The Road to Revolution, 1763-1775

Theme: Tension between the colonies and Britain centered around the issues of mercantilism and its implementation. The British Empire attempted to more strictly enforce laws aimed at maintaining a system of mercantilism while colonists objects to this change

from the earlier “salutary neglect.”

Theme: The American Revolution occurred between the American colonists, who had long been developing a strong sense of autonomy and self-government, furiously resisted British attempts to impose tighter imperial controls and higher taxes after the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. The sustained conflict over political authority and taxation, enhanced by American agitators and British bungling, gradually moved Americans from asserting rights

within the British Empire to openly warring with the mother country.

Theme: At the outset of the Revolutionary War, Britain appeared to be a mighty empire, but it was weaker than it seemed at first glance. Poor leadership in London along with second-

rate generals in the colonies reduced the impact of the larger British population and its naval supremacy. Americans, on the other hand, had many advantages such as George

Washington’s leadership and fighting a defensive war. However, the colonists also faced disorganization, jealousy, and economic difficulties.

I. Imperial Controls

A. British Colonial Policy, pre-17631. Economic Policy: Unregulated Mercantilism

a. Navigation Acts, 16502. Political Policy: Decentralized government

a. Royal Veto used sparinglyb. Whig influence

B. British Colonial Policy, post-17631. Economic Policy: Regulated Mercantilism

a. Restricted lax bankruptcy lawsb. Sugar Act raised but loweredc. Currency Act addressed currency crisisd. Quartering Act to house troops

2. Political Policy: Centralized governmenta. Royal veto (used sparingly 469/8563)b. Virtual representation

II. Crisis in ColoniesA. Stamp Act, 1765

1. Purpose: Raise revenue to pay for troop deploymenta. Admiralty courts

2. Colonial Reactiona. Legislation v. taxationb. Stamp Act Congressc. Nonimportation of British goodsd. Sons and Daughters of Liberty

3. British Reactiona. Declaratory Act

B. Townsend Acts, 17671. Colonial Reactions

a. Boston Massacre, 1770b. Gaspee Incident, 1771c. Committee of Correspondence,

1772

II. Crisis in Colonies (cont.)C. Tea Act, 1773 and Boston

Tea Party1. British Response

a. Intolerable (Coersive Acts), 1773-Boston Port Act-MA Government Act-Administration of Justice Act-Boston Quartering Act

b. Quebec Act, 17732. Colonial Response

a. Continental Congress, 1774-Declaration of Rights and

Resolves-The Association

b. Colonial Militiasc. Lexington, April 20, 1775d. Concord (273 v. 95)

Great Britain by 1775

STRENGTHS• Pop favored GB (7.5 to

2.5)• GB had more $• Slaves joined GB• Indians joined GB• GB had 50,000 army• GB hired 30,000 army• GB enlisted 50,000

Loyalists

WEAKNESSES• Overcome enormous

distances• America too large• Poor leadership• GB had to win• Ireland & France• Whigs cheering American

victory

American Colonies by 1775

STRENGTHS• Outstanding leadership• $ from France• Military aid from France• Defensive war• Agriculturally self-

sustaining• Better marksman• Moral advantage

WEAKNESSES• Badly organized• Colonial rivalry• Economic difficulties• Military problems• Low morale in

Revolutionary Army• Greed among profiteers• Only select few truly

committed

Memory Aid• Pretty

• Silly

• Tammy

• Baked

• Tea

• Cookies

• Inside

• Freshly

• Layered

• Spicy

• Dough

Matching Cause and Effect

Cause1. America’s distance from Britain and the

growth of colonial self-government

2. British mercantilism

3. The large British debt incurred defending the colonies in the French and Indian War

4. Passage of the Stamp Act

5. British troops sent to enforce order in Boston

6. The British government’s attempt to maintain the East India Company’s tea monopoly

7. The Boston Tea Party

8. The Intolerable Acts

9. A British attempt to seize the colonial militia’s gunpowder supplies

10. The Continental Congress’s reluctance to tax Americans for war

Effect

a. Prompted the summoning of the First Continental Congress

b. Led Grenville to propose the Sugar Act, Quartering Act, and Stamp Act

c. Precipitated the Battle of Lexington and Concord

d. Fired on colonial citizens in the Boston Massacre

e. Prompted passage of the Intolerable Acts, including the Boston Port Act

f. Resulted in the printing of large amounts of paper currency and skyrocketing inflation

g. Enforced restrictions on colonial manufacturing, trade, and paper currency

h. Led to gradual development of a colonial snese of independence years before the Revolution

i. Spurred patriots to stage Boston Tea Party

j. Was greeted in the colonies by the nonimportation agreements, the Stamp Act Congress, and the forced resignation of stamp agents

Cause and Effect Answers

1. H

2. G

3. B

4. J

5. D

6. I

7. E

8. A

9. C

10. F