What were the causes of the American Revolution? How and why did colonists go from loyal subjects of

British Empire in 1760 to disloyal rebellion in 1775? What were forces of unification among colonists? Differences of social class, race, and religion

continued to cause conflict in the colonies. Why did various groups fight for independence?

Did they have the same interests in revolution? What colonists opposed Revolution? Why? What kind of revolution was it?

Imperial Neglect and English Civil Wars Trade

Mercantilism Assumed Colonies exist only to enrich Mother Country

Navigation Acts Eliminated trade competition Regulated goods to/from colonies Reduced smuggling

Other Acts Staple Act of 1663 – required products from Europe, Asia and Africa to be landed

in England before being shipped to America (import tax) Plantation Duty Act of 1763 – required captains of colonial ships to post bond in

the colonies that they would deliver all enumerated commodities to England or else pay on the spot duties owed and sent customs officers to colonies to collect duties and process violations

Hat Act – prohibited export of colonial made hats

And there were many, many more …..

Growth Yeoman Class High Literacy Rate

Religion Halfway Covenant Democratization of the Pulpit

Jonathan Edwards

Gilbert Tennent

George Whitefield

Process of Great Awakening Establish education centers Travelling ministers Tennent Family George Whitefield Old Lights vs. New Lights

Results of Great Awakening Dissenting Religious groups gained respect Disenfranchised groups more accepted Religion became a more individualized experience Colonies polarized along religious lines Rise in interest in learning – education centers

Unifying force?

Disunifying force? New denominations Confusion and chaos

1754-1763 Part of longer imperial struggle between

British and French Colonial, imperial, and N.A. interests at play Issues of frontier land, trade with N.A.,

imperial power in North America Process of American unification for war

effort Creation of American identity in opposition

to British motherland

Powder Keg: The Ohio River Valley, 1747–1758 – competing powers,rivalries, coveted territory

The North American Colonies Before and After the French and Indian War

Role and Impact?

Results?

Link to “500 Nations,” Part 2 (17:00 onwards)

Pontiac's Rebellion, 1763.The war began when the British abandoned the policy of the middle ground and cut off tribute to the western Indians. In their uprising, the Indians destroyed nine British forts and attacked another four before the war ended in a draw.

How did a war that united colonists and British against the French, result in anti-British sentiment in the colonies?

French and Indian War (1756 – 1763)

French & Indiansvs. British & Colonials & some Indians

How could British victory be perceived as acting against colonial American interests?

Or, put another way, how did the F&I War result in the creation of an American identity (opposed to the British)?

How did the F&I War push American colonists towards Revolution so soon after their common victory against the French?

What were Britain, its new king (George III), and new Prime Minister Grenville trying to achieve with these acts?:

Overall Goals?: Sugar Act (1764)

Currency Act (1764)

Quartering Act (1764)

Stamp was legal requirement on all legal documents – way to raise revenue for empire

Protest of “internal” interference (internal taxation of colonies) – asserted Rights of Freeborn Englishmen to be taxed only by Representatives

Mob violence – Sons of Liberty established (1765) to prevent stamp sales

Vandalism and intimidation of MA Lt. Governor Hutchinson and other loyalists

Stamp Act Congress – unified meeting of 9 colonies protested legality of Stamp Act

Grenville stepped down Stamp Act repealed in 1766 Colonial success, but at a cost 1766 Declaratory Act: Parliament

asserted it “had, hath, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes…to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever.”

New attempts at raising revenue: Revenue Act:

imposed import duty on British goods to colonies salaries for judges and officers paid through

crown (loyalty to crown, rather than colonies) Resistance to Townshend Acts:

called for “nonimportation” of British goods (boycott)

Development of alternative political philosophies Republicanism – fear of tyranny, effort to keep

leaders and govt. on course, must protect liberties

British soldiers in Boston – symbol of British power, abuses of power

Mob actions – poor, servants, apprentices, sailors – confronted and taunted soldiers (competitors for jobs, housing, power)

Tensions rose over years Huge public “cause” – Crowd Assembled Soldiers opened fire, killed 5 colonists Used by Paul Revere and colonists for

propaganda - became US vs. THEM

The Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770, in an engraving by Paul Revere. Copied from an earlier print, Revere’s widely circulated version shows—somewhat inaccurately—well-organized soldiers firing on helpless civilians; the names of the dead, including Crispus Attucks, appear below.

How and why did the TEA ACT (1773) incite American revolt?

Samuel Adams

The Bostonian’s Paying the Excise-Man or Tarring & Feathering. This print, published in London in 1774, satirizes American resistance to British tax measures. Four men representing a broad range of social classes pour tea down the throat of a tax collector while the Boston Tea Party takes place in the background.

A.K.A. Intolerable Acts for Colonists What were they?

Led to 1st Continental Congress All colonies except Georgia Committees of Correspondence formed

The colonists developed ideas of republicanism as they protested the British acts

Main ideas? How similar or different than previously held political beliefs?