the american revolution: from gentry protest to popular revolt, 1763-1783 america: past and present...
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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:FROM GENTRY PROTEST TO POPULAR REVOLT, 1763-1783
America: Past and Present
Chapter 5
Contested Meanings of Empire
1760s an optimistic post-war period– Striking ethnic and racial diversity– 60% of population under 21 years old– High level of post-war prosperity– Wealth unevenly distributed
Americans proud to be part of Europe’s most thriving, prosperous empire
Breakdown of Political Trust
1760--George III ascended throne Suspicions on both sides of the Atlantic
that Crown wished to enlarge its powers Conflict over Parliamentary sovereignty
– English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority
– Colonists tried to reserve internal colonial authority for their own legislatures
No Taxation Without Representation: the American
Perspective Colonists assume their legislatures
equal in some ways to Parliament Americans not represented at all in
Parliament Only colonial assemblies could tax
Americans
Appeal to Political Virtue
John Locke, "Commonwealthmen" inform colonial political thought
All governments believed susceptible to corruption into “tyranny”– “Tyranny” understood as any attempt to
encroach upon the people's liberty “Virtuous” citizens, alert to rights and
determined to live free, resist tyranny
Challenge and Resistance: Eroding the Bonds of Empire
Large, expensive army left in America at the end of the Seven Years’ War
Colonists doubted the army’s value Pontiac’s War
– Exposed the British army’s weakness– Revealed the desperate situation of Native
Americans after withdrawal of French Colonists determined to settle trans-
Appalachian West
Paying off the National Debt
First minister George Grenville attempts to reduce England’s war debt
Revenue Act of 1764 (the Sugar Act) Merchants and gentry protest, most
colonists ignore
Mobilizing the People
1765--Stamp Act requires that colonists purchase stamp to validate documents
Unites the gentry and the mass of the population in protest
Protest includes mob riots, boycotts Stamp Act Congress petitions the King
and Parliament for repeal
Saving Face
1766--New administration in office, favors repeal of Stamp Act
Repeal tied to Declaratory Act of 1766– Parliament sovereign over America "in all
cases whatsoever" Controversy estranges colonists from
English officials
A Foolish Boast: Tea and Sovereignty
Charles Townshend: chancellor of the exchequer
1767--Townshend Duties tax American imports of paper, lead, glass, and tea
American Board of Customs Commissioners created to collect duties
Response to the Townshend Duties
Sons of Liberty organize boycott of English goods
Circular letter from Massachusetts House of Representatives urges protest
92 Massachusetts Representatives defy government order to rescind letter
Creating Patriotic Martyrs
English government moves troops from frontier to Boston to save money
Tensions increased March 5, 1770--English soldiers fired on
Boston mob, killed five Americans– Incident labeled a “massacre”– Paul Revere engraving a best-seller
Tensions defused by Lord North
Last Days of the Old Order, 1770-1773
1770--New prime minister, Lord North, leads repeal of all duties except tea
1770-1773 marked by tranquility Customs collectors antagonize colonists Radicals protest tea tax as violation of
American rights Committees of correspondence built up
alternative political structure
The Final Provocation: The Boston Tea Party
1773--Parliament passes Tea Act– Designed to help the East India Company
by making its sale cheaper in America Americans interpret as a subtle ploy to
get them to consume taxed tea December 1773--Boston protestors
dump the tea into the harbor
English Reaction:The Coercive Acts
Port of Boston closed until tea paid for Massachusetts government restructured
– Upper house made appointive body– Town meetings permitted only once per year
Accused officials to be tried in England, not America
Army authorized to quarter troops wherever needed
The Quebec Act:An Error in Timing
Quebec Act establishes authoritarian government for Canada
Colonists interpret Act as final proof of Parliamentary plot to enslave America
Mainland colonies rally to support Boston, protest the British blockade
The Ultimate Crisis
Parliament’s insistence on supremacy would make rebellion unavoidable
Ben Franklin suggests Parliament secure colonial loyalty by renouncing claim to supremacy
Parliament rejects Franklin’s advice
Decision for Independence
September 1774--First Continental Congress in response to Coercive Acts
Congress commends “Suffolk Resolves” urging forcible resistance
Intercolonial “Association” halts commerce with Britain until Coercive Acts repealed
Shots Heard Around the World
April 19, 1775--skirmish breaks out in Lexington, Massachusetts
Fighting spread along road between Lexington, Concord, Boston
English retreat to Boston with heavy losses
Beginning “The World over Again:” Early War Effort
June 1775--Congress appoints George Washington commander of Boston force
English government blockades colonial ports, hires German mercenaries
Royal governors urge slaves to take up arms against their masters
Beginning “The World over Again:” Decision for
Independence January 1776--Thomas Paine’s
Common Sense urges independence July 2, 1776--Independence voted by
Congress July 4--Declaration of Independence
issued
Fighting for Independence
English task– Meet challenge of long supply line– Use better-trained army to occupy territory– Crush the popular spirit of independence
Washington’s task– Defend territory as well as possible– Keep his army intact
Militia’s role: compel support for Revolution
Testing the American Will, July-August 1776
American army routed on Long Island New York City captured Washington forced to retreat through
New Jersey British obtain thousands of “Oaths of
Allegiance” in wake of retreat
"Times That Try Men's Souls"
December 25, 1776--Washington captures Trenton
January 3, 1777--Washington captures Princeton
Victories rekindle wartime patriotism British consolidate forces, leave territory
in patriot control
Victory in a Year of Defeat:Campaigns of 1777
British campaign for New York under John Burgoyne defeated at Saratoga
British capture Philadelphia under General William Howe
Washington's army winters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
The French Alliance
Saratoga prompts British suit for peace to prevent Franco-American alliance
Terms include repeal of all laws since 1763, respect for colonial taxation rights
February 1778--Americans ally with France to secure full independence
The Final Campaign
Spring 1780--English capture Savannah and Charleston
August 1780--American army routed at Camden, South Carolina
Nathaniel Greene’s forces deal several defeats to English under Cornwallis
October 19 1781--Cornwallis surrenders to Washington’s combined forces
The Loyalist Dilemma
Loyalists treated poorly by both sides English never fully trusted Loyalists Patriots seize property, imprison,
execute some More than 100,000 Loyalists leave U.S.
at war’s end
Winning the Peace
Peace Treaty of 1783 negotiated by Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay
Terms secured by playing France against England, include– independence – U.S. gains all territory east of Mississippi
River, between Canada and Florida– U.S. secures fishing rights in North Atlantic
Post-Colonial Experience
The American Revolution begins construction of new form of government
Question remains: a government of the elite or a government of the people?