American Heritage 170

American Heritage 170Topic 4 — The Decision Topic 4 — The Decision

for Independence:for Independence:

Events from 1763 to Events from 1763 to 17761776

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War Starts on the western frontier Starts on the western frontier

over French encroachmentover French encroachment Lasts from 1756 to 1763Lasts from 1756 to 1763 England and the American England and the American

colonists wincolonists win

The Nature of the RevolutionThe Nature of the Revolution

Now isNow is

secondsecond

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War Two major changes in Two major changes in

British/American relations British/American relations after the war after the war

1. Parliament restricts 1. Parliament restricts American settlement across American settlement across the Appalachians to maintain the Appalachians to maintain peace on the frontier peace on the frontier (Proclamation of 1763)(Proclamation of 1763)

The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War 2. Parliament imposes taxes 2. Parliament imposes taxes

on American colonists in an on American colonists in an attempt to rebuild British attempt to rebuild British treasury after the wartreasury after the war

Sugar ActSugar Act Stamp ActStamp Act Townshend ActsTownshend Acts Tea ActTea Act

American Response to Changes in British Polices

American Response to Changes in British Polices Non-importationNon-importation Stamp Act Congress--1765Stamp Act Congress--1765

Issued a declaration of rights Issued a declaration of rights and grievances to Parliamentand grievances to Parliament

Boston Tea Party 1773Boston Tea Party 1773

The Battles of Lexington and ConcordThe Battles of Lexington and Concord This battle marked the first This battle marked the first

time colonial militia had been time colonial militia had been ordered to fire on British ordered to fire on British troops and began the troops and began the Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War

American Response to Changes in British Polices

American Response to Changes in British Polices These events lead to the These events lead to the

development of a Revolutionary development of a Revolutionary culture in America with two culture in America with two prominent groups involvedprominent groups involved

Patriot RebelsPatriot RebelsPassionatePassionateSwift to actSwift to actSons of LibertySons of Liberty

Patriot PhilosophersPatriot Philosophers

Sam AdamsSam Adams John HancockJohn Hancock John AdamsJohn Adams Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Colonial clergyColonial clergy Created a Revolution in the minds of Created a Revolution in the minds of

AmericansAmericans

The Nature of the RevolutionThe Nature of the Revolution

Many colonists came to believe that Many colonists came to believe that only “republican” governments could only “republican” governments could best secure their rights, privileges, best secure their rights, privileges, and liberties.and liberties.

John Adams: 1774John Adams: 1774

““I am surprised at the I am surprised at the suddenness, as well as suddenness, as well as the greatness of this the greatness of this revolution. . . . Is not the revolution. . . . Is not the change we have seen change we have seen astonishing? Would any astonishing? Would any man two years ago have man two years ago have believed it possible,. . .believed it possible,. . .

secondsecond

John Adams: 1774John Adams: 1774

to accomplish such an to accomplish such an alteration in the alteration in the prejudices, passions, prejudices, passions, sentiments, and sentiments, and principles of these principles of these thirteen little states as to thirteen little states as to make every one of them make every one of them completely republican, completely republican, and to make them own and to make them own it?it?

secondsecond

John Adams: 1774John Adams: 1774

Idolatry to monarchs Idolatry to monarchs and servility to and servility to aristocratical pride was aristocratical pride was never so totally never so totally eradicated from so many eradicated from so many minds in so short a minds in so short a time.”time.”

Fundamental ideas articulated by Patriot Philosophers

Fundamental ideas articulated by Patriot Philosophers Legitimate power to governLegitimate power to govern . . . . . . must must arise from the peoplearise from the people

True libertyTrue liberty . . . . . . comes when freedom comes when freedom is balanced with the demands of is balanced with the demands of order and stabilityorder and stability

Man’s natureMan’s nature . . . . . . is a composite of is a composite of virtue and vice, with sufficient virtue virtue and vice, with sufficient virtue to make self-government workto make self-government work

Natural lawsNatural laws . . . , . . . , those eternal those eternal truths of human existence, do existtruths of human existence, do exist

Fundamental ideas articulated by Patriot Philosophers

Fundamental ideas articulated by Patriot Philosophers Power corruptsPower corrupts . . . . . . So government So government power must be divided and controlledpower must be divided and controlled

Factions and demagogues will rise Factions and demagogues will rise from anarchyfrom anarchy . . . . . . — without good — without good government, the people can be government, the people can be consumed by their own passionconsumed by their own passion

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

1.1. All the literature on English law, All the literature on English law, history, and political philosophy . . . history, and political philosophy . . .

““Radical Whig Literature”argued that Radical Whig Literature”argued that there was a difference between the there was a difference between the theory of British governmenttheory of British government and the and the practice of British government practice of British government

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought2. The Bible and the writings of 2. The Bible and the writings of

Christian philosophers and Christian philosophers and historians.historians.

““Stand fast, therefore, in the Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty therewith Christ hath liberty therewith Christ hath made us free, and be not made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Gal. 5:1bondage.” Gal. 5:1

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

3.3.The writings of classical antiquity.The writings of classical antiquity.

GreeksGreeks - Homer, Plato, Aristotle - Homer, Plato, Aristotle RomansRomans - Cicero, Cato, Justinian - Cicero, Cato, Justinian

Republics, democracy, law, Republics, democracy, law, historyhistory

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

4. The philosophies of the Enlightenment4. The philosophies of the Enlightenment

European philosophical movement of European philosophical movement of the 1600s and 1700s based on a belief the 1600s and 1700s based on a belief that rational thought could lead to the that rational thought could lead to the discovery of discovery of natural lawsnatural laws of human of human nature, science, and government.nature, science, and government.

Newton, Bacon, Locke, Montesquieu, Newton, Bacon, Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, RousseauVoltaire, Rousseau

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

Major Sources of American Revolutionary Thought

5.5. Their own colonial experience.Their own colonial experience. 150 years of 150 years of practicingpracticing the art of self- the art of self-

governmentgovernment

The Literature of the Revolution

The Literature of the Revolution

PamphletsPamphlets NewspapersNewspapers Broadsides Broadsides (posters)(posters)

Religious sermonsReligious sermons Letters Letters (committees of correspondence)(committees of correspondence)

AlmanacsAlmanacs Official appealsOfficial appeals