The Coming of the The Coming of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Mr. White’s World History Mr. White’s World History ClassClass

Objectives – Big QuestionsObjectives – Big Questions After this section, we should be able to After this section, we should be able to

answer these questions:answer these questions:• What motivated Europeans to explore and What motivated Europeans to explore and

settle North America?settle North America?• What happened in the French and Indian War?What happened in the French and Indian War?• What were the results of the French and Indian What were the results of the French and Indian

War for Great Britain and the colonies?War for Great Britain and the colonies?• How did the results of the French and Indian How did the results of the French and Indian

begin the movement towards independence for begin the movement towards independence for the American colonies?the American colonies?

The British ColoniesThe British Colonies Great Britain had Great Britain had

created thirteen created thirteen successful and successful and thriving colonies in thriving colonies in North America by North America by the start of the the start of the 1700s1700s

MercantilismMercantilism Great Britain adopted a policy of Great Britain adopted a policy of

mercantilismmercantilism in relation to the in relation to the colonies – the colonies were…colonies – the colonies were…• A market for manufactured British goodsA market for manufactured British goods• A source of raw materialsA source of raw materials• A producer of goods and materials to be A producer of goods and materials to be

soldsold

The Navigation ActsThe Navigation Acts The Navigation Acts, passed by the British The Navigation Acts, passed by the British

Parliament, had restricted American colonial Parliament, had restricted American colonial trade to be in line with mercantilismtrade to be in line with mercantilism• No country could trade with the colonies unless No country could trade with the colonies unless

the goods were shipped in colonial or English the goods were shipped in colonial or English shipsships

• All ships had to be operated by mostly English All ships had to be operated by mostly English or colonial crewsor colonial crews

• Colonies could export certain products only to Colonies could export certain products only to EnglandEngland

• Almost all goods traded between the colonies Almost all goods traded between the colonies and Europe had to go through an English portand Europe had to go through an English port

Loose Control by BritainLoose Control by Britain Britain adopted a mostly “hands-off” Britain adopted a mostly “hands-off”

policy when it came to the coloniespolicy when it came to the colonies Salutary neglectSalutary neglect

• British officials didn’t strictly enforce the British officials didn’t strictly enforce the Navigation Acts as long as the colonies stayed Navigation Acts as long as the colonies stayed loyalloyal

• Raw materials continued to flow to EnglandRaw materials continued to flow to England The colonies took advantage of this The colonies took advantage of this

salutary neglect and controlled many of salutary neglect and controlled many of their own affairstheir own affairs

The ColoniesThe Colonies The southern colonies revolved around The southern colonies revolved around plantation plantation

economieseconomies• Agriculture and cash-crops (rice, tobacco, cotton)Agriculture and cash-crops (rice, tobacco, cotton)• Plantations were farmed by slavesPlantations were farmed by slaves• Society was controlled by wealthy plantation Society was controlled by wealthy plantation

ownersowners The northern colonies had a mostly commercial The northern colonies had a mostly commercial

economyeconomy• Diverse crops, small farmsDiverse crops, small farms• Trade, industry, ship-building – important Trade, industry, ship-building – important

industriesindustries• Centered around city lifeCentered around city life

France in the New WorldFrance in the New World France was Britain’s greatest rival for France was Britain’s greatest rival for

territory and empire in the New Worldterritory and empire in the New World While British colonists came mostly to While British colonists came mostly to

stay and settle in North America, the stay and settle in North America, the French colonists usually came to… French colonists usually came to… • Spread Christianity to the Amerindians Spread Christianity to the Amerindians • Make money through the fur tradeMake money through the fur trade

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War The expansion of the French and British The expansion of the French and British

empires in North America brought them empires in North America brought them into direct competition for landinto direct competition for land

A disagreement over land in the Ohio A disagreement over land in the Ohio country led to a war between the British country led to a war between the British and Frenchand French

The French had early victories, but the The French had early victories, but the British and American colonists quickly British and American colonists quickly turned the war around – captured the city turned the war around – captured the city of Quebecof Quebec

The War’s AftermathThe War’s Aftermath Treaty of Paris – the French surrendered Treaty of Paris – the French surrendered

much of their territory in North Americamuch of their territory in North America Britain became the dominant empire in Britain became the dominant empire in

North AmericaNorth America The British Parliament passed the The British Parliament passed the

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763• Forbade colonist movement west of a line just Forbade colonist movement west of a line just

to the west of the coloniesto the west of the colonies• This was to prevent further conflict with This was to prevent further conflict with

AmerindiansAmerindians Britain had a large amount of debt from Britain had a large amount of debt from

the war that it had to pay offthe war that it had to pay off

The Stamp ActThe Stamp Act To increase money to pay To increase money to pay

off their debts, the British off their debts, the British Parliament passed a law Parliament passed a law charging a tax on legal charging a tax on legal documents, licenses, documents, licenses, newspapers, etc., known newspapers, etc., known as the Stamp Actas the Stamp Act

Parliament did not consult Parliament did not consult with the colonists or the with the colonists or the colonial governments colonial governments before they did thisbefore they did this

Every colonist was affected Every colonist was affected by this Stamp Actby this Stamp Act

Resistance to the Stamp ActResistance to the Stamp Act The Sons of Liberty, a group of New England The Sons of Liberty, a group of New England

merchants, shop-keepers, and artisans, organized merchants, shop-keepers, and artisans, organized resistance to the Stamp Actresistance to the Stamp Act• Harassed customs officers, stamp officers, and even Harassed customs officers, stamp officers, and even

royal governorsroyal governors• Threatened to hang people from the Liberty TreeThreatened to hang people from the Liberty Tree

Virginia’s colonial assembly said that only it could tax Virginia’s colonial assembly said that only it could tax Virginians, since they had no representation in Virginians, since they had no representation in ParliamentParliament

Colonists were angered at being taxed without Colonists were angered at being taxed without representationrepresentation

The colonists boycotted British goods, until the Stamp The colonists boycotted British goods, until the Stamp Act was repealed, in 1766Act was repealed, in 1766

The Declaratory and Townshend The Declaratory and Townshend ActsActs

After repealing the Stamp Act, the British After repealing the Stamp Act, the British Parliament passed the Declaratory Acts, Parliament passed the Declaratory Acts, saying that it had the right to pass laws for saying that it had the right to pass laws for the colonies, even if the colonists didn’t the colonies, even if the colonists didn’t have representativeshave representatives

Parliament soon passed another tax on Parliament soon passed another tax on imported goods – the Townshend Actsimported goods – the Townshend Acts• Glass, lead, paint, paper, and teaGlass, lead, paint, paper, and tea

Colonists again resisted and protestedColonists again resisted and protested

Mounting TensionMounting Tension Boston Massacre – clash between Boston Massacre – clash between

colonists and British troops was colonists and British troops was portrayed as an attack on colonists by portrayed as an attack on colonists by the Britishthe British

Colonies began to communicate more Colonies began to communicate more closely as tensions roseclosely as tensions rose

Boston Tea Party – colonists protested a Boston Tea Party – colonists protested a law that allowed the sale of tax-free tea law that allowed the sale of tax-free tea that would undercut colonial tea sellers that would undercut colonial tea sellers – dumped the tea into the harbor– dumped the tea into the harbor

The Intolerable ActsThe Intolerable Acts In response to the Boston Tea Party, In response to the Boston Tea Party,

Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which the colonists would call the which the colonists would call the Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts• Boston harbor was shut down until the tea Boston harbor was shut down until the tea

was paid offwas paid off• Quartering Act allowed British troops to be Quartering Act allowed British troops to be

quartered in colonists’ homesquartered in colonists’ homes• General Thomas Gage was appointed the General Thomas Gage was appointed the

new governor of Massachusettsnew governor of Massachusetts

Fighting EruptsFighting Erupts Colonists in New England towns Colonists in New England towns

began to prepare to defend began to prepare to defend themselves, and stockpiled weapons themselves, and stockpiled weapons and ammunitionand ammunition

This would erupt into armed conflict This would erupt into armed conflict at Lexingtonat Lexington

The Battles of Lexington and The Battles of Lexington and ConcordConcord

March of 1775 – British General Gage decided to March of 1775 – British General Gage decided to send out British troops to capture weapon stockpilessend out British troops to capture weapon stockpiles

April 19, 1775 – British troops arrived in Lexington, April 19, 1775 – British troops arrived in Lexington, and ordered the colonists to disperseand ordered the colonists to disperse• Colonists turned started to leave, but one side Colonists turned started to leave, but one side

opened fire – nobody knows whoopened fire – nobody knows who• Eight colonists were killed, one woundedEight colonists were killed, one wounded• The British continued into Lexington and took The British continued into Lexington and took

what weapons they could findwhat weapons they could find• On the march home, colonists attacked the British On the march home, colonists attacked the British

troopstroops Conflict and war was now likely!Conflict and war was now likely!