Road to Revolution 1775-1776 Flashcards
Why Rebel?
13 different colonies, religious and ethnic diversity, and colonial disunity. Albany Plan of union’s “Join or die” by Ben Franklin.
Contributing factor of Revolution
Insurrection of though- growing idea of enlightenment, how government should treat the people.
Neglect- been left alone for so long, have developed their own way of life
Immigrants- many have no love for mother England. England Colonists don’t feel they’re being treated well Deference- deference to the mother country depleets
Tradition of Self Government- Rights of Englishmen. Benign neglect, statutory neglect
Distance- can’t control all the colonies very efficiently
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Debt
140 million in debt. Colonies aren’t being taxed, should be paying for their own defense. England feels that colonies aren’t paying off their debt
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Pay off the debt- George Grenville
Navigation acts 1651- All the goods coming to colonies shouldn’t be trading with other countries, only get finished products from mother country.
Currency Acts 1764- Don’t allow colonial fiat money. Only accepts specie/hard currency. Colonies have a lack of hard currency, being siphoned off to the mother country. Creates economic disaster.
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Pay off the debt- Sugar Act 1764
replaces molasses act 1733 from 6 cents a gallon to 3 cents. Now this tax is to generate revenue, as the 6 cents weren’t enforced. This is the first time parliament has passed an act to generate revenue instead of enforcing control. Neglect is gone. Admiralty court, judged by a singular judge, more harsh enforcement of laws.
Quartering act 1765, supplies food and housing for soldiers. infrindment of rights of englishmen
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Pay off the debt- Stamp act 1765
Direct tax. Merchants sell the goods, you’d have to pay the tax of the stamp on the purchase. Change in policy. Expecting to raise around 60,000 pounds a year. Paper- legal or commercial documents or newspapers
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Pay off the debt- Opposition to the Stamp Act
Taxation without representation. parliament doesn’t have any persons from the colonies. Don’t have representation. Rejects the idea of “virtual representations” where everybody in parliament represents everybody under English rule. Colonies reject it. Internal tax affects influential groups- like people in court, newspapers, activists, can’t speak out
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Opposition groups of Taxes
Sons of liberty- Samuel Adams, groups formed to organize protests and intimidate tax collectors.
Stamp act congress 1765- only 9 colonies. To form united opposition to the tax. Enforce non-importation agreements and writes a document about why they’re upset.
See unity growing.
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Opposition groups of Taxes- Women
Women start producing goods as they boycott British goods.
Mercantilism after the 7 Year war
Declaratory Act 1766
English merchants forced the appeal to the sugar tax, as they’re hurting their businesses. Stamp act gets repealed, but they pass the declaratory act, declaring they can enact any act they can whenever they want.
New Approach
The Townshend Act 1766
Charles Townshend promises to pluck the feathers of the colonial goose without too much squawking. Pass external taxes on lead, paint, paper, and tea. merchants purchase goods and pay the taxes. Tax money appoints revenue officers who use money to pay royal governors salary.
New Approach
Colonial Response to Townshend Act- Before and After
Governor appointed by the kind, but paid by colonies –> governor appt. by kind and paid by kind through taxes from townshend act
Judges elected by the people- Admiralty courts, judges appointed by the king and paid for by the taxes
Assembly elected by people, and passed taxes –> Parliament elects people and passes taxes
New Approach
Colonial Response to Townshend Act- Continuation of groups
Women continue to work as the Sons of liberty are out again, intimidating tax collectors. Boy cots, non-importation agreements continue.
New Approach
Quartering Act 1766- Boston
More troops come under the guise of protecting the frontier. boston becomes a military camp. Goes back to the Dominion of NE, the target for rebellion. People have to house and feed the troops, forced.
New Approach
Boston Massacre 1770
Redcoats weren’t paid all that much, and weren’t able to get jobs. Lots of friction. Group of troops guarding a customs/tax house, Sons of liberty taunting and harassing the soldiers. Red coats start firing after hearing “fire”. A black man, Chrispus Attcus was killed in order to get the support of slaves against rebellion. Propaganda rally’s support to fight against the British.
New Approach
Committees of Correspondence
John Adams defends the soldiers in the Massacre, and supplies great evidence. Sam Addams makes the Committees of Correspondence, spreading propaganda and keep opposition alive across the colonies. Found that this tactic works.
New Approach
boston Tea party 1773
Monopoly of Tea on the Colonies to tea company. Sam Adams see ulterior motives even though the prices drop. It’s a bail out to failing company and will make money off the company. Ports open defiance and board ships with tea and drop it into the harbor. Sam Adams and SOL retaliate against taxation without representation
Getting Tough
Intolerable/Coercive Acts 1774
Boston Port act- Closed harbor until the debt is paid back
Quartering Act- Saves brits money, to keep eye on Boston and colonial cities
Act of impartial Administration of Justice/Murder Act- Some trials removed to England, not given a fair trial
Massachusetts Government act- no town meetings without consent, law enforcers are now appointed. Liberty being threatened
New Approach
Quebec Act 1774
Nothing to do with the intolerable act. Gives French their traditional government who still occupy the French land. Makes Colonists mad that they’re expanding the land for French, but not their own. Spreads Catholicism, threatens the puritans of NE
New Approach
First Continental Congress 1774
United response to the intolerable acts. 12 colonies, not Georgia come.
New England Confederation- 4
Albany Congress- 7
Stamp Act congress- 11
List of grievances, don’t like intolerable acts, oppressive nature. Form Continental associations that enforce boy cots and non-importation agrements. Starts collecting military supplies. Agree to meet again in 1775
