Causes of American Revolution: British Policies and Enlightenment Ideas

1. Unit 2 Power Point 2 Revolution and the New Nation: Revolution

2. The ideas of the Enlightenment and the perceived unfairness of British policies provoked debate and resistance by the American colonists.

3. England & Colonial America Salutary Neglect: English policy of leaving the colonies to develop on their own. The main goal of England: To make money

4. Anglo-French rivalry leading to conflict with the colonies • The rivalry in North America between Britain and France led to the French and Indian War, in which the French were driven out of Canada and their territories west of the Appalachian Mountains. Over Ohio River Valley • English will abandon policy of salutary neglect and take a more forceful approach in colonies.

5. North America in 1750

6. French and Indian War Results… Britain has world empire Britain - huge debt; large area to defend bitter feelings between Britain and colonies Colonists see Brits are not invincible Colonial trade limited Americans work together to defeat a common enemy (1st time) Without this war, the American Revolution would not have occurred!

7. The F/I War caused Economic, Political, and Social Changes. • War increases colonial unity, How? • Increased perception that colonies should be Independent • Spanish and Indians weaker • French Gone • Colonists believe they can roam free

8. New Era • Mercantilism fully embraced and enforced • Navigation Acts • Restrictions on production • No Currency in America – use gold and silver • Privy council could over rule colonial law

9. As a result of the war, Britain took several actions that angered the American colonies and led to the American Revolution. These included -Sugar Act(Revenue Act of 1764)- duty on sugar and other luxuries, leads to stricter enforcement of Navigation Acts, smugglers no longer get trial by jury. -Quartering Act- required colonists to provide food and living quarters for British soldiers.

10. -the Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, a region that was costly for the British to protect. -new taxes on legal documents (the “Stamp Act”), tea, and sugar, to pay costs incurred during the French and Indian War and for British troops to protect colonists. Leads to the formation of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty & Stamp Act Congress to protest the act.

11. Taxes and Acts Cause a War • Colonial Reaction: “Stamp Act Congress” • 9 colonies • “No Taxation w/o representation verse “Virtual Representation” • External/Internal Taxes • Send list of grievances to King • Parliament repeals act • Declaratory Act • Starts Boycotts – people make own products

12. The Boston Massacre took place when British troops fired on anti-British demonstrators. March 1770 ---5 colonists killed, used as propaganda to incite anti-British feelings.

14. The beginning of the American Revolution Resistance to British rule in the colonies mounted, leading to war: • The Boston Tea Party occurred, 1773. • The First Continental Congress was called, to which all of the colonies except Georgia sent representatives—the first time most of the colonies had acted together. No desire for independence-How should we react to these attacks on our liberties?

15. Boston Tea Party (1773)

16. Intolerable Acts • Coercive Acts- 1) closed the port of Boston, no trade until tea was paid for. 2) reduced power of Mass. Legislature. 3) royal officials accused of crimes would be tried in England. 4) expanded the Quartering Act to private homes. • Quebec Act-established Roman Catholicism as official religion of Quebec, set up gov’t without representative assembly, and extended Quebec’s boundary to Ohio River

17. Colonial Reaction • 1st Continental Congress 1774 • All colonies except Georgia sent representatives, colonies act together first time • List of grievances “Declaration of Rights” • Rejected

18. The American Revolution(1775-1783) • “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Paine The American Crisis

19. The Regulars Are Coming . . . Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers.

20. Start of War • War began when the “Minutemen” in Massachusetts fought a brief skirmish with British troops at Lexington and Concord.

21. “By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world”

22. Edge of War • Colonies: • 2.5 million citizens • Weak gov’t & navy • Little money or weapons • Colonial jealousy • Strong leaders • Defensive war • France • England: • 7.5 million citizens • Strong navy • Large, well equipped army • Loyalists • Weak military leaders • Distance • France

23. 3 Groups of Colonist

24. Military Strategies The Americans The British • Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line]. • Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] • Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. • Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So. • Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. • “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

25. Remember--Locke's Description of Government • Government is a “Social Contract” • "All original power resides in the people.” • For protection, the People obey the laws • Creates "ordered liberty.“ • Government can be over thrown if they violate peoples rights • Locke’s ideas impact the entire world

26. 2nd Continental Congress • Philadelphia, May 1775– -George Washington appointed head of colonial army, Benedict Arnold sent to invade Canada, Navy & Marine Corps organized. -Olive Branch Petition sent to King George, July 1775, last ditch effort at peace, pledged loyalty and asked king to protect their rights.

27. Famous Statment made by Partick Henry, a patriot, was... • "...Give me Liberty or give me Death" Henry, in a speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1775, states… “Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

28. Major Battles • Valley Forge 1777 • Saratoga Oct. 1777 • Major US Victory • Franklin negotiated a Treaty of Alliance with France

29. Battles • Bunker Hill-June 1775- Americans inflict heavy casualties, retreat because they run out of ammunition. • Common Sense- Jan. 1776 • Declaration of Independence- July 4th 1776 • Saratoga- victory is turning point of war- France now joins the colonists • Yorktown-1781- last major battle of the revolution, French army & navy help defeat the British in Virginia- Cornwallis surrenders • Treaty of Paris 1783 ends war

30. Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: “The World Turned Upside Down!” Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

31. The American rebels won their independence because the British government grew tired of the struggle soon after the French agreed to help the Americans.

32. Factors leading to colonial victory • Diplomatic -Benjamin Franklin negotiated a Treaty of Alliance with France--1778. -The war did not have popular support in Great Britain.

33. Military -George Washington, general of the American army, avoided any situation that threatened the destruction of his army, and his leadership kept the army together when defeat seemed inevitable. -Americans benefited from the presence of the French army and navy at the Battle of Yorktown, which ended the war with an American victory.

34. Treaty 1783 Recognize US independence Gives all land east of Mississippi and South of the Great Lakes to Florida Why so much? Good deal for US – Brits pulling US from French

35. Can we answer these questions? • What differences existed among Americans concerning separation from Great Britain? • What factors contributed to the victory of the American rebels?