The Road to the American Revolution
Causes
• Enlightenment Political Ideology
• The French and Indian War
• Taxation (without representation)
The Enlightenment
Copernicus
Galileo
Newton
Enlightenment Political Science
John Locke
The Social Contract
The Enlightenment and American
Colonists
Puritans in Massachusetts
The Enlightenment and American
Colonists
Catholics in Maryland
The Enlightenment and American
Colonists
Second
and
Third Sons
The Enlightenment and American
Colonists
Paroled Prisoners
and Debtors
In Georgia
The Enlightenment and American
Colonists
Scots-Irish
The Enlightenment and American
Colonists
Quakers
and
Germans
in
Pennsylvania
A history of constitutional law and
self-government
1215—The Magna Carta
A history of constitutional law and
self-government
1619—The Virginia House of Burgesses
A history of constitutional law and
self-government
1620—The Mayflower Compact
150 years of ‘salutary neglect’
• A history of religious tolerance
– Massachusetts Charter of 1691
– The Great Awakening
– Quaker revival
• A history of literacy and free speech
– Puritans established schools
– Harvard, William and Mary, Yale
– Poor Richard’s Almanac
– John Peter Zenger and freedom of the press
Enlightenment Political Thinking
1. Fundamental God-given rights and the
social contract (John Locke)
2. Colonists who came from disaffected
groups (Puritans, Primogeniture, Prisoners,
Poor)
3. A history of constitutional law and selfgovernment (Magna Carta, Representative
Assemblies, Mayflower Compact)
4. A history of freedom of religion, speech,
and the press
5. A history of education and literacy
Causes
• Enlightenment Political Ideology
• The French and Indian War
• Taxation (without representation)
The French and Indian War
1754-1763
Colonel George Washington
Virginia Militia, British Army
Fort Necessity
Washington forced to surrender
British defeats
indicate they can be beaten
War debt—pounds and promises
William Pitt
Effects of the Treaty of Paris
• England gains French territory in N. America
• Indians lose French support against English
colonists
• Pontiac begins attacking English
settlements. While he is eventually
defeated—lasting tension between indians
and English colonists remains in the region
The Proclamation of 1763
• No settlement allowed west of Appalachians
• Convinced Americans that their government
was insensitive to their needs
• Convinced Americans that their government
could not enforce its orders
• 10,000 British troops left in colonies for
“protection”—to be paid for by the colonists
The French and Indian War
1754-1763
• Part of a world war
• British win in North America
• French disappear as a threat to colonists
• Raises doubts in America about England
• Raises doubts and debts in England
Causes
• Enlightenment Political Ideology
• The French and Indian War
• Taxation (without representation)
1763-1775
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Cause
Action
Effect
Cause
Reaction Action
Effect
Reaction
Cause: Sugar Act of 1764
• Taxed imported molasses
• Prohibited imported rum
• Required a clearance certificate for cargoes of
both
• Stiffened penalties for bribing customs officials
• Gave blanket probable cause for seizure
Effect: Protests and Boycotts
Cause: Quartering Act and
Stamp Act of 1765
Effect: Stamp Act Congress and
the Sons of Liberty
Colonists maintain
clear, consistent position-only colonial assemblies have
right to tax them
because they have no
representation in Parliament
Effect: Stamp Act Repealed
Cause: Declaratory and
Townshend Acts (1766,1767)
Effect: Massachusetts Colonial
Assembly calls colonies to
“unite for the common defense”
Effect: Assembly dissolved and
John Hancock’s ship seized
Effect: Tax Officials Chased
Away, Troops Called In
John Adams
Cause: Declaratory and
Townshend Acts (1766,1767)
Townshend Acts
Chase away
commissioners
Call to Arms
Call for troops
(1768)
Dissolve Assembly
Boston
Massacre
(1770)
Lord North takes
over from
Lord Townshend
Lord Townshend
Lord North
Gaspee Incident 1772
The Boston Tea Party--1773
1st Continental Congress
1774
The Suffolk Resolves
• Denounced the Intolerable Acts
• Urged the formation of minutemen
• Called for suspension of trade with Britain
Lexington and Concord--1775