Causes of the American
Revolution
Problems in Europe
• “Salutary Neglect” - A beneficial policy where
England did not strictly enforce mercantilist
trade regulations and the colonies
prospered.
•
•
Salutary neglect was largely
unintentional
England had been going through a
Civil War and Glorious Revolution and
had bigger things on their minds than
enforcing rules.
Mercantilism
•
“A policy where countries set up
colonies to create a favorable balance
of trade.”
Navigation Acts
•
Regulations established by England
to control American colonial trade and
production.
• All trade has to be done on
English ships
• All ship’s crews have to be ¾
English.
• Certain products, like tobacco
and sugar, could only be
shipped to England.
• All other trade has to take
place by way of England.
•
•
These laws were ignored for the most
part.
Some merchants, especially in New
England, traded with whoever they
wanted
Problems in Virginia
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
Nathaniel Bacon was a Virginia
pioneer of moderate status. He was
upset about the following things…
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
1 - The differences between frontier
and tidewater farmers.
– Tidewater farmers have the best land and
more power.
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
•
2 - Taxes paid mostly by the poor
3 - The rich have most political power
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
•
4 - The governor
had been treating
Native Americans
with respect (What
nerve!)
The governor
viewed them as
citizens
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
Hundreds of indentured servants rise
up in 1676, burn Jamestown and
nearly take over the colony.
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
Rebellion is put
down when
Bacon dies of a
fever.
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
Wealthy
planters stay in
control but
learn a lesson.
• 1. Indentured Servants are given more
freedom and planters rely more on African
slaves.
• 2. Becomes a foundation of the American
Revolution.
•
England
wins
huge
territory
from the
French.
French and Indian War
•
Proclamation of 1763 established a
boundary over which colonists were
not supposed to cross.
–
this line angers many colonists
French and Indian War
•
Colonists fight side by side with
English troops
–
Colonists get experience and prove to be
good soldiers
French and Indian War
•
War costs a lot of money and England is now
concerned about holding on to the colonies,
after one hundred years of salutary neglect.
The Acts
•
England spends a lot of money
fighting a war against France.
Who pays for the war?
•
•
England thinks that the colonists
should pay because English troops
won the war for them and the
colonists are English citizens.
Colonists think new taxes without
representation in parliament are an
abuse of power.
The Sugar Act (1764)
•
•
•
Enforces the Navigation Act
Cracks down on smuggling of sugar
Colonial merchants have to pay import
duties or go to court in England.
The Quartering Act (1765)
•
•
Large numbers or British troops in
America cost a lot of money to feed
and house.
Law requires colonists had to feed
and house them in exchange for a
small fee.
The Stamp Act (1765)
•
An official stamp had to be purchased
for all legal documents, newspapers,
etc.
–
No stamps were ever bought.
The Acts
• The acts only cause a major dent to
colonial wallets.
• But they do cause a major dent to
colonists’ egos.
Colonists begin to organize
“No taxation without
representation”
•
•
Patrick Henry
demands that
only Virginians
could tax
Virginians.
Becomes a
rallying cry for
colonists
throughout
America
Stamp Act Congress
•
Colonists from nine colonies meet in
New York City to oppose the Stamp
Act.
–
They draw up a resolution that calls for
the king to revoke the Stamp and Sugar
Acts.
Stamp Act Congress
•
•
The first time that the colonies meet
to fight against English laws.
The Stamp Act is later repealed
England tries again
•
•
They pass the Townshend Acts
Taxes on specific goods like lead,
glass, tea, paint, etc.
•
American colonists, led by the Sons
of Liberty boycott English goods and
harass merchants who comply.
•
Boycott – refuse to
purchase a certain
good as a form of
political protest.
The Boston Massacre
•
England sends troops to Boston,
where most of the Sons of Liberty
action had occurred.
The Boston Massacre
•
Troops begin to compete with
Americans for odd jobs and live in
colonist’s houses.
•
A crowd of colonists protests and is
fired on by British troops.
– Five colonists killed
Open Rebellion
Boston Tea Party
•
On a night in 1773, members of the
Sons of Liberty board a British
merchant ship and pour over seven
tons of tea into Boston Harbor.
The Intolerable Acts
• Passed by Parliament in
response to the Tea Party.
The Intolerable Acts
• Boston Harbor closed
• British troops quartered in
private residences
• Massachusetts charter
abolished (again).
• Boston placed under martial
law.
First Continental Congress (1774)
•
•
All colonies except Georgia meet in
Philadelphia.
They demand the abolition of the
Intolerable Acts and begin a boycott
on English goods.
War Begins
• British troops in Boston hear about a
rumor of guns stored in the
neighboring towns.
• Paul Revere, and
two others, ride into
the towns to warn
the minutemen that
“the regulars are
coming”.
• Minuteman –
colonial
militia
• "Stand your ground;
don't fire unless fired
upon, but if they mean to
have a war, let it begin
here,"
• - Captain Parker,
Colonial Militia
Commander
Lexington and Concord
•
•
British troops meet seventy
minutemen at Lexington.
Someone fires a shot. Eight militia
men die.
Lexington and Concord
•
“The Shot heard round the world”
Lexington and Concord
•
British troops push on to Concord
where guns were supposed to be
stored, but find several hundred
minutemen.
•
•
•
British flee back to Boston.
American colonists use guerilla
tactics.
British lose 300 men killed and
wounded.
WAR!
(Finally)