The Road to Revolution

APUSHMrs. Hunt

Learning Target

• I will identify circumstances that led to the colonial rebellion against Great Britain and the American Revolution.

I. Deep Roots

A. New World1. The new world nurtured new ideas about the

nature of society2. Two new ideas began to form within the colonies

A. RepublicanismB. Radical Whigs

I. Deep Roots

A. New World3. Republicanism

A. Used examples from Greece and RomeB. All citizens submit self interest for the common good.

4. Radical WhigsA. Opposed aristocracy from the beginning.B. Warned citizens of a corrupt monarch who was a

threat to liberty.

I. Deep Roots

A. New World5. Distance weakened authority of the British

A. Salutary Neglect – British policy of ignoring or neglecting American colonies1. Americans had grown accustomed to running their own

affairs.

II. Mercantilism

A. Mercantilism1. Great Britain truly never created any of the

colonies2. Eventually they began to embraced the idea of

mercantilism.

II. Mercantilism

A. Mercantilism3. What?

A. A country’s wealth could be measured by the amount of gold and silver it possessed.

B. Possessing the colonies increased the favorable balances of trade for England.

C. GB felt as though the colonists should provide cheap raw materials and follow the rules set forth by the British government.

III. Grievances

A. Colonial Problems1. To enforce governmental policies, parliament

began passing lawsA. Navigation Acts

1. Britain controlled all trade between the colonies and other countries

2. British controlled currency3. Reserved the right to nullify colonial laws

III. Grievances

B. Merits of Mercantilism1. Many made a fortune off of smuggling cheaper

goods into coloniesA. John Hancock became extremely wealthy smuggling

cheaper goods from other countries.

IV. Stamp Act

A. Debt1. French and Indian war left the British with a huge

debt. 2. The British felt it was the responsibility of the

colonists to pay that debt.

IV. Stamp Act

B. New Grievances1. Sugar Act (1764) – tax (duty) on sugar2. Quartering Act (1765) – colonists were required

to house and feed British soldiers.3. Stamp Act (1765) – Tax paid on all paper bought

in the colonies4. No Trial by Jury5. No Taxation without Representation – colonies

were not represented in the government.

IV. Stamp Act

C. Stamp Act Congress1. First official group formed to oppose legislation

passed by parliament and the king2. Significant step towards intercolonial unity3. Nonimportation agreements – a series of

commercial restrictions adopted by colonists protest British revenue policies.

IV. Stamp Act

D. Sons of Liberty1. Group who took the law into their own hands.2. Helped to lead to the nullification of the stamp

act.3. Soon after the Declaratory Act was passed.

A. Parliament had complete control over colonists.

V. Townshend Acts

A. Charley Townshend1. Leader of the British ministry2. Convinced Parliament to place a tax on several

goods.3. Colonists did not take tax seriously

VI. Boston Massacre

A. Unruly Colonists1. King sent hundreds of troops to enforce policies

and keep and eye on colonists. 2. British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists

killing five.3. Colonists called the event a massacre to

sensationalize the event. 4. British soldiers were represented by John Adams.

VII. Committees of Correspondence

A. Propaganda1. Committees of Correspondence –

A. Chief function was to spread the spirit of rebellion.B. Produce propaganda to rally support for colonial

rebellion.C. Eventually led to the first American congresses

VIII. Problem with Tea

A. Tea Act1. To save money, the British passed the tea act

which allowed the British to ship tea without having to pay taxes.

VIII. Problem with Tea

B. Boston Tea Party1. Boston Tea Party

A. To protest tea act and other unfair restrictions 100 members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Natives and tossed contents of a British tea ship into the Boston Harbor.

B. Many colonist applauded this act, British government felt differently.

IX. Intolerable Acts

A. Punishment1. As a punishment, parliament passed the

Intolerable Acts, focusing on Massachusetts. A. Boston Port Act – closed Boston HarborB. Restrictions were placed upon town meetingsC. Quartering Act strictly enforcedD. Quebec Act – extended the border of Quebec.

X. Bloodshed

A. Continental Congress1. Other colonies rallied around Boston.2. Delegates met at the 1st Continental Congress

A. How to address grievancesB. Declaration of RightsC. The AssociationD. Did not call for independence, wanted parliament to

reconsider

X. Bloodshed

B. Lexington and Concord1. King George responded with attach upon

colonists at Lexington and Concord. 2. This event is known as the “shot heard round the

world” the first shot of the American Revolution.

XI. Strengths and Weaknesses

A. Great Britain1. Strengths

A. Most powerful army in the worldB. Money (in GB)C. Supplies (in GB)

2. Weaknesses A. Brits felt sympathy for American CousinsB. Second rate generals in the coloniesC. Distance from home

XI. Strengths and Weaknesses

B. Americans1. Strengths

A. Outstanding leadershipB. Guerilla Warfare – using environment to your

advantage.

2. WeaknessesA. Economic difficultyB. DisunityC. Outnumbered.