The Colonies Rebel Mr. Phipps American History Slide 2 A
Changing Relationship All colonies, under royal charter, were under
direct control of the governor, who were subject to the rule of
king All Englishmen were represented in Parliament, equally
Colonial representation not based on population or on geographical
differences between areas of the Commonwealth Rights based on
Common Law and the English Bill of Rights All colonists subject to
the rule of law Must abide by trade laws--Navigation Laws Must pay
taxes Must participate in military service Slide 3 The Gripes Until
1763, colonial opposition remained more theoretical Colonists
considered themselves loyal to the king Colonists enjoyed the
protection of the British commonwealth Colonists disagreed with
Parliamentary influence and the meddling of governors-- in short,
no direct representation Slide 4 The French and Indian War The
outcomes of the European power struggles had dramatic consequences
for the colonies France lost all its colonial positions in North
America Great Britain reasserted its naval dominance Britain is
drained of money and resources, due to the expense of the wars and
the wars in Europe Colonists, both military and civilian, were
attacked and brutalized by natives and the French, particularly on
the frontier Slide 5 Unintended Consequences Colonies unify in
Albany Organized by the guidance of Benjamin Franklin, who
considered it important for colonies to discuss colonial issues
Important to improve communication Military complications Colonists
do the majority of the fighting--and dying during the war Colonists
not promoted above rank of colonel Colonial soldiers forced to
serve longer than their length of conscription Colonists forced to
barrack/quarter soldiers in homes Slide 6 The Proclamation
Proclamation of 1763 Before the war, colonists were promised trans-
Appalachian settlement (in the Ohio Valley) After the war,
colonists were prohibited from settling Considered it an egregious
abuse of authority Forced to pay 1/3 the cost of the war Although
colonists didnt start it, didnt want to fight it, and didnt get
settlement claims in the Ohio Valley Slide 7 Post-war Problems
Diplomatic Issues Angry natives--wanted security in former French
territory Repeatedly violated peace treaty terms--Pontiacs
Rebellion Spread small pox French natives and fur traders trapped
Quebec region Domestic Problems (for England) War cost too much
Drained too many resources Was culmination of 100 years of war
Indicated the vulnerability of Britain--they could lose battles
Slide 8 Tax Acts Taxation Laws--intended to generate revenue to pay
off the Empires wars Colonists considered it unreasonable because
little of the tax was reinvested in the colonies Sugar Act,
Currency Act, Stamp Act (on all paper products), Quartering Act
(forced to house soldiers) Slide 9 Organizing Discontent Radical
Patriots--comprised less than 1/6 of the colonial population, was
the most vocal group in the colonies Patrick Henry--Give me liberty
or give me death Sons and Daughters of Liberty--used mob violence
to protest tax acts, tarring and feathering, etc The
Association--organized during First Continental Congress to boycott
English Goods Slide 10 The British Respond Repealed Stamp Act
Issued Declaratory Act--authorized governors to legislate in the
colonies Created foundation for enforcement of martial law, the
closing of harbors, and curfews Imposed customs duty Banned trial
by jury Suspended New York Assembly--considered to radical and
dissenting Slide 11 Organizing Opposition Colonists, particularly
in the main cities (Boston, Philadelphia, and New York) vocalize
and organize John Dikkenson published Letter from a Farmer in
Pennsylvania (1767)--argued against the right of Parliament to
legislate, contended that tax policy was hurting the everyman
Committees of Correspondence formed--Sam Adams and James Otis
Published propaganda denouncing Parliament and reaffirms authority
of King Organized inter-colonial communication system Adoption of
Non-Importation Agreements Resulted in the repeal of the Townshend
Act, except for the Tea Tax Slide 12 The Tea Tax of 1773 Considered
to be a catalyst for colonial unity Reduced tax, but gave monopoly
to the Dutch East India Co. With local enforcement of the Non-
importation agreements, tea shipments were left unloaded in Boston
Harbor Colonists protested by dumping thousands of crates, nearly
$2 million in tea, into the harbor Slide 13 The Intolerable Acts In
response to the Boston Tea Party, England closes harbor until
reparations are paid Restricted meetings in throughout the city
Instituted martial law Re-enacted the Quartering Act Slide 14 A Cry
for Unity The First Continental Congress (Sept. 1774) Intended to
facilitate communication between the colonies and resistance
leaders Voted for a complete boycott of British goods Legitimized
the resistance movement by including colonial heavyweights--George
Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and 52 other delegates from
around the colonies Issued the Declaration of Rights and
Grievances-- an articulate condemnation of Parliamentary abuses
Simultaneously (and secretly) trained local militias Slide 15
Lexington and Concord, April 1775 British sent detachment of troops
to seize cache of colonial weapons and gunpowder British intended
to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock When colonists refused to
disperse, shots were fired, beginning the first salvo of the
Revolutionary War Slide 16 Pre-War Fighting May 1775--Benedict
Arnold captures Ticonderoga and Crown Point (important garrisons)
June 1775--Battle of Bunker Hill (actually Breeds Hill), colonists
ultimately forced to abandon due to low supplies Winter,
1775--Battle of Quebec Slide 17 Common Sense, 1776 Needing to boost
morale, Thomas Paine writes Common Sense, an easy to read, but
eloquent explanation for the revolution The pamphlet would be the
most widely circulated book of the Revolution, read at campfires by
the Continental army Made the war a war of ideas, not just
rebellion Slide 18 The Second Continental Congress Colonists forced
to deal with the violence of Lexington and Concord Military
Preparedness Appointed George Washington (as most experienced
military officer) General of the Continental Army Raised an army
Ordered naval confrontation Slide 19 Mobilizing for War Political
Preparations Authorized the writing of individual state
constitutions Issued the Olive Branch Petition, a final
plea/ultimatum to the King--ignored Asked Richard Henry Lee to
craft an Independence Resolution--but too weakly worded Invited
Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence--a formal
statement of grievances and the declaration of a new country Slide
20 The British War Machine Strengths Had a larger population (3:1)
More money Had manufacturing facilities, factories, and industries
Stronger and better trained army and navy Had supply of mercenary
soldiers (German Hessians) Had established bureaucracy and
government Weaknesses Had chronic domestic problems Problems with
France, who wanted revenge Series of long civil wars and world wars
Had a confused and inept bureaucracy Had no desire for war Had
second rate generals Required long supply trains Had little
knowledge of the terrain Slide 21 Colonial Assets Strengths
Excellent leadership (Washington, Adams, Franklin, Lafayette, etc)
Waging a defensive battle Had knowledge of the terrain
Self-sustaining, had limitless food supplies Better riflemen
Fighting for a cause (justice, liberty, freedom, blah, blah, blah)
Weaknesses Poorly organized, little unity between the colonies No
money, and no central currency Inter-colonial jealousy, over
borders and trade No military supplies Undisciplined and untrained
army No navy Slide 22 The War Dec. 1776--Battle of
Trenton-Washington surprises British forces in New Jersey (crossed
the Delaware, etc) Oct. 1777--Battle of Saratoga, British forces
crushed and boosted morale of Continental army 1778--The Revolution
becomes a world war--most other countries ally with the United
States and promise recognition as a new country, hoping to destroy
the British Empire 1781--American and French attack on Yorktown
1783--Treaty of Paris--Adams, Franklin, and Jay accept surrender
and hash out diplomatic relationship with England, France, and
Spai
