The Road to Revolution,
1763-1775
Theme: Tension between the colonies and Britain centered around the issues of
mercantilism and its implementation. The British Empire attempted to more strictly enforce
laws aimed at maintaining a system of mercantilism while colonists objects to this change
from the earlier “salutary neglect.”
Theme: The American Revolution occurred between the American colonists, who had long
been developing a strong sense of autonomy and self-government, furiously resisted British
attempts to impose tighter imperial controls and higher taxes after the end of the French
and Indian War in 1763. The sustained conflict over political authority and taxation,
enhanced by American agitators and British bungling, gradually moved Americans from
asserting rights within the British Empire to openly warring with the mother country.
Theme: At the outset of the Revolutionary War, Britain appeared to be a mighty empire, but
it was weaker than it seemed at first glance. Poor leadership in London along with secondrate generals in the colonies reduced the impact of the larger British population and its
naval supremacy. Americans, on the other hand, had many advantages such as George
Washington’s leadership and fighting a defensive war. However, the colonists also faced
disorganization, jealousy, and economic difficulties.
I. Imperial Controls
A.
British Colonial Policy, pre-1763
1.
Economic Policy: Unregulated Mercantilism
a.
2.
Political Policy: Decentralized government
a.
b.
B.
Navigation Acts, 1650
Royal Veto used sparingly
Whig influence
British Colonial Policy, post-1763
1.
Economic Policy: Regulated Mercantilism
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
Restricted lax bankruptcy laws
Sugar Act raised but lowered
Currency Act addressed currency crisis
Quartering Act to house troops
Political Policy: Centralized government
a.
b.
Royal veto (used sparingly 469/8563)
Virtual representation
II. Crisis in Colonies
A.
Stamp Act, 1765
1.
Purpose: Raise revenue to pay for
troop deployment
a. Admiralty courts
2.
Colonial Reaction
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
British Reaction
a.
B.
Legislation v. taxation
Stamp Act Congress
Nonimportation of British goods
Sons and Daughters of Liberty
Declaratory Act
Townsend Acts, 1767
1.
Colonial Reactions
a.
b.
c.
Boston Massacre, 1770
Gaspee Incident, 1771
Committee of Correspondence,
1772
II. Crisis in Colonies (cont.)
C.
Tea Act, 1773 and Boston
Tea Party
1.
British Response
a.
Intolerable (Coersive Acts),
1773
-Boston Port Act
-MA Government Act
-Administration of Justice Act
-Boston Quartering Act
b.
2.
Quebec Act, 1773
Colonial Response
a.
Continental Congress,
1774
-Declaration of Rights and
Resolves
-The Association
b.
c.
d.
Colonial Militias
Lexington, April 20, 1775
Concord (273 v. 95)
Great Britain by 1775
STRENGTHS
• Pop favored GB (7.5 to
2.5)
• GB had more $
• Slaves joined GB
• Indians joined GB
• GB had 50,000 army
• GB hired 30,000 army
• GB enlisted 50,000
Loyalists
WEAKNESSES
• Overcome enormous
distances
• America too large
• Poor leadership
• GB had to win
• Ireland & France
• Whigs cheering American
victory
American Colonies by 1775
STRENGTHS
• Outstanding leadership
• $ from France
• Military aid from France
• Defensive war
• Agriculturally selfsustaining
• Better marksman
• Moral advantage
WEAKNESSES
• Badly organized
• Colonial rivalry
• Economic difficulties
• Military problems
• Low morale in
Revolutionary Army
• Greed among profiteers
• Only select few truly
committed
Memory Aid
• Pretty
• Silly
• Inside
• Freshly
• Tammy
• Baked
• Tea
• Layered
• Spicy
• Cookies
• Dough
Matching Cause and Effect
Effect
Cause
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
America’s distance from Britain and the
growth of colonial self-government
British mercantilism
The large British debt incurred defending
the colonies in the French and Indian
War
Passage of the Stamp Act
British troops sent to enforce order in
Boston
The British government’s attempt to
maintain the East India Company’s tea
monopoly
The Boston Tea Party
The Intolerable Acts
A British attempt to seize the colonial
militia’s gunpowder supplies
The Continental Congress’s reluctance
to tax Americans for war
a.
Prompted the summoning of the First Continental
Congress
b.
Led Grenville to propose the Sugar Act, Quartering
Act, and Stamp Act
c.
Precipitated the Battle of Lexington and Concord
d.
Fired on colonial citizens in the Boston Massacre
e.
Prompted passage of the Intolerable Acts, including
the Boston Port Act
f.
Resulted in the printing of large amounts of paper
currency and skyrocketing inflation
g.
Enforced restrictions on colonial manufacturing,
trade, and paper currency
h.
Led to gradual development of a colonial snese of
independence years before the Revolution
i.
Spurred patriots to stage Boston Tea Party
j.
Was greeted in the colonies by the nonimportation
agreements, the Stamp Act Congress, and the
forced resignation of stamp agents
Cause and Effect Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
H
G
B
J
D
I
E
A
C
F