’s War – Fur Trade Ohio Valley ? Treaty of Paris (1763) • Ends French and Indian War • Gives Britain control of all territory east of the Mississippi River & Canada – Mississippi River was to be open for trade Proclamation of 1763 • Banned colonization west of Appalachian Mountains – Those who already lived there must move east The king says you have to come back! British Financial Issues • 7 Years War cost 72 million pounds • British debt was at 132 million pounds by the end of the war. • British Treasury income 8 million pounds. • Interest was 4.4 million pounds • Colonist paid 1/20th of the taxes of a British citizen. Sugar Act (1764) • All sugar and molasses coming into the colonies would be taxed • Why? – Pay for British troops used during the French and Indian War The Stamp Act (1765) • Printed items required to have a stamp saying tax had been paid • Items taxed: – – – – – Newspapers Pamphlets Licenses Legal Documents Playing Cards "There is not gold and silver enough in the colonies to pay the stamp duty for one year.” "Such another Experiment as the Stamp-Act wou'd produce a general Revolt in America." –Benjamin Franklin - George Mason, 1766. Why? Colonial petitions and protests Franklin presented colonial protests before House of Commons Stamp Act Expected Revenue per year 60,000 pounds (100,000 pounds of stamps sent to colonies) Actual Revenue Collected 3,292 pounds Declaratory Act (1766) Parliament "had hath, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America ... in all cases whatsoever". Townshend Acts (1767) • Taxed more items: – – – – – Imported glass Lead Paint Paper Tea DID YOU KNOW: The British used “writs of assistance” to search and seize any home or ship that was suspected of having illegal (untaxed) items. • How do you think the colonists felt about these taxes? “Taxation Without Representation” • Colonies had no direct representation in Parliament (representative v. virtual) Salutary Neglect: British policy – ~1607-1763 British did not enforce laws placed on the colonies DID YOU KNOW: Some in the District of Columbia use this as their slogan. Why do you think that is the case? Trouble in Boston • Ship, Liberty, seized in 1768 for having illegal goods – Owned by John Hancock • Violence in Boston in protest to the taxes & to the seizure of ships – British troops occupy city in response Sons of Liberty • Formed by Samuel Adams – Original purpose: to protest the Stamp Act • Protested against taxes • Sometimes used intimidation and physical violence to achieve their goals Boston Massacre • March 5th, 1770 • Argument between soldiers guarding custom house and crowd – Result: 5 killed • Includes Crispus Attucks • Used as propaganda to increase hatred of British soldiers Kent State Massacre (1970) Engraving showing the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere (1770) Tea Act (1773) • New act, lowered price of tea but required colonists to buy it from the East India Company • Why do you think colonists preferred to buy more expensive tea on the black market? Boston Tea Party (1773) • 3 Ships were anchored in Boston Harbor – Ordered by governor to unload cargo of tea – Threatened by colonists – told not to unload • December 16th – at night, patriots dressed as Native Americans boarded the ships & threw 90,000 lbs. of tea overboard DID YOU KNOW: Formed following widespread government intervention in failing banks and other businesses, the modern “Tea Party” movement takes it name from this famous event. What do you think the modern “Tea Party” is against? The Intolerable Acts (1765-1774) • Quartering Act (1765) – Colonies must supply and house British troops • Boston Port Bill (1774) – Closes Boston Harbor until tea is paid for • Administration of Justice Act (1774) – British officials could not be charged w/ a crime • Massachusetts Government Act (1774) – Massachusetts charter is revoked • Quebec Act (1774) – Canada given more territory, taken away from VA, CT & MA Committees of Correspondence • Formed to allow the colonies to communicate with each other • Spread revolutionary actions – Often quicker than other methods of communication – Writings would be read aloud or published in other colonies Broadsides, like the one above, were often used to spread information. • Turned into 1st Continental Congress (1774) – Petition king to repeal the Intolerable Acts Lexington and Concord (1775) 2 nd Continental Congress (1775) • Olive Branch Petition (May) • Created Continental Army from Boston militia units • Took control of the war effort. • Eventually transitioning into transitional government. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) • British – Moved to America (1774) – Opponent of monarchy • Called for republic Plaque in England memorializing Paine Independence is Common Sense? Common Sense (1776) • Published Common Sense, a pamphlet, in 1776 • Sold more than 150,000 copies – 75x more than average successful paper Common Sense (1776) • Talks about: – Problems of the monarchy “…monarchy and succession have laid (not this or that kingdom only) but the world in blood and ashes. 'Tis a form of government which the word of God bears testimony against…” – Why America should be independent …but from the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom, and lay hold of the present opportunity — to begin government at the right end… …independence is the only bond that can tie and keep us together… Common Sense (1776) Co m m on Se ns e “one of the most brilliant pamphlets ever written in the English language." Declaration of Independence 2 Tasks • Write a paragraph utilizing complex sentences on explaining the causes of the American Revolution. • Write 3-5 sentences of context. – Concise to the point.