The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution Unit One Part One

2. Big Picture • At the onset of the 18th century three Old World countries had a vested interest in North America: England (Great Britain), France, and Spain. Though there were many major conflicts over the course of the century, The French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) would have the greatest impact on the colonists, as the aftermath planted the seeds for the American Revolution.

3. Origins of New France • Latecomers to colonization • Internal Strife • St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572) • Edict of Nantes (1598) • Limited religious toleration • Quebec (1608) • Samuel de Champlain • Good relationship with Huron • Fought against Iroquois • Stymied colonization in Ohio River Valley

4. Stats • Royal Colony • Ruled autocratically • No assembly • No trial by jury • Population • 60,000 (1750)

5. Expansion of New France • Fur Traders—beaver • Transients • Runners of risk • Drinkers • Free spirited • Trading posts widespread • Collaborated with natives • Damaged native culture and ecosystem • Jesuit Missionaries • Catholic converters • Unsuccessful—mixed conversions • Important explorers

6. Spheres of Influence • Antoine Cadillac • Detroit: “The city of straights” 1701 • Check the English • Robert de La Salle • Explored the Mississippi 1682 • “Louisiana”—after Louis XIV • Block Spanish control of the Gulf of Mexico • New Orleans 1718

7. Clash of Empires • Early conflicts • King William’s War (1689-1697) • Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713) • Occupying forces • Native recruitment • Treaty of Utrecht (1713) • British gain territory • The War of Jenkins’s Ear (1739-1744) • Some fighting in GA • King George’s War (1744-1748) • New England invades New France • Capture of Louisbourg 1745 • Returned 1748

8. Contested Space • Ohio River Valley • Future interest • British—westward expansion • French—links northern and southern possessions • Immediate interest • British—land speculation • French—fur trade • Fort Duquense • cross waters • Allegheny • Monongahela

9. Beginning of the F+I War (1754) • Lieutenant Colonel George Washington • Secure Virginian claims to the Ohio River Valley • 150 militiamen • Skirmish with French detachment • French flee • Construction of Fort Necessity • French retaliate—10 hour siege • Washington surrenders • Nova Scotia • British authorities deport 4,000 French Acadians

10. Global War • F+I War=Seven Years’ War • Two years of undeclared war in N. America • Full scale world war (1756) • Spanned seven seas—America, Caribbean, Philippines, Africa • Britain and Prussia v. France, Spain, Austria, and Russia • Frederick the Great • Holds off the French and allies in Germany • Subsidized by Britain

11. Colonial Disunity • The Albany Congress (1754) • Intercolonial congress • 7/13 show up • Woo the Iroquois—delegation came bearing gifts • Bolster defense against New France • The Albany Plan • Colonial home rule • Rejected!

13. The French, A Slippery Foe • British Shortcomings • General Braddock • Led 2,000 men to Fort Duquesne • Redcoats and Buckskins • Heavy artillery • Carving out roads • Skirmish • Small French and Indian detachment • Braddock attacks—French and Indian “disappear” • Guerrilla tactics • Braddock mortally wounded • Washington takes reins

14. …continued • Indians attack frontier settlements from PA to NC • Washington and 300 men attempt to defend frontier • Canada • Full scale invasion (1756) • Attack wilderness outposts • Failure

15. William Pitt—The Great Commoner • The Organizer of Victory (1757) • Focuses on Canada • Appoints young leaders • Turning the tide • Siege of Louisbourg—1758 • First victory • Quebec • James Wolfe—1759 • Breaches unguarded wall at night • Defeats French • Montreal—1760 • French flags leave Canada

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17. Restless Colonists • Lessons of War • 20,000 “Americans” serve in F+I War • Officers and men alike • Shatters myth of British invincibility • British arrogance displayed • Not all colonists support cause • Trade with Spain and France • Some colonies don’t send troops • Pitt had to promise reimbursement

18. Sources of Disunity • Distance between colonies • Geographical barriers • Conflicting religions • Varied nationalities • Colonial governments • Boundary disputes • Class differences

19. Aftermath of War • Natives • Left to deal with only the British • Pontiac’s uprising (1763) • Remove British from Ohio frontier • Killed 2,000 soldiers and settlers • Biological Warfare ends uprising • Proclamation Line of 1763 • Work out native problems • No trespassing West of Appalachians • Hard to enforce • Great Britain’s debt doubles

20. Big Picture • In the aftermath of the French and Indian War, the British had to bear the burden of empire. The economics of administering an empire was a burden that the colonists were not interested in bearing. The colonists, though mostly self-identifying Brits, fought tooth and nail in protest of the motherland’s economic policies, which ultimately created a rift that was irremediable.

21. Deep Roots of Revolution • Republicanism—citizens subordinate private, self interests to common good. • Society and government depended on citizenry • Focus on civic involvement: • Antithesis of aristocracy and monarchy • “Radical Whigs” • Warned Britons of political corruption • Cherished hard won liberties • Distance weakens authority • Salutary neglect/autonomy

22. Mercantilism • Wealth=power • Power is measured by gold and silver in their coffers • Exports>Imports • Colonies are an extension of the mother country • Work with, rather than against mother country • Natural resources • Markets

23. Grievances with Mercantilism • Navigation Acts (1650-1660s) • Regulated trade: • Mandated the use of British vessels in trade • All European commerce had to pass through Britain • Tariffs and duties collected • Certain colonial products shipped exclusively to Britain • Currency Shortage • Bought more from Britain than they sold—cash • Gold and silver would leave the colonies • Paper money and lenient bankruptcy laws • Veto Power

24. Merits and Menace of Mercantilism • Merits • Salutary Neglect • Laws were seldom enforced • Lord Walpole • Benefits • Bounties paid for ship parts over competitors • Tobacco monopoly in England for colonists • Protection • Royal Navy and Redcoats • Menace • Stunted economic growth • British agents and creditors bankrolled the colonies

25. Repaying the War Debt & Paying for Empire • 70 million pounds of debt: F+I War • PM George Grenville • Strict enforcement of Navigation Acts • Sugar Act (1764)—duty on sugar grown in West Indies • First law to raise revenue in the colonies • Quartering Act (1765)—10,000 troops stationed in colonies • Food and quarters • THE STAMP ACT (1765) • Bills of sale, legal, and commercial documents • Direct tax • Taxes as trade regulation=okay • Taxes as revenue=not okay