Pre-Revolution Flashcards
Salutary neglect
England got distracted with a series of European wars –> leads to industrialization in America (commodity production)
Mercantilism
focused on building an empire and seizing as much gold as possible (limited supply)
7 Years War
(aka F & I war) War creates problems despite victory:
- Expensive»_space; debt
- Creates tension between England and Am. (Americans fought badly)
George Grenville
Prime minister after 7 yrs war. Realizes tensions and begins to keep a closer eye on Am.
Imperial reorganization
England wants Am to pay for 7 yrs war
- Proclamation of 1763
- Sugar Act
- Stamp Act
Sugar Act
Imposes duties and taxes on commodity imports
- Admiralty courts –> charge smugglers
- “Beef up” Br. navy
- Writs of assistance
Duties
regulate trade
Taxes
raise revenue
Writs of assistance
Search warrants on steroids
Stamp Act
Tax on paper paid in “specie” (in coin) –> repealed later after pop. violence
Crowd Action resistance
Pressures British merchants and targets English officials
Andrew Oliver
Appointed stamp distributor in Boston (angry mob attacks house)
Stamp Act Congress
9 colonies send delegates to NY to layout American justification for resistance
Stamp Act Congress arguments
- No taxation without rep
2. Each colony has right to self gov
Ben Franklin’s Lie
Americans are ok with external taxes but won’t tolerate internal taxes»_space; Townshend Acts
Townshend Acts
Imposes external taxes on paint, paper, tea // sends 4,000 redcoats to Boston»_space; increased resistance
External tax
Merchant taxes
Internal tax
In your face taxes (paper, paint, etc)
Boston Massacre
People massacred outside customs office due to crowd action»_space; parliament repeals Townshend acts
Declaratory Act
Says parliament has the right to pass any laws they wish
Quartering Act
Americans must provide quarters for redcoats
Tea Act
Parliament grants E.I.T.C a monopoly on tea»_space; Am. boycott on tea
Order of Acts
- Sugar Act
- Stamp Act
- Townshend Act
- Declaratory Act
- Quartering Act
- Tea Act
- Intolerable Acts
Boston Tea Party
Americans dressed as Indian to empty tea into harbor
Intolerable Acts (Coercive)
- Shuts down harbor until Boston tea party is caught
- Military government in Mass.
- English officials tried in England for abuse of power
Provincial Congresses
Begins to unify colonies (12 colonies represented)»_space; official decide parliament has no authority towards America
Common Sense:
Paine attacks:
—
States that:
- King personally
- System of monarchy (uses bible to make case)
- English const.
- – - Reconciliation wont work (blood spilled)
- Am. capable of governing themselves
Declaration of Independence
- All men created equal
- Natural rights
- Popular sovereignty
- People have right to change gvt
Abigail Adams
John Adams’ wife
- sends letter defending woman’s rights (example of war leading to rights to everyone)
Gabriel Prosser
Black slave sparked rebellion wanting rights to all men