Causes of the American Causes of the American RevolutionRevolution

Objective 1.03Objective 1.03

Examine the causes of the Examine the causes of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Key PointsKey Points

Discontent with foreign ruleDiscontent with foreign rule MercantilismMercantilism Tradition of self-governmentTradition of self-government Preservation of civil libertiesPreservation of civil liberties No Taxation without representationNo Taxation without representation

Fundamental Orders of ConnecticutFundamental Orders of Connecticut

January, 1638January, 1638 Described the structure and powers of the Described the structure and powers of the

government set up by the Connecticut River government set up by the Connecticut River TownsTowns

Considered the first written Constitution in the Considered the first written Constitution in the AmericasAmericas

Included the idea of the “Separation of Church Included the idea of the “Separation of Church and State”and State”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_orders_of_connecticuthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_orders_of_connecticut

Favorable Balance of TradeFavorable Balance of Trade

The difference between the $ amount of The difference between the $ amount of goods exported (sent to other countries) goods exported (sent to other countries) as opposed to the $ amount of those as opposed to the $ amount of those imported (brought in from other countries)imported (brought in from other countries)

A favorable balance of trade means that A favorable balance of trade means that the $ amount of goods you export is more the $ amount of goods you export is more than the $ amount of goods you import.than the $ amount of goods you import.

Salutary NeglectSalutary Neglect

No strict enforcement of trade regulations No strict enforcement of trade regulations and Parliamentary Laws.and Parliamentary Laws.

There were many acts or regulations put in There were many acts or regulations put in place but none of these were enforced.place but none of these were enforced.

The cost of the “Seven Years War” and The cost of the “Seven Years War” and King George III pushed England towards a King George III pushed England towards a stricter enforcement of trade laws.stricter enforcement of trade laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salutary_neglecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salutary_neglect

Navigation Acts 1660Navigation Acts 1660

The Navigation Acts required all European The Navigation Acts required all European goods bound for America (or other colonies) to goods bound for America (or other colonies) to be shipped through England, and had to be be shipped through England, and had to be carried in English vessels (ships). carried in English vessels (ships).

Some goods had to be unloaded inspected and Some goods had to be unloaded inspected and a tax paid on them before going on to another a tax paid on them before going on to another country. country.

This increased the cost and the shipping time.This increased the cost and the shipping time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigation_Actshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigation_Acts

John Peter ZengerJohn Peter Zenger

Was put on trial for libel (saying things that are Was put on trial for libel (saying things that are not true about someone) and sedition against not true about someone) and sedition against the Governor of the New York Colony in 1735the Governor of the New York Colony in 1735

He was found innocent because the articles he He was found innocent because the articles he had printed were based on facthad printed were based on fact

““No nation, ancient or modern, ever lost the No nation, ancient or modern, ever lost the liberty of speaking freely, writing, or publishing liberty of speaking freely, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became slaves” John Peter Zenger.general and became slaves” John Peter Zenger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peter_Zenger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peter_Zenger

Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union

17541754 Representatives from Connecticut, Maryland, Representatives from Connecticut, Maryland,

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Tried to plan a defense against the French and better Tried to plan a defense against the French and better relations with the Indians.relations with the Indians.

Treaty with the tribes represented: failed to secure peaceTreaty with the tribes represented: failed to secure peace Earliest attempt at forming a union between the coloniesEarliest attempt at forming a union between the colonies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_plan_of_unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_plan_of_union

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War

Called the “Seven Years War” in the rest Called the “Seven Years War” in the rest of the world. 1754 – 1763 of the world. 1754 – 1763

Fought between France and EnglandFought between France and England England won, making it the most powerful England won, making it the most powerful

nation on earth.nation on earth. England got Canada out of the treaty.England got Canada out of the treaty. The war was very costly because it was The war was very costly because it was

fought all over the planet.fought all over the planet.

Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763

Forbade colonists from acquiring land Forbade colonists from acquiring land (settling or buying) West of the (settling or buying) West of the Appalachian Mountains.Appalachian Mountains.

Gave the British Crown a monopoly on all Gave the British Crown a monopoly on all land purchases from the American land purchases from the American Indians.Indians.

The Stamp Act of 1765The Stamp Act of 1765

March 22, 1765: Required all legal documents, March 22, 1765: Required all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and playing cards to have a wills, pamphlets, and playing cards to have a stamp placed on them to show that a tax had stamp placed on them to show that a tax had been paid.been paid.

The Act was repealed on March 18, 1766 due to The Act was repealed on March 18, 1766 due to the resistance met in the colonies and the the resistance met in the colonies and the difficulty in enforcing it. difficulty in enforcing it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_1765http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_1765

Stamp Act CongressStamp Act Congress

Held in New York in October 1765.Held in New York in October 1765. Delegates adopted a Delegates adopted a Declaration of Rights Declaration of Rights

and Grievancesand Grievances and sent letters (petitions) and sent letters (petitions) to the King.to the King.

First “American” action seen as a First “American” action seen as a precursor of the revolution.precursor of the revolution.

Declaratory ActDeclaratory Act 1766: it was part of a series of resolutions that 1766: it was part of a series of resolutions that

attempted to regulate the “behavior of the attempted to regulate the “behavior of the colonies.”colonies.”

Stated that Parliament had “full power and Stated that Parliament had “full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America.” (Taxes?)people of America.” (Taxes?)

Response to “No Taxation without Response to “No Taxation without Representation” Representation”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaratory_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaratory_Act

““Sons of Liberty”Sons of Liberty”

Secret organization of American patriots.Secret organization of American patriots. Referred to as the "Sons of Violence" and Referred to as the "Sons of Violence" and

"Sons of Iniquity." by British Loyalists."Sons of Iniquity." by British Loyalists. Resists the unfair practices of the British Resists the unfair practices of the British

Crown with acts of protest and mob Crown with acts of protest and mob violence.violence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Libertyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Liberty

The Tea ActThe Tea Act

Allowed the East India Company to sell Allowed the East India Company to sell tea to the colonies directly and without tea to the colonies directly and without paying certain taxes.paying certain taxes.

This “tax break” allowed them to sell their This “tax break” allowed them to sell their tea for much lower prices.tea for much lower prices.

This hurt colonial merchants and This hurt colonial merchants and smugglers financially. smugglers financially.

Writs of AssistanceWrits of Assistance

General “Search Warrant”General “Search Warrant” Normally used in customs and excise (tax) Normally used in customs and excise (tax)

inspections. inspections. Authorized an officer to search any person Authorized an officer to search any person

or place and did not expire.or place and did not expire.

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

December 16, 1773December 16, 1773 The night before the tea was to be unloaded, the The night before the tea was to be unloaded, the

“Sons of Liberty” dressed up as Indians, and “Sons of Liberty” dressed up as Indians, and went to Griffin's Wharf.went to Griffin's Wharf.

Casks of tea were brought up on deck opened Casks of tea were brought up on deck opened and dumped overboard.and dumped overboard.

90,000 lbs (45 tons) of tea estimated @ £10,000 90,000 lbs (45 tons) of tea estimated @ £10,000 ““Tea washed up on the shores around Boston Tea washed up on the shores around Boston

for weeks.”for weeks.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_tea_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_tea_party

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

5 people killed when an angry mob 5 people killed when an angry mob cornered British troops.cornered British troops.

Subsequent trial found two soldiers guilty Subsequent trial found two soldiers guilty of manslaughter.of manslaughter.

Captain Thomas Preston was acquittedCaptain Thomas Preston was acquitted Used by patriots as propaganda against Used by patriots as propaganda against

Britain and it’s polices.Britain and it’s polices.

The Coercive ActsThe Coercive Acts

Referred to as the “Intolerable Acts” by Referred to as the “Intolerable Acts” by many colonists.many colonists.

A group of five acts passed by Parliament A group of five acts passed by Parliament in 1774.in 1774.

In direct response to the “Boston Tea In direct response to the “Boston Tea Party” (Except for the Quebec Act)Party” (Except for the Quebec Act)

The Coercive ActsThe Coercive Acts

Boston Port Act: Closed the port of BostonBoston Port Act: Closed the port of Boston Massachusetts Government Act: limited Massachusetts Government Act: limited

town meetings.town meetings. Administration of Justice Act: Movement of Administration of Justice Act: Movement of

the trials of British officials to England.the trials of British officials to England. Quartering Act: house soldiers in any Quartering Act: house soldiers in any

uninhabiteduninhabited building. building. Quebec Act: Enlarged the boundaries of Quebec Act: Enlarged the boundaries of

the Province of Quebecthe Province of Quebec

Committees of CorrespondenceCommittees of Correspondence

““Rallied opposition on common causes Rallied opposition on common causes and established plans for collective action”and established plans for collective action”

formed the first major political union formed the first major political union between the colonies.between the colonies.

They performed the planning that was They performed the planning that was necessary for the 1necessary for the 1stst Continental Congress Continental Congress to take place.to take place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committees_of_Correspondencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committees_of_Correspondence

11stst Continental Congress Continental Congress

Met in Philadelphia in 1774Met in Philadelphia in 1774 Formed in response to the “Intolerable Acts”Formed in response to the “Intolerable Acts” The Articles of Association: organized an The Articles of Association: organized an

agreement to boycott certain goods throughout agreement to boycott certain goods throughout the colonies.the colonies.

Boycott: to protest by an organized effort to NOT Boycott: to protest by an organized effort to NOT purchase certain goods/servicespurchase certain goods/services

Sent letters of petition to George IIISent letters of petition to George III Planned a second meeting in May of 1775Planned a second meeting in May of 1775

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”

January 1776January 1776 Denounced British ruleDenounced British rule VERY popularVERY popular Contributed to the idea of IndependenceContributed to the idea of Independence Independence: The idea that America Independence: The idea that America

should govern itself without interference should govern itself without interference from Great Britainfrom Great Britain

Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord

April 19, 1776, “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”April 19, 1776, “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” was fired at The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” was fired at

Lexington. Lexington. The local militia was outnumbered and retreated. The local militia was outnumbered and retreated. Later in Concord at the “Old North Bridge” the Later in Concord at the “Old North Bridge” the

local militia had enough soldiers to outnumber local militia had enough soldiers to outnumber the British, and the British were forced to retreat the British, and the British were forced to retreat back to Boston.back to Boston.

22ndnd Continental Congress Continental Congress

Met in May of 1775 - March 1781Met in May of 1775 - March 1781 Declared our Independence from Britain Declared our Independence from Britain

on July 2, 1776on July 2, 1776 Drafted the Declaration of Independence Drafted the Declaration of Independence

which was approved on July 4, 1776which was approved on July 4, 1776 Wrote the Articles of Confederation The Wrote the Articles of Confederation The

first constitution of the United States in first constitution of the United States in 1781.1781.

Majority RuleMajority Rule

When faced with a decision, a group votes When faced with a decision, a group votes on which course/choice to make.on which course/choice to make.

The choice that receives the most votes is The choice that receives the most votes is then the course taken.then the course taken.

The Idea of Majority Rule is one of the The Idea of Majority Rule is one of the foundations of American governmentfoundations of American government