Origins of the American War for Independence

1. Origins of the American War for Independence

2. 1. Mercantilism Thought of the British is that colonists need to provide the Mother Country with a favorable balance of trade. In time, there is a shift and the Mother Country sees the colonies as a source of revenue—at the very least, they should pay for the cost of governance. Colonists get used to non-enforcement of mercantilist laws (salutary neglect) in the early part of the 18th century, so when the British try to enforce legislation (after Fr/Ind War), there is strong resistance. ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

3. 2. Colonial attachment to local self-rule Essentially, the power of the governor decreased in the 18th century and the power of the assembly increased. There was also the diverging English and Colonial points of view regarding taxation and representation. (virtual representation vs. “no taxation without representation”) ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

4. 3. Effects of French/Indian War 3 wars precede the French/Indian War (see p. 111) King William’s War 1689-1697 Queen Anne’s War 1702-1713--Britain receives large landholdings at the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) King George’s War 1744-1748--New Englanders upset that Louisbourg was handed back to France at the Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle (1748) ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

5. North America in 1750

6. North America in 1763

7. 1754  Albany Plan of Union Ben Franklin  representatives from New England, NY, MD, PA • Albany Congress failed Iroquois broke off relations with Britain & threatened to trade with the French.

8. British-American Colonial Tensions Methods ofFighting: • Indian-style guerilla tactics. • March in formation or bayonet charge. MilitaryOrganization: • Col. militias served under own captains. • Br. officers wanted to take charge of colonials. MilitaryDiscipline: • No mil. deference or protocols observed. • Drills & tough discipline. Finances: • Resistance to rising taxes. • Colonists should pay for their own defense. Demeanor: • Casual, non-professionals. • Prima Donna Br. officers with servants & tea settings.

9. 1763  Treaty of Paris France --> lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India, and claims to lands east of the Mississippi River. Spain -->got all French lands west of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to England. England -->got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India.

10. 3. Effects of French/Indian War French Indian War was a total victory by Britain and they acquired nearly all of North America. The effects included: Colonists gain sense of a bigger America beyond the Appalachians ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

11. 3. Effects of French/Indian War The effects included: Colonists forced to cooperate on an unprecedented scale (somewhat fulfilling Franklin’s Albany Plan) ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

12. 3. Effects of French/Indian War The effects included: Trained a core of American soldiers ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

13. 3. Effects of French/Indian War The effects included: Removed French/Indian Threat decreasing the colonial dependence on Britain ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

14. 3. Effects of French/Indian War OTHER EFFECTS? ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

15. 4. Failures of George III He was determined to play an aggressive role in government and take away power from parliament which they were unwilling to yield. ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

16. 5. Failures of Parliament Few had been to America There was a communications problem between colonists and mother country Parliament held to principles of parliamentary sovereignty (including virtual representation) ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

17. 6. Enlightenment Philosophies/ Unification of American Political Beliefs The influence of John Locke Representative Gov’t (Republicanism) Local Assemblies have right to tax Hatred of the royal veto A moral component that was missing in Britain ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

18. 7. Divergence of the American Social System 40%+ of population non-English (by 1775) Difference in morality, social graces, culture, etc. Formal education better in America—especially in the areas of law and political philosophy ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

19. 8. British Legislation (1763-1775) Taxation w/o representation and an infringement on their “natural rights” ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

20. Theories of Representation Real Whigs Q->What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies?? Absolute? OR Limited? Q->How could the colonies give or withhold consent for parliamentary legislation when they did not have representation in that body??

21. George Grenville’s Program, 1763-1765 1. Sugar Act - 1764 2. Currency Act - 1764 3. Quartering Act - 1765 4. Stamp Act - 1765

22. Stamp Act Crisis Loyal Nine- 1765 Sons of Liberty– began in NYC:Samuel Adams Stamp Act Congress– 1765*Stamp Act Resolves Declaratory Act– 1766

23. Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770 1767 William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, Secretary of the Exchequer. • Shift from paying taxes for Br. war debts & quartering of troops  paying col. govt. salaries. • He diverted revenue collection from internal to external trade. • Tax these imports  paper, paint, lead, glass, tea. • Increase custom officials at American ports  established a Board of Customs in Boston.

24. Colonial Response to the Townshend Duties 1. John Dickinson  1768*Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania. 2. 1768  2nd non-importation movement:*“Daughters of Liberty”*spinning bees 3. Riots against customs agents:* John Hancock’s ship, the Liberty.* 4000 British troops sent to Boston.

25. For the first time, many colonists began calling people who joined the non-importation movement, "patriots!"

26. Effects of the War on Britain? 1. It increased her colonial empire in the Americas. 2. It greatly enlarged England’s debt. 3. Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings. Therefore, England felt that amajor reorganization of her American Empire was necessary!

27. Effects of the War on the American Colonials 1.It united them against a common enemy for the first time. 2. It created a socializing experience for all the colonials who participated. 3. It created bitter feelings towards the British that would only intensify.

28. The Aftermath: Tensions Along the Frontier 1763 Pontiac’s Rebellion Fort Detroit British “gifts” of smallpox-infected blankets from Fort Pitt.

29. Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

30. BACKLASH! British Proclamation Line of 1763.

31. The French & Indian War (1756 to 1763) “The Great War for Empire”

32. Rethinking Their Empire Br. Gvt. measures to prevent smuggling: • 1761 writs of assistance • James Otis’ case • Protection of a citizen’s private property must be held in higher regard than a parliamentary statute. • He lost  parliamentary law and custom had equalweight.