Causes of the Revolution Flashcards
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Causes of the War - Desire for Westward Expansion
Colonies have been growing, having a constant flow of people, need to move west. French want their northern and southern boarders, cutting through the US.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Causes of the War - George Washington’s Foray West
150 militia men to survey the land into the west over the Appelacian mountains. Want to take Ft. Duquesne. They are ambushed and they have to build Ft. Necessity. Has to surrender after being surrounded. First shots fired in the war.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
The War - Albany Congress
Wasn’t much unity, so in 1754, 7/13 colonies come together to work on defense. Trying to keep the Iroquois allied with them instead of the French. Hope that they could settle some western land disputes. Ben Franklin puts together the Albany Plan of Union. Kind of sets them up as one colony instead of the other. They would have a president general and cabinet. Colonial leaders didn’t want it and neither does the king.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
The War - British vs. Colonial Fighting Styles
2,000 British regulars shows up under General Braddock in 1755 to take over Ft. Duquesne. They get ambushed and George Washington leads them away in a guerilla kind of warfare. Break away from the British kind of warfare after just leading them in a straight line.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
The War - William Pit 1757
They take off the supply line in Louisbourg 1758, Quebec 1759, and Montreal 1760. Pretty much ends the war by 1763 because they have no more supply of troops or resources.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
The War - British Treatment of Colonials
Treat them like second class citizens. Takes the British Regulars down a notch, they were not invincible. Redcoats treated Colonials horribly. Animosity growing.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Results of the war - Loss of French effect on Natives and English Colonies
Enemies are gone, want to spread west. However, Britain has a lot of debt and desperate to make money. Leads to the end of Salutary neglect.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Results of the war - Pontiac’s Rebellion 1763-66
Just lost their patron for European goods. British goods are more expensive. Ottawa Indians want cheaper trade goods and cheaper ammo, but the British don’t offer that. Chief Pontiac start attacking old French- now British Forts. Kill about 2,000 colonials in the end. Give small-pox covered blankets to the natives and wipe them out.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Results of the war - Proclamation of 1763
Need to keep troops in the region to keep colonials outside of the region. Causes problems with the colonials. You cannot travel over the line set up, cannot move west of it. Don’t want the British troops to have more warfare. Colonials are angry because that was what the purpose of settling is. People continued settling west.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Results of the war - Changing Colonial Views of English
Didn’t like how they were treated. Saw the redcoats as not invincible. Thought that they were more worried about British gain rather than Colonial gain.
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Results of the war - Impact on British Finances
After all the wars they had, like Queen Annes war and King George’s war, they were in debt. 140 million dollars in debt. Look at the colonies as a new wealth source after taxing the British citizens heavily.
British End of era of Salutary Neglect
Currency act 1764
George Grenville’s job is to pay off the debt. He keeps the navigation acts going, but also enforces the Currency act. No longer allows colonial fiat money. Need hard currency in order to trade with Britain. Causes an economic disaster in colonies.
British End of era of Salutary Neglect
Sugar Act 1764
Replaces the Molasses act in 1733. Decreases tax to 3 cents a gallon of molasses. The three cents is collected and be used to generate revenue. External tax, so the merchants are getting taxed and passed onto the consumer. It is the first time parliament passes a tax to generate money and not to control trade.
British End of Era of Salutary Neglect
Quartering Act of 1765 and 1766.
Requires some colonies to supply food and housing for soldiers to manage and enforce these acts.
in 1766, Boston is being quartering once again. They must house and feed the troops.
British End of era of Salutary Neglect
Stamp Act 1765
Internal tax on any kind of paper, legal documents, newspapers, and commercial documents. Raised 60,000 pounds of revenue a year. Stand up and opposed it. It affects the people who want to speak out against others, takes a lot of legal documents, charging for newspapers. Affecting influential groups.
