The American Revolution

MercantilismMercantilism

• Economic philosophy that argued that a Economic philosophy that argued that a nation became and remained powerful by nation became and remained powerful by exporting more goods than it importedexporting more goods than it imported

• Nation could then “bank” its earnings (gold and Nation could then “bank” its earnings (gold and silver) and use it to invest or equip armiessilver) and use it to invest or equip armies

• Nation would export manufactured goods Nation would export manufactured goods and import raw materialsand import raw materials

• Benefits manufacturing (middle) class and royal Benefits manufacturing (middle) class and royal family in Englandfamily in England

• Provides employment for British Provides employment for British

MercantilismMercantilism

• Role of coloniesRole of colonies– Enrich European country that controlled Enrich European country that controlled

themthem– Provide markets for manufactured Provide markets for manufactured

goodsgoods– Provide raw materials, food, and other Provide raw materials, food, and other

goodsgoods– Serve as a destination for emigrants to Serve as a destination for emigrants to

improve their livesimprove their lives

English View of America• English View of America

– Colonists exist to benefit England

– Colonists are expected to• Buy manufactured goods made

in England• Supply raw materials, food, and

tobacco to England

– Colonists are prohibited from• Producing manufactured goods• Buying manufactured goods or

any other product from another country

American View of England

• Willing to support England as long as they could still earn their own profit

– Ignored laws that were not in their interest (smuggling)

• Expected England to allow them to run their own government, as long as it was based on English law

French and Indian War (Seven Years War)

• England and France go to war in Europe

• One of the issues is the control of the American frontier

• Britain sends 10,000 troops to defend the frontier

• Americans unhappy about a standing army

Ft. Necessity

French and Indian War

• Results• England wins control of the North

American continent• England bankrupt – need to refill the

treasury• Parliament decides Americans must

contribute to their own defense• Parliament decides to levy taxes directly

on Americans rather than going through the colonial legislatures

Events Leading to War

Use pp. 51 – 55 in your text to complete the information on your events sheet

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763

Stops Americans from settling west Stops Americans from settling west of the Appalachian Mountainsof the Appalachian Mountains

Reduce the danger of additional war Reduce the danger of additional war or violence with French and American or violence with French and American IndiansIndians

Protest – goes against the colonists’ Protest – goes against the colonists’ need for more farmlandneed for more farmland

Stamp Act of 1765Stamp Act of 1765

Parliament requires colonists to Parliament requires colonists to attach stamps to selected goods attach stamps to selected goods such as papersuch as paperFirst direct tax on American colonistsFirst direct tax on American colonists

Raise money for BritainRaise money for BritainColonists claim “No taxation without Colonists claim “No taxation without

representation” and refuse to payrepresentation” and refuse to payFormation of the Sons of LibertyFormation of the Sons of Liberty

Sam Adams

Patrick Henry

Stamp Act Congress of 1765Stamp Act Congress of 1765

Colonists join together and demand Colonists join together and demand that the Stamp Act be repealedthat the Stamp Act be repealedBoycott British goods in the meantimeBoycott British goods in the meantime

Colonists believe that only the Colonists believe that only the colonial legislatures can approve a colonial legislatures can approve a tax on the coloniestax on the colonies

British reaction – repeal the Stamp British reaction – repeal the Stamp ActAct

Declaratory Act of 1765Declaratory Act of 1765

Parliament declares that it is their Parliament declares that it is their right to tax and make decisions on right to tax and make decisions on behalf of the American colonists behalf of the American colonists in in all casesall cases

Prove to the Americans that the Prove to the Americans that the British still had control of the coloniesBritish still had control of the colonies

Largely ignore Largely ignore

Townshend Acts of 1767Townshend Acts of 1767

New taxes on items needed by the New taxes on items needed by the colonists AND approval of colonists AND approval of writs of writs of assistanceassistance – general warrant that allowed – general warrant that allowed British officials to search colonial British officials to search colonial businesses and homes at any time for any businesses and homes at any time for any reasonreason

Attempt to stop smugglingAttempt to stop smuggling Colonists declare that their civil liberties as Colonists declare that their civil liberties as

British citizens have been violated British citizens have been violated (unlawful search and seizure) – begin to (unlawful search and seizure) – begin to antagonize British officials and soldiersantagonize British officials and soldiers

Result – Boston MassacreResult – Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre

Tea Act of 1773Tea Act of 1773

British East India Company allowed British East India Company allowed to ship tea to colonies tax free – to ship tea to colonies tax free – undercuts colonial producers and undercuts colonial producers and creates a monopolycreates a monopoly

Help increase profit of British Help increase profit of British companiescompanies

Blockade ships leaving colonies – Blockade ships leaving colonies – Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Coercive Acts Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) of 1773(Intolerable Acts) of 1773

Close the port of Boston, disband the Close the port of Boston, disband the Massachusetts assembly; restrict the Massachusetts assembly; restrict the right to trial by jury (all trials in right to trial by jury (all trials in London); unlimited search and London); unlimited search and seizure; quarter soldiers in colonial seizure; quarter soldiers in colonial homeshomes

To punish colonies for their resistanceTo punish colonies for their resistanceColonies send delegates to meet to Colonies send delegates to meet to

address their concernsaddress their concerns

11stst Continental Congress, Continental Congress, 17741774

Colonists demand that rights be Colonists demand that rights be restored and to continue to boycott restored and to continue to boycott until demands are metuntil demands are met

To try and persuade the king and To try and persuade the king and parliament to change their policiesparliament to change their policies

British reaction – send additional British reaction – send additional soldiers and continue to restrict soldiers and continue to restrict colonistscolonistsLexington and ConcordLexington and Concord

Battle of Lexington and Concord

22ndnd Continental Congress, Continental Congress, 17751775

Discuss the possibility of Discuss the possibility of independence if demands are not independence if demands are not metmetOlive Branch Petition – last attempt from Olive Branch Petition – last attempt from

colonists to reconcile with kingcolonists to reconcile with kingMany Americans pushing for Many Americans pushing for

independenceindependenceThomas Paine, Thomas Paine, Common SenseCommon Sense

British reaction – ignore the Olive British reaction – ignore the Olive Branch Petition; prepare for warBranch Petition; prepare for war

22ndnd Continental Congress, Continental Congress, 17761776

Acting as government for colonies – Acting as government for colonies – appoint a committee to write a appoint a committee to write a document officially announcing the document officially announcing the independence of the United States of independence of the United States of AmericaAmerica

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence