The American Revolution: From Elite Protest to Popular Revolt,

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1 CHAPTER 5 The American Revolution: From Elite Protest to Popular Revolt, Between 1763 and 1783, Americans increasingly rebelled against English rule, declared independence, and finally won the military struggle against the British. Structure of Colonial Society At the end of the Seven Years War,American society, on the whole, was young, optimistic and prosperous, and looked to the future with considerable political and economic expectation. However, Britain was left with a large debt to pay, and their attention turned to the colonies as a new source of revenue. King George III, his ministers, and Parliament throughout the mounting conflict until 1776, based their views on the colonies on inaccurate information while Parliament stubbornly defended their own sovereign supreme power over every part of the dominions of state. No Taxation Without Representation became the American view on the power of colonial assemblies, representative government, and freedom from England s revenue taxation. The American ideology also contained a heavy emphasis on religious and moral components based on various sources from the Great Awakening and John Locke to the Commonwealthmen. The Americans found power dangerous unless contained by virtue;to believers political error resulted from corruption and sin. Eroding the Bonds of Empire After the war with the French, the British maintained a large military presence in the colonies, which Americans opposed for two reasons: British troops failed to protect the thousands of Americans who died during uprisings by the Native Americans of the backcountry; and after the Proclamation of 1763 was issued, British troops obstructed western settlement. George Grenville insisted that Americans help pay for British troops with new taxes and restrictions on trade. Well-to-do American merchants quickly protested a scheme they saw as depriving the American colonies right to assess their own taxes. The popular protests of gentlemen grew to a mass movement with opposition to Britain s Stamp Act.Americans resisted in colonial assemblies, in a congress in the streets, and in a boycott effected by the Sons of Liberty and by newly mobilized colonial women. 51

2 A new English government repealed the law while maintaining the principle of parliamentary supremacy, including the right to levy taxation, but the crisis had reduced American respect and loyalty for Britain s imperial officeholders. Charles Townshend s new ministry tried new taxes on American imports and new enforcement mechanisms including customs commissioners supported by admiralty courts. Americans resisted with a boycott, rituals of non-consumption, and a circular letter suggesting ways to thwart the acts. A British transfer of troops to Boston heightened tensions even more, and patriots again resisted. One confrontation with British troops resulted in the Boston Massacre. Parliament, now led by Lord North, dropped all of the Townshend Duties except that on tea, a symbol of Parliament s sovereignty. Calm and apparent reconciliation followed.but the actions of corrupt imperial officials and the continued agitation of radicals led by Sam Adams brought about a renewal of tensions. The Boston Tea Party,a colonial response to new English regulations, led to the Coercive Acts and American rebellion. Steps Toward Independence With the fighting begun, fifty-five American delegates from twelve of the colonies met in a Continental Congress,which Adams soon led into a radical stance of boycotts and nonimportation. The Shot Heard Round the World :Before the Continental Congress reconvened, the first blows of the American Revolution fell at Lexington and Concord. A Second Continental Congress (1775) slowly took control of the American war effort but only debated independence until British aggressions and Thomas Paine s Common Sense pushed it to an open declaration of revolution and war. Fighting for Independence English military and economic power might have prevailed had it not been for Britain s logistical problems and the American commitment to independence. The Americans maintained a regular army to symbolize the new country s independence and to attract foreign support. Meanwhile, colonial militia controlled large areas of the country and demanded support for the patriots war effort. Thousands more took up arms for the British, hoping in either case to gain unalienable rights. On July 2, 1776, Congress voted for independence, and two days later accepted Thomas Jefferson s Declaration of Independence. George Washington s army suffered several serious defeats in New York and New Jersey and was in retreat by late The Times That Try Men s Souls : In 1777 the Americans captured Burgoyne s army at Saratoga,but then lost a series of battles in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Howe from reaching Philadelphia, lost again at Germantown, then dug in at Valley Forge. The American victory at Saratoga persuaded the French to offer an alliance, founded on their desire for revenge against the British and Franklin s brilliant 52 PART II: TOPICAL REVIEW WITH SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

3 diplomacy an alliance that turned the American rebellion into a global war. The British southern strategy let loose a fury. Americans, more determined than ever, dug in and won a final victory at Yorktown. The Loyalist Dilemma Winning the Peace Many Americans remained loyal to the Crown, often because they feared independence would bring social disorder, which would threaten the very liberties for which their American patriot opponents fought. American hatred and British distrust forced almost one hundred thousand loyalists into bitter flight from their homeland. A highly talented American peace delegation, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay, negotiated a very successful treaty with the British, gaining not only independence but also very favorable boundaries and important fishing rights. Multiple-Choice Questions 1. American colonists, in the years just after the conclusion of the Seven Years War, could be characterized best as (A) hostile toward the British. (B) optimistic about the future. (C) apathetic about relations with Great Britain. (D) eager for independence from Great Britain. (E) trying to rebuild. 2. Although it is impossible to know exactly how many people fled America because they felt a loyalty to the British Crown, all of the following are true EXCEPT (A) over 100,000 left (B) they all were upper class wealthy merchants (C) they were spread throughout the colonies (D) many remained silent throughout the war (E) those that fled went to several countries including Canada, England and the West Indies. 3. England passed the Coercive Acts in response to (A) the colonial boycott of the Stamp Act. (B) the American victory at Saratoga. (C) the Boston Tea Party. (D) the Declaratory Act. (E) the Tea Act. 4. The boycott movement against the Stamp Act (A) was championed by the colonial press. (B) had little effect on Great Britain. (C) ultimately hurt American businessmen more than British. (D) was opposed by New England businessmen. (E) was badly organized. 5. This picture is of a painting of the conditions of a British prison ship. Based on this picture CHAPTER 5: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: FROM ELITE PROTEST TO POPULAR REVOLT,

4 the conditions could be best described as (A) gentlemanly. (B) humane. (C) clean. (D) spacious. (E) squalid. 6. The tensions leading to the Boston Massacre were caused by (A) widespread British murders of American leaders. (B) Parliament s repeal of the Stamp Act. (C) the Boston Tea Party. (D) the presence of several thousand British soldiers in Boston. (E) anger at Charles Townshend. 7. The pamphlet,, presented justification to Americans for their break with Great Britain. (A) Common Sense (B) The Prince (C) The Declaration of the Rights of Man (D) Treatise on Government (E) American Crisis 8. The American victory that brought about the French alliance occurred at (A) Trenton. (B) Yorktown. (C) Breed s Hill. (D) Philadelphia. (E) Saratoga. 9. General Howe was replaced by (A) General Gage. (B) General Cornwallis. (C) General Clinton. (D) General Paine. (E) General Johnston. 10. The radical American group which first emerged during the Stamp Act crisis was known as (A) the Loyalists. (B) the Federalists. (C) the Democratic Republicans. (D) the Sons of Liberty. (E) Oliver s Raiders. Free-Response Question Discuss the relationship between England s internal political problems and the loss of its colonial empire in America. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Multiple-Choice Questions 1. (B) is correct. Immediately following the Seven Years War there was a wave of optimism that swept throughout the colonies. This was due to the British- American victory over the French and Indians. This provided a temporary peace that helped to promote this feeling. Unfortunately, this peace left the British treasury empty and caused the actions that led to the American Revolution. 2. (B) is correct. All of the answers are true except for the issue of social classes. Loyalty to the crown crossed economic barriers. 3. (C) is correct. The Coercive Acts were known as the Intolerable Acts in America. The Act mandated (1) the port of Boston be closed until the East India Tea Company was compensated for the tea, (2) the restructure of the 54 PART II: TOPICAL REVIEW WITH SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

5 Massachusetts government, (3) that the royal governor was allowed to transfer British officials arrested for offenses committed in the line of duty to England, and (4) authorization of quartering troops wherever and whenever needed. 4. (A) is correct. One of the most powerful responses to the Stamp Act came out of the Virginia Assembly in the form of the Virginia Resolves by Patrick Henry. His proposals were controversial but were picked up and ran in most large papers throughout the colonies. 5. (E) is correct. The conditions in war for prisoners are almost always questionable. During the Revolutionary War this was true. The British often kept prisoners on ships floating in harbors for months and sometimes years. 6. (D) is correct. The tensions had grown in Boston as the British army was consolidated in Boston. Both sides caused the tensions. However, on March 5, 1770, young boys and street thugs were throwing rocks and taunting a patrol of redcoats outside the custom commissioner s office. As dusk fell, the soldiers panicked and opened fire leaving five dead Americans. 7. (A) is correct. Thomas Payne s Common Sense became the American revolutionary s guide. His editorials were used as justification for the revolution. 8. (E) is correct. The French had secretly been supporting the colonies throughout the war. The support was not because the French monarchy believed in independence, quite the opposite. The success of the American Revolution can be attributed to the French Revolution. Instead, the French Monarchy wanted to help embarrass the British monarchy. The French had been encouraged to recognize American independence. They advised patience and once the Battle of Saratoga was won, the French officially declared support, believing the Americans had the resolve to win. 9. (C) is correct. General Howe quickly resigned after his defeat at the Battle of Saratoga and was replaced by General Henry Clinton. 10. (D) is correct. The Sons of Liberty were located in Boston. They burned effigies of stamp distributors. This group scared the upper class and fueled the lower classes. Free-Response Essay Sample Response Discuss the relationship between England s internal political problems, and the loss of its colonial empire in America. The main internal political problem in England was the fact the exchequer was empty. This fact meant that there were several proposals between the King, his ministers and the parliament. All of the solutions really saw the American colonies as the monetary solution to the crisis. The problem was in the execution of the adopted plan. Instead of forcing the taxes, what should have happened was a better explanation of the situation to the colonial governors and legislatures. It could be best explained like this: either the colonies can pay a small tax to protect them or they can pay for all their expenses. This is in essence what happened. CHAPTER 5: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: FROM ELITE PROTEST TO POPULAR REVOLT,

The American Revolution: From Elite Protest to Popular Revolt,

The American Revolution: From Elite Protest to Popular Revolt, 1763 1783 Breakdown of Political Trust Seven Years War left colonists optimistic about future Most important consequence of Seven Years War