The Road to Revolution-1763-1775

The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people. John Adams, 1818

The Deep Roots of Revolution• Insurrection of thought

usually precedes insurrection of deed.

• Revolutionary thinking of the colonists had begun in their minds long before the musket balls began to fly.

• Pulling up stakes in the Old World was a revolutionary act; to immigrate was to rebel

• The dangerous 3,000 mile voyage put distance from England

• America was a new world for the making

• Authorities in Britain were now of a different breed and unfit to tell the colonists what to do.

• The colonial legislatures became the colonists true and authoritative legislative body

• The colonists began to view themselves as “Americans”

The Mercantile Theory• “Britain’s empire was

acquired in a ‘fit of absentmindedness’

• The colonies were never really planned out nor planted by England except Georgia

• The founding was done haphazardly by trading companies, religious groups, land speculators, and others

• London did not realize that a new nation was being born

• Mercantilism was a word that allowed British to justify their control of the colonies.

• This theory shaped all major nations of Europe from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.

• Mercantilism-wealth was power, and that a country’s economic wealth (and hence its military and political power) could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury. In order to amass gold or silver, a country needed to export more than it imported. A nation that possessed colonies thus had a distinct advantage, since the colonies could both supply raw materials to the mother country (thereby reducing the need for foreign imports) and provide a guaranteed market for exports

• All leading European nations relied on strong central governments to enforce these mercantilist doctrines.

• The primary purpose of a colony was to make the mother country wealthy

• The American colonies were expected to provide ships, sailors, trade, and a market for British manufactured goods

• Trade with other countries was discouraged and products such as tobacco and sugar would be grown in America in order to keep the gold and silver within the Empire

Mercantilist Trammels on Trade

• Navigation Laws were enacted to ensure that the colonies abided by England’s trade laws.

• The first Navigation act was enacted in 1650 to hinder the Dutch trade. Commerce (trade) could only take place among English vessels.

• The merchant marine (civilian commercial shippers) aided the Royal Navy

• European good in route to America had to first land in England where custom duties could be collected and the British middleman would get his profit.

• “Enumerated” products (certain “listed” items) such as tobacco had to be shipped to England and not to a foreign market.

• Certain products such as woolen cloth and beaver hats, were forbidden to be manufactured in America since it would compete with English industry. Industry was restricted in America because of this.

• No banks existed in the colonies and the money problem was severe. Colonials were buying more goods from England than they were selling. Gold and silver, primarily from Spanish coins from the West Indies, was drained out of the colonies.

• Bartering became necessary and items like nails, pitch, feathers, butter were used as currency

• The colonies began to issue paper money. This money depreciated and endangered British merchants. England prohibited the colonists from passing lax bankruptcy laws

• The colonists were become enraged over the currency issue.

• Any colonial law passed in their legislatures could be declared null and void by the “Privy Council” (the king’s advisers).

• The “royal veto” was used sparingly. However, the colonists felt betrayed by Britain such as forbidding colonial reforms such as curbing the degrading trade in African slaves.

The Merits of Mercantilism• Even though the Americans

assumed that the British mercantile system was thoroughly selfish and deliberately oppressive, the Navigation Laws until 1763 were laxly enforced through a policy of “salutary neglect” (Britain chose to ignore the colonial infractions).

• John Hancock of Massachusetts (president of the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776) was known as the “king of Smugglers” (though exaggerated)

• Americans reaped direct benefits from the mercantile system. London paid liberal bounties (price supports) to those colonials who produced ships’ parts and ships’ stores. During the Revolution, this money dried up. America had a steady and reliable market with Britain.

• The Southern colonies were allowed to exclusively grow tobacco, which England had outlawed in England and Ireland.

• The colonials had undiluted rights of Englishmen; self-government; and they did not have to tax themselves to support a professional army and navy for protection against the French, Dutch, Spaniards, Indians, and pirates.

• The colonists did have “militias” (civilian trained soldiers).

• “Prosperity trickles down.” Americans enjoyed a generous share of Britain’s profits under the mercantile system. The average American was probably better off economically than the average English person at home.

• Britain did not intend to punish the colonists but wanted them to succeed for the good of both England and America.

• Mercantilist theory exists today: protective tariffs; prohibiting the export of high-technology products with possible military applications.

• The colonists of Spain and France embraced mercantilist principles

The Menace of Mercantilism• Mercantilism did burden the

colonials with annoying liabilities. After 1763 (French and Indian War) the mercantile laws were very strictly enforced.

• The colonists were not at liberty buy, sell, ship, or manufacture under conditions that they found most profitable.

• The southern colonies were “pets,” and were generally favored over the northern ones, chiefly because they grew non-English products like tobacco, sugar, and rice.

• Revolution was one seed that sprouted from New England as the proud descendants of the Puritans greatly resented being treated like unwanted relatives.

• The one-crop Virginians also had grievances. They were forced to sell tobacco in England and often received low prices from British merchants. Debt became more common.

• Impoverished Virginia thus joined the Massachusetts against England.

• Above all, mercantilism was an insult (debasing) to the Americans. They felt as though they were being treated as children economically, politically, and socially.

• Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1775 (one year before the Revolution),

“We have an old mother that peevish is grown;She snubs us like children that scarce walk alone;She forgets we’re grown up and have sense of our own.”

The Stamp Tax Uproar• The costly Seven Years’

War which ended in 1763 forced Britain to change its policies with America. These policies promoted the revolution

• Britain was now one of the biggest empires in the world and in debt.

• British officials did not feel that the colonials should pay off the debt. But it did feel that they should pay one-third the cost of maintaining 10,000 redcoats in America for its protection.

• British Prime Minister George Grenville:– 1763 strictly enforced the

Navigation Laws– Sugar Act of 1764-first tax law

passed by Parliament– Increased the duty on foreign

sugar from the West Indies– Quartering act of 1765 -

colonists had to provide food and quarters for British troops

– The Stamp Tax-1765 -stamped paper or the affixing of stamps on papers: certifications, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, marriage licenses

• Grenville’s legislation seemed to jeopardize the basic rights of the colonists as Englishmen. Both the Sugar act and the Stamp act provided for trying offenders in the admiralty courts, where juries were not allowed. The burden of proof was on the defendants, who were assumed to be guilty unless proven innocent. Trial by jury and “innocent until proven guilty” were concepts held highly among the colonials.

• With the French threat gone and Pontiac’s rebellion crushed, why did the Colonies need protection? Was it to strip them of their rights?

• “No taxation without representation” became the battle cry. The colonies that were against this representation were the ones who had denied adequate representation to their own back-country pioneers.

• “The Americans made a distinction between “legislation” and “taxation.” They conceded the right of Parliament to legislate about matters that affected the entire empire, including the regulation of trade. But they steadfastly denied the right of Parliament, in which no Americans were seated, to impose taxes on Americans. Only their own elected colonial legislatures, the Americans insisted, could legally tax them.

• Grenville dismissed these protests on the grounds of “virtual representation.” Grenville claimed that every member of Parliament represented all British subjects.

• If the colonists had representation in Parliament, they would have been outvoted anyway. So in theory, the colonists did not want Parliamentary representation.

• When England replied that powers could not be divided between “legislative” authority and “taxing” authority, the colonists then dismissed the powers of Parliament altogether.

Parliament Forced to Repeal the Stamp Act

• The Stamp Act Congress of 1765 -nine colonies met in New York City to draw up a list of rights and grievances and sent them to the king and to Parliament.

• Though the grievances were primarily ignored, this was a step toward colonial unity.

• Nonimportation agreements -more effective than the Stamp Act Congress. “Buy American” (boycotting British products). Home-spun woolen garments were becoming popular. This was the first united action among the American people.

• Patriotic groups such as “Sons of liberty” and “Daughters of liberty” enforced the nonimportation with slogans of “Liberty, Property, and No Stamps.” Tar and feathering became popular against those who broke the colonial laws. Mobs ransacked officials houses, confiscated their money, and hanged effigies of stamp agents on liberty poles.

• The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766. One-quarter of British exports and about one-half of British shipping was hit.

• In order to save face, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act. This futile measure proclaimed that Parliament had the right “to bind” the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”

• Grateful residents of New York erected a statue to King George III which would later be melted down into thousands of bullets to be fired at his own troops.

The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston “Massacre”

• Charles Townshend took control of Parliament persuaded Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts of 1767. This was an indirect customs duty payable at American ports. It would tax products before coming into the stores. The taxes would be used to pay the royal governors and judges in America.

• Suspicions increased when Parliament suspended the legislature of New York in 1767 for not complying with the Quartering Act.

• Tea was now being taxed. Tea smugglers in Massachusetts became prominent. Britain landed two regiments of troops in Boston in 1768.

• Boston Massacre -March 5, 1770 60 townspeople heckled about 10 Redcoats, two whom were hit. The troops opened fire without orders and killed or wounded eleven “innocent” citizens. Crispus Attucks, a runaway “mulatto” was killed. He was the leader of the mob. John Adams (future president) defended the soldiers. Only two were convicted then released.

The Seditious Committees of Correspondence

• King George-1770, only 32-was influenced by the Prime Minister Lord North. Though Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts, a three-pence tax on tea continued.

• Britain continued to enforce the Navigation Laws.

• Samuel Adams of Boston, cousin of John Adams, was a master propagandist and engineer of rebellion. He had a deep faith in the common people and called them his “trained mob.” He was skillful as a phamphleteer and was known as the “Penman of the Revolution.”

• Adams organized the Committees of Correspondence. Each colony would set up a committee of correspondence in which to exchange ideas with other colonies. These committees evolved into the first American congresses.

Tea Parties at Boston and Elsewhere

• In 1773, the Powerful British East India Company was facing bankruptcy with 17 million pounds of unsold tea. Even though the tea would be sold to the colonials at a cheap price they still resented the hidden tax. American principle was more important than price

• At Annapolis, Maryland, the crowds burned the tea ships. In Boston, the crowds held the “Boston Tea Party.”

• Many various reactions stirred both those in American and in Britain

Parliament Passes the “Intolerable Acts”• The “Repressive acts”

(known in Britain) or the “Intolerable Acts” (known in America) was passed in Parliament in order to punish Boston.– Boston harbor was

closed until damages were paid

– Many chartered rights of Massachusetts were taken away

– Restrictions were placed on town meetings

– Enforcing officials who killed colonials in the line of duty were sent to England for trial.

– The “Quebec Act of 1774”- Britain did not know how to control the French in Canada

• Guaranteed the Catholic religion

• Retained many of their old customs and institutions which did not include a representative assembly or trial by jury in civil cases

• Boundaries of the old Province of Quebec were now extended southward al the way to the Ohio river-this would extend the Roman Catholic Religion

– The colonists viewed this as an encroachment to their rights as Americans

The Continental Congress and bloodshed

• The Boston Port Act was enacted in order to send food from the colonies to Boston

• 1774- The First Continental Congress -met in Philadelphia to consider ways of redressing colonial grievances. 12 of the 13 showed up except Georgia. Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henry.

• This congress listed a Declaration of Rights and sent to the American colonies, the king, and the British people.

• The Association was the most significant action of the Congress. A complete boycott of all British goods. This was the closest to a written constitution yet. This congress was not trying to break away, just repeal the Parliamentary taxes. If the grievances were not addressed, the congress would meet the next year in 1775.

• 1775-British troops were sent to Lexington and Concord to seize weapons and to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Shots were fired at Lexington between the British and the Minute Men thus known as the “Shot heard ‘round the world”. In many instances this began the war. Open fighting emerged at Concord. 300 British casualties and 70 killed. War had begun.

Imperial Strength and Weakness• British Strengths

– British out populated the colonists 3:1

– Britain held the naval power and the wealth

– 50,000 man professional army -colonists-none except the colonial militias.

– Britain hired 30,000 German Hessians (mercenary-hired soldier)

– 50,000 American Loyalists -those loyal to Britain

– Indians

• British Weaknesses– Troops to Ireland– FranceFrance was waiting to attack Britain was waiting to attack Britain

(loss from French and Indian War)(loss from French and Indian War)– The London government was confused

and inept (King George III and Lord North)

– British did not want to kill their American cousins.

– English Whig’s favored Americans; British Tory’s did not. Many Whig’s felt English freedom was being fought in America

– Second-rate generals in America– Britain had to conquer America– Britain 3,000 miles away– America had no capital to be

conquered.

American Pluses and Minuses• American Strengths

– George Washington and other strong leaders such as Benjamin Franklin.

– Open foreign aid from France, Spain, Holland

– Defensive fighting– Colonists were self-

sustaining with their agriculture

– Self-reliant– Marksmen– Just cause

• American Weaknesses– Badly organized– The Articles of

Confederation were not adopted until1781

– Sectional jealousy– Economic difficulties

-”Continental” paper money

– Desertion in the army

A Thin Line of Heroes• 1777-1778 Valley Forge -lack of food• Manufactured goods were generally in

short supply• American militiamen were unreliable• German Baron von Steuben whipped into

shape 7,000-8,000 regulars.• Blacks fought and died for the American

cause-5,000 freed Blacks in the Northern States.

• Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Virginia, promised freedom to Blacks who entered the army.

• 14,000 “Black Loyalists” were sent to Nova Scotia, Jamaica, and England after the war.

• American profiteers made profits by selling to the British for profit.

• Only a select minority of the American colonials attached themselves to the cause of Independence with a spirit of selfless devotion. Seldom have so few done so much for so many.