Chapter 3. The British Colonial System

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Scott Griffith
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1 Chapter 3 The American Revolution Begins Sep 9 11:24 AM The British Colonial System A LOT of freedom! Royal Reps did what they could Gov. appointed by crown in most cases: executed local laws, summoned/dismissed local assemblies Each colony had a legislature: Judge and upper house appointed by King Royal Governor had a hard time backing up unpopular decisions of Crown Tried to crack the whip Brits NEVER developed a centralized way to deal with colonies 1

2 Role of Mercantilism? favorable balance of trade Make country self sufficient and trade for goods that English can t mine Tariffs on foreign goods, subsidized British textiles The Navigation Acts Effects of Mercantilism? Whenever Parliament or the Board of Trade resolved an Anglo American disagreement, the colonists tended to lose out. 86 The Great Awakening Unified colonies! Began in Middle Colonies, and paralleled what was happening in Europe George Whitefield, Old Lights and New Lights Helped some people to rid themselves of the idea that disobedience to authority entailed damnation 88 New colleges: Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth Rise and fall of Jonathan Edwards Effects? FIRST UNIFYING EVENT IN COLONIES!!! 2

3 Enlightenment in America Philosophers and shifting opinions: Deism Colonial scientific achievements? Bartram, Franklin Helped influential leaders in each colony interact Repercussions of Distant Wars Wars came to the colonies! FL, Maine? French and Five Nations? FUTURE BELONGED TO ENGLAND AND FRANCE King William s War War of Spanish Succession (prevent France and Spain unification under Bourbons), Treaty of Utrecht ends War of Austrian Succession Matters that seemed unimportant to Brits VERY important to colonists Conflicting land claims, especially in Ohio country 3

4 The Great War for Empire French and British challenging forts in Ohio River Valley Washington s role as a general French and Indian War: Statistics, Role of Indians? William Pitt mortgaged future recklessly to secure prize Fort Duquesne falls (Pittsburgh), Montreal falls Peace of Paris: Half the continent had changed hands at the scratch of a pen. Francis Parkman Fixing the Empire Britain s national debt doubled, plus empire increased Brits thought colonists were beneath them Tightened Imperial Controls: The attempt of the inefficient, ignorant, and indignant British government to deal with the intricate colonial problems that resulted from the great war for empire led to the American Revolution. (98) Agree/disagree? 4

5 British_Rule.asf Attempts to control colonies Proclamation of 1763 The Sugar Act and Grenville end smuggling Problem was NOT being taxed problem was being taxed and NOT TREATED LIKE ENGLISHMEN Demand rights, British idea of virtual representation vs. actual representation, parental role of Brits Stamp Act and Sons of Liberty, looting and mobs Quartering Act Declaratory Act: colonies SUBORDINATE Townshend Act 1767 Circular Letter expresses anger of colonists Today...PREPARATION. Stamp Act: Fair Tax or Tyranny? Opening statement (1 2 minutes) Major points to raise Questions to pose to the other side Closing argument (1 2 minutes) USE your PRIMARY SOURCES as well as any information in the textbook to prepare for our debate tomorrow. Sep 16 1:04 PM 5

6 Boston_Massacre Facts_and_Fiction.asf Rebels or Patriots? Boston Massacre: March 5, 1770: most Townshend duties repealed Gaspee Affair: Providence, RI June 1772 Committees of Correspondence formed Tea Act Crisis: Dec 1773 Tea Party in Boston From Resistance to Revolution Coercive Acts/ Intolerable Acts make Boston the martyr UNWISE LAWS THAT COST BRITAIN AN EMPIRE C and G Step by step, loyal subjects of Britain had been forced by the logic of events to take political power into their own hands and to unite with one another or exercise that power effectively. (108) C and G 6

7 September 1774 First Continental Congress meets, Philadelphia Majority didn t want to break away! Why not? (New York Yankees Example) Congress Acts: condemns all acts since 1763, proposed taking up arms, boycott, and stop exports Americans decided DRASTIC CHANGES MUST BE MADE! The Revolution was complete, in the minds of the people, and the Union of the colonies, before the war commenced. 7

8 We must all hang together or we will most assuredly hang separately. TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE! 8

9 Attachments Boston_Massacre Facts_and_Fiction.asf British_Rule.asf

Common Sense. A guide to the beginning of American Independence

Common Sense. A guide to the beginning of American Independence Common Sense A guide to the beginning of American Independence List of Events Leading to the American Revolution French & Indian War - fought between Britain and France over land in the Ohio River Valley;