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The APUSH ReviewYou say you want a revolution?

the revolution era

The APUSH ReviewYou say you want a revolution?

the revolution era

"Salutary Neglect”• Between 1713 and 1763 American colonials saw reduced

gov't intervention in colonial affairs. • Britain felt that if  the colonies were left alone to run their

own affairs with minimal interference, they would produce more wealth and commerce, prosper, and cause less trouble.

• Britain would simply provide peace, protection, commerce, law and order, and immigrants

• Colonies left to raise &equip own militia against the Indians.

• In effect, colonies left alone; had to develop self-reliance; effective organization

The Mercantilist System • Colonies exist for the benefit of the mother

country – add to empire's wealth, prosperity, and self-sufficiency. – seen as tenants– benefit Great Britain by ensuring British naval

supremacy by furnishing ships, ships' stores, sailors and trade

– provide a large consumer market for British goods. – keep gold & silver in the empire by growing cash crops

like sugar that would otherwise have to be purchased from foreigners

– Navigation Laws passed to enforce the system – restricted colonial trade

The Good and the Bad• Positive results of British Mercantilism

1. Until 1763, Laws not an intolerable economic burden 2. Colonials had rights of Englishmen and unusual opportunities for self-government 3. Colonies enjoyed British military protection free of charge 4. Colonies greatly profited from manufacturing and trading.

• Negative impact of mercantilism 1. Colonial economy did not develop as quickly2. Southern colonies favored by British -- New Englanders grew resentful. 3. Writs of Assistance -- Search warrants used by British customs officers to harass colonial shipping.               

Act I, Scene I• Molasses Act (1733) -- Imposed

heavy duties(6-pence duty) on all molasses, rum and sugar imported form French Caribbean.

• Currency Act (1764) -- restricted colonial printing of paper money so they would pay back their debts and taxes with hard currency

• Sugar Acts (1764) -- Aimed to regulate illegal triangular trade to collect duties that the colonists had been averting for decades.

• Quartering Act (1765) -- Certain colonies required to provide food & quarters for British troops.

Act II• The Stamp Act (1765) -- Perhaps the single most important event

leading to the American Revolution – Purpose: Raise revenues to support the new military force in the

colonies – Required use of stamped paper or affixed stamps certifying payment

of tax. – Colonists believed "virtual representation" was neither adequate nor

justified -- "No taxation w/o representation" – Resulted in the Stamp Act Congress – no power, but created venue for

colonies to work together• Townshend Acts (1767)

– Meant to punish the colonies for the Stamp Act uproar – Provisions: Small import duty on glass, white lead, paper, paint, silk

and tea. – Revenues from taxes to pay the salaries of royal governors and judges – Led to the “Boston Massacre” and the Committees of Correspondence

Act III• Tea Act (1773)

– British gov't granted British East India Company a monopoly of American tea business.

– Americans reacted angrily: saw Act as a sneaky attempt to trick colonies to accept the tax through cheaper tea.

– Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16, 1773 -- Sons of Liberty dumped the tea into the harbor.

• "Intolerable Acts" (Coercive Acts)– Boston Port Act -- harbor remained closed until damages were paid– Massachusetts charter revoked– Administration of Justice Act: officials who killed colonists could now

be tried in England instead of the colonies. – Quartering Act: Provided for the quartering of troops once again in

Boston. – Quebec Act: religious and cultural freedom for French Canadians

the 1st Continental Congress• Response to "Intolerable Acts" • Main purpose: Petition for redress of grievances --

Declaration and Resolves • The Association: most significant action of the Congress

– called for a complete boycott of British goods: nonimportation, nonexportation, and nonconsumption.

– Yet, Congress restated allegiance to the King – King and Parliament did not respond to Declaration

and Resolves.• Would have recognized the Congress’ right as a

legislative body.

The shot heard round the world

Lexington and Concord • Parliament ordered the

arrest of the leaders of the rebellion

• a detachment of British redcoats sent secretly to Lexington & Concord to seize stores of gunpowder

• Battle began when Minutemen refused to disperse on the Lexington Green and shots were fired.

the British sideStrengths Weaknesses

•Population favored Britain: 7.5 million to 2.5 for the colonies. •Superior monetary advantage and best navy in the world •Indians sided with the British and wreaked havoc along the frontier •Britain had a 50,000 man professional army, 30,000 "Hessians" as mercenaries & 50,000 loyalists

•Enormous distance made communication difficult •America too large a region for Britain’s army to occupy•British generals in America were poor leaders •France was waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge •London gov't was confused and inept

the American sideStrengths Weaknesses

•Outstanding leadership •Economic & military aid from France•Defensive military tactics worked to their advantage •Agriculturally self-sustaining •Colonials were competent marksmen; better than the redcoats •Moral advantage from belief in a just cause

•Badly organized for the war and a lack of unity•Jealousy among colonies •Money printed to the point that it was worthless •Military supplies were inadequate•Morale in the army was undermined by opportunistic American profiteers •Only a select minority of colonials truly committed themselves to the cause

The Declaration• Most Americans did not desire independence - proud to be British

citizens • Reasons for shift of loyalty

– Hiring of Hessians – Brits promised slaves who fought would be freed - persuaded

southerners to join the war effort. – No aid from France unless they declared independence

• Declaration not addressed to England, nor did signers expect any response from the king.

• 3 major parts: – Preamble - Stated the rights of colonists to break away if

natural rights were not protected– List of 27 grievances of the colonies – Formal declaration of independence

Articles of Confederation • Adopted in 1777 - first constitution in U.S. history  • Set up by 2nd Continental Congress to:

– organize a nation and an army– maintain civil order – establish international recognition and credit– defend its territory from the British– resolve internal quarrels and competition

• No power to: regulate trade, conscript troops, levy taxes. • Power given to states - fearful of central authority• Land Ordinance of 1785 - Acreage of the Old NW to be

sold; proceeds to pay national debt. • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 - Territories would become a

state when it had 60k inhabitants; equal status w/other states.

Making of the Peace

Treaty of Paris of 1783:  Britain formally recognized US independence

• Granted US generous boundaries stretching to the Mississippi to the Great Lakes and to Spanish Florida

• British promised troops would not take slaves from America. • American concessions:

– Loyalists could not be further persecuted– Confiscated Loyalist property be restored – America was to pay British creditors for debts long owed

• America alone gained from the war – Britain lost colonies and other territories – France got revenge but was bankrupt leading to the French

Revolution.

Was the Revolution radical?

• Made the interests and prosperity of ordinary people - the pursuit of happiness - the goal of government

• Changed the personal and social relationships of people– Made possible egalitarian thinking: subsequent anti-slavery

and women's rights movements and destroyed aristocracy • Brought respectability to ordinary people long held in

contempt - gave dignity to their menial labor in a manner unprecedented in history

• Brought about an entirely new kind of popular politics and a new kind of democratic officeholder

• Released powerful popular entrepreneurial and commercial energies that few realized existed - transformation occurred without the industrial revolution, urbanization, & railroads