Causes of the Causes of the American American

RevolutionRevolution

1660: The Navigation 1660: The Navigation ActsActs

British Action:British Action: Designed to keep trade in Designed to keep trade in

England and support England and support mercantilism – mercantilism –

The idea that colonies The idea that colonies should provide resources should provide resources to make the mother to make the mother country rich.country rich.

Colonists could only trade Colonists could only trade goods with Englandgoods with England

All colonial ships must All colonial ships must stop in a British harbor stop in a British harbor before going to another before going to another country (taxed)country (taxed)

Colonial Response:Colonial Response: Ignored them Ignored them

(profitable to trade (profitable to trade with other with other countries)countries)

Salutary NeglectSalutary Neglect- - Britain basically Britain basically ignored the ignored the coloniescolonies

They had bigger They had bigger problemsproblems

The French and Indian The French and Indian WarWar

French Empire collided with British French Empire collided with British EmpireEmpire Also known as 7 Years WarAlso known as 7 Years War

Competing in America over Ohio Competing in America over Ohio River ValleyRiver Valley

Treaty of Paris, 1763Treaty of Paris, 1763 Ended French and Ended French and

Indian WarIndian War Britain Claimed all land Britain Claimed all land

east of the Mississippieast of the Mississippi Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763

Banned all settlement Banned all settlement west of Mississippi (to west of Mississippi (to ease tensions with Native ease tensions with Native Americans)Americans)

Americans were outraged Americans were outraged and ignored the and ignored the proclamationproclamation

Britain’s New Policy for Britain’s New Policy for Colonial AmericaColonial America

The French and Indian War ENDED Salutary Neglect (the policy where England left the colonies alone)

Britain needed Americans to help pay their debt from the French & Indian War Started to enforce the Navigation Acts Passed new taxes

New TaxesNew Taxes 1764: The Sugar 1764: The Sugar

ActAct British Action:British Action:

Increased tax on textiles, wine, coffee, indigo, and sugar

Colonial Response:Colonial Response: Colonial merchants

protested

1765: The 1765: The Quartering ActQuartering Act British Action:British Action:

Colonists were Colonists were forced to keep forced to keep troops in their troops in their homeshomes

Colonial Response:Colonial Response: Did not want a Did not want a

permanent British permanent British military forcemilitary force

22 March, 1765: The 22 March, 1765: The Stamp ActStamp Act

British Action: Taxed all

documents, newspapers, and playing cards by forcing colonists to place a special stamp on the items

Direct tax

Colonial Reaction: Sons of Liberty Harassed stamp

distributors Boycotted (a collective

refusal to use, buy or deal with) English goods

Stamp Act Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances (9 legislatures)

Colonists won this round…but Britain passed the Declaratory Act, proclaiming British rights over the colonies, on the same day they repealed the Stamp Act.

1767: The Townshend 1767: The Townshend ActsActs

British Action: Put tax on goods

such as paper, glass, paint, and tea

Revenue raised would be to pay salaries of British officials in the colonies

Colonial Reaction Organize new

boycott of goods Protest “No

taxation without representation”

Demonstrations and clashes between colonists and soldiers

March 3, 1770: The BostonMarch 3, 1770: The BostonMassacreMassacre

5 Americans killed accidently shot and killed while protesting in Boston

10 May, 1773: Tea Act10 May, 1773: Tea Act Parliament repealed Townshend

Acts except for the tax on tea Tea from England was not taxed at all…

only American tea was taxed Was designed to help the East India

Tea Company which was struggling economically

Dec. 16, 1773: Boston TeaDec. 16, 1773: Boston TeaPartyParty

The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Indians, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act

Coercive/Intolerable ActsCoercive/Intolerable Acts Punished Boston for the Tea PartyPunished Boston for the Tea Party

Closed the port until the tea was paid Closed the port until the tea was paid forfor Crippled the city economicallyCrippled the city economically

Banned all public meetingsBanned all public meetings Allowed British officials to search Allowed British officials to search

American property without causeAmerican property without cause

1774: First Continental1774: First ContinentalCongress (9-5 thru 10-26)Congress (9-5 thru 10-26)

Met in Philadelphia All colonies had representatives except

Georgia Divided on the issue of declaring

independence Sent Declaration of Rights and Grievances

to King George III Defended colonies’ right to run their own

affairs Supported the protests in Massachusetts

April 19, 1775April 19, 1775 Shot heard round the world fired

at the Battle of Lexington Start of the revolutionary war

““Common Sense”Common Sense” Pamphlet issued by Thomas Paine (Jan 10, 1776)Pamphlet issued by Thomas Paine (Jan 10, 1776)

Argued that Independence was the only option that Argued that Independence was the only option that made sensemade sense

It was absurd for an island to rule a continent. It was absurd for an island to rule a continent. America was not a "British nation"; it was composed of influences America was not a "British nation"; it was composed of influences

and peoples from all of Europe. and peoples from all of Europe. Even if Britain were the "mother country" of America, that made her Even if Britain were the "mother country" of America, that made her

actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her children so brutally. children so brutally.

Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary European wars, and keep it from the international commerce at European wars, and keep it from the international commerce at which America excelled. which America excelled.

The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a response. response.

The New World was discovered shortly before the Reformation. The The New World was discovered shortly before the Reformation. The Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe haven from Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe haven from the persecution of British rule. the persecution of British rule.

Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and did not consider Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing them. the best interests of the colonists in governing them.

The Second Continental The Second Continental CongressCongress

May 10, 1775 to March 1, 1781May 10, 1775 to March 1, 1781 After L&C and Common Sense colonies made After L&C and Common Sense colonies made

the move for independencethe move for independence NC was first in lineNC was first in line

20 May, 1775: Mecklenburg Resolves20 May, 1775: Mecklenburg Resolves Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) first county to declare Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) first county to declare

independenceindependence 12 April, 1776: Halifax Resolves12 April, 1776: Halifax Resolves

NC became the first state to authorize a colonial declaration of NC became the first state to authorize a colonial declaration of independenceindependence

4 July, 1776: Members of the 24 July, 1776: Members of the 2ndnd CC signed the CC signed the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

The 2The 2ndnd CC ran the war effort and drafted a CC ran the war effort and drafted a constitution for America (Articles of constitution for America (Articles of Confederation)Confederation)