History 1301 Fall 2018 Essay #2 ****REMEMBER THESE ARE MY NOTES AND SHOULDN T REPLACE ANY NOTES YOU HAVE TAKEN BUT CAN BE USED AS REFERENCE Discuss the road to the American Revolution in great detail. Particularly, focus on two different origins of the Colonial discontent. The first, are the religious and philosophic ideological foundations of independent thought. These included phenomena such as the Great Awakening and the European and American Enlightenment eras as well as the colonial sense of self-determination that arose from the periods of salutary neglect or the fallout colonists faced from forced conflict in European rivalry. The second origin of colonial discontent arose as a direct response to British rule and legislative actions. Discuss the specific legislation, miscalculations, failed appeasement attempts, and overt coercive actions undertaken by the British against the colonies that resulted in the profound and collective discontent of the colonists. Finally, discuss the colonists attempts to diffuse the tensions, their decision to seek militant measures, and what you consider to be the point of no return, the moment in which war seemed inevitable between the American Colonies and the British Empire Introduction and thesis Body Paragraphs Outline 1. 2 different origins of the colonial discontent (pick two) a. Religious foundation i. Great Awakening ii. A movement begins to reverse this secular trend to get the colonies back to a religious and virtuous life iii. Felt that the enlightenment took the colonies away from god so a movement was made to reverse it iv. The Great Awakening begins v. 1740s- spreads throughout the colonies vi. A colony wide revival of religious piety( all the colonies are being told that its time to go back to God) vii. Women and 3 rd /4 th generation sons most favored the Great Awakening 1. Give more of a voice 2. Given more of purpose viii. The sermons are given all around the colonies 1. The preachers preach two main ideas a. Every person has the capacity to break away from the constraints of the past b. Every person can make a new beginning and start a new relationship with God ix. Very powerful and convincing 1. Evangelists from England who preached revivals a. Westley- found Methodist b. Whitefield- know for large revivals c. Edwards- American minister i. His colonial followers later distinguished themselves from other Congregationalists as "New Lights", as opposed to "Old Lights". x. Results of the Great Awakening 1. Divided existing congregations a. Traditionalists and Revivalists b. New churches emerge from division 2. Secular education is a bad thing a. Decrease public education and increase in religious schools 3. American got a good listen in questioning established authority a. Good practice for when they have to question the government and law
4. New denominations are formed 5. Secular colleges and universities emerge b. Philosophical ideological foundation i. The Enlightenment 1. Secularism- non religious; separate religion and government a. Secular industries b. Secular wealth c. the influence of science d. A lot of free thinking-humanism ii. American Enlightenment 1. drives new ways of thinking and questioning 2. 1600s and early 1700s, most colonists believed that these two things were TRUE: a. Earth stood at the center of universe b. God intervened directly in human affairs iii. The European Enlightenment 1. Nicolas Copernicus a. 1473-1543 b. Proves that the early travelled around the sun rather than the opposite c. This troubles the church community 2. Issac Newton a. 1643-1727 b. Mathematician that proved that the planets revolved around the sun c. Laws of motion and concept of gravity basically showed or described how the universe can operate without God s constant intervention. d. Says the God created these natural laws without God s constant intervention. e. This shakes up the Christian community 3. Philosophers and revolutionists use scientific reasoning on all aspects of life especially in a. Social institution- government b. Human behavior- psychology 4. Enlightenment thinkers believed that you can observe, analyze, understand, and improve your world. 5. Fundamental principles a. There is a law like order to the world i. God is not controlling the world, but instead placed laws for that reason b. We believed in the power in human reason i. Gods gave use intelligence to solve problems c. Natural rights of the individuals d. You could congress society i. Make it better 6. John Locke 1632-1704 a. Most influential British enlightenment thinker, especially to the British colonies b. Wrote 2 important documents in 1690: i. Essay concerning human understanding ii. Argues that the character of individual and society was not tied by gods will but could be changed in education and purpose to create free will iii. This contradicts predestination c. Two treatises on government i. It argued that political authority was not divinely ordained but instead political authority sprang from social compacts 1. To preserve natural rights 2. Life, liberty and prosperity ii. Governments operate by the will of the people no KINGS
d. These ideas make their way to the colonies and play a pivotal role iv. Self-determination- Salutary Neglect 3. 1689-1763(74 years) Salutary Neglect- neglecting of the colonies because enforcement of laws were not present Weak parliamentary control over the colonies Very lax enforcement of laws Regulations 1699 Woolen Act Wool Limited amount of processed wool colonies could ship out 1732 Hat Act Hats Limited the amount of processed hats the colonies could ship out 1733 Molasses Act Colonies could no longer purchase Spanish sugar; only from England 1750 Iron Act Limited amount of iron produced in the colonies Affected New England small industry iron making Limited the Importation or production of English coins In response, the colonies print paper money BUT parliament prohibit the printing of paper money These laws/regulations not strictly enforced and corruption exists to get around these laws BECAUSE Many of the Royal governors did not live in the colonies but in England Attempts to enforces were not successful 127 years of the colonies basically governing themselves As a result the colonies become adept(good) at governing themselves in this system Confidence builds in their own political, social and economic destinies So why is Great Britain so neglectful? BECAUSE Great Britain is fighting a # costly war(s) c. Forced Conflict i. French and Indian War France Quebec- first settlement in 1608 Controls the central interior of the continent New Orleans is settled in 1718 They control the entire Mississippi River region French a big rival to the English Spain Florida main concern to the colonies Not a big rival Slowly as the colonies grow, British colonists are slowly starting to move and passing the boundary of the Appalachian mountains and getting involved in the lucrative fur trade and leads to tensions Indian alliances also cause tensions Series of wars between France, Spain, Indian rivals, and British King Williams War (1697-1698) Queen Anne s War (1701-1713) King George's War(1744-1748) Global War (French and Indian or the Seven Years war) 1756-1763 Major war for empire French alliance with Iroquois confederacy vs. the British Reasons 1. British keep crossing the Ohio river valley to est. fur trading outpost 2. French est. a chain of forts in response to the influx of British crossing
3. 1750s the French and Indians are attacking English that go west 4. The British send a militia detachment under a young George Washington 1. Sent to est. an outpost(fort Necessity) 2. To intimidate the French 3. Unit is attacked by French so he retreats 4. Washington plans for a surprise attack on Fort McCain BUT Arrives too late to and driven off by the French and this marks the BEGINNING of the war in 1754 5. War kicking British butt 6. Very unpopular with the colonies 7. 1754 Albany Plan for union 1. delegates fro 8 colonies meet in Albany, NY 2. Ben Franklin called for colonial unification 3. One single representative assembly to represent all colonies 4. It fails to get support from the crown 5. Not all assemblies agree 1. It serves as a model of future unification 1757- war takes a drastic change with William Pitt He takes over as Prime Minister He wants to use the American colonists as soldiers The colonists are very slow to acquire men, giving supplies, and volunteering After the war ends, Pitt holds a huge grudge to tighten a hold on America 1763 the war ends; Peace of Paris is signed by the British Results 1. The French are not longer a treat 2. Colonial boarders are now more secure from Indian threats 3. Colonial trade was not secure by the royal navy 4. New markets open to British around the world cause of the French concession 5. Spain got Louisiana and New Orleans and French have the continents 6. Ended the policy salutary neglect i. Helping to cover the cost of the war, taxes are raised 7. Because the war was so unpopular, victory gives rise to American nationalism- NOT INDEPENDNENCE but develop a new identity 2. Direct response to British rule & legislature actions a. Legislation miscalculations 1. Parliament ignores the fact that colonists had enjoyed lax English colonial administration o economically and politically free o Basically they governed themselves for long while 2. Ignores the fact all the upcoming policies from the crown is only going to focus on the colliding national identity, interests, differences of the colonies Extreme miscommunication colonists and England when it comes to political ideas 1. Representation 2. Constitution British parliament represents everyone in England and the colonies Colonistsbelievedthereshouldbedirectrepresentationinthecolonies(be part of the discussion in London) British have a collection of laws made over time (Cannon of Laws) Colonist wanted a written document that stated the rights of the citizens Wanted a transparent document to refer to 3. Sovereignty- political authority/ legitimacy (Where does the power rest and who has the power) The British sovereignty was with the crown and eventually parliament too (they shared power)
The colonists believed it should be divided with only certain powers to the king, parliament and the colonies. Checks and balances b) Failed appeasement attempts Parliaments repeals the Stamp Act in 1766 Wide spread unrest Made a ton $$$$$$ so they just cut it 1770 repealing of the Townsend Acts except for the Tea Act Endorsed a statement (sent a letter)to King George of grievances and demand a repeal of Parliamentary laws since 1763 Write the Olive Branch Petition o o o Peace agreement sent to London King George refuse and threatens Last bit of loyalty dies off c) Coercive actions by the British against the colonies leads to extreme discontent from the colonists Navigation Acts Intolerable Acts Increase of troops in Boston Quartering Act Townshend Acts Prohibitory Act Revoking of charters and local government assemblies 3. Colonists attempts to diffuse the tensions a. Seeking military measures Forming small militias to later transform into the Continental Army Albany Plan for union (French and Indian War) 1 st Continental Congress 2 nd Continental Congress Forming alliances with foreign powers b. Point of no return ( war is inevitable) Boston Massacre Increase in troops in Boston Promotion of propaganda by the Sons of Liberty and Committees of Pubic Safety Tea Tax Boston Tea Party Intolerable acts
Conclusion Lexington and Concord 1 st Continental Congress Olive Branch Petition by the 2 nd Continental Congress