Ch.

7 - The Road to Revolution

The Deep Roots of Revolution
the American Revolution was not the same thing as American war for
Independence
American was a revolutionary force on the day of its creation
in a sense it was a rebels who emigrated to America, they put a lot of
distance between themselves and the old Lords
the new world, people are not suppressed by the superiors. Instead,
they scowled at their superiors
The Mercantile Theory
not one of the original 13 colonies except for Georgia was formally
planted by the British government
authorities on London ignored the high-minded and far vision
aspirations of pioneer Puritans, Quakers, and other colonizers
Mercantile Theory was used by the British to justify their control of the
colonies
Mercantilists believed that wealth was power. A countrys economic
wealth was power and it is measured in gold and silver
In order to amass gold and silver, a country must export more than it
imports.
Colonies provide the mother country with imports of raw material and
market for exported material
Mercantilist Trammels on Trade
1650: the navigation laws are passed, it restricted commerce to and
from the colonies to English vessels
In the interest of the empire, settlers were restricted to what they may
produce at home.
The colonies are forbidden from competing with the European market
Americans also had a problem with currency as there is no bank in the
colonies printed paper money inflation destroyed the value
British acted prohibiting the colonies from printing any more money
saved the British shippers
American were angry because they thought their welfare was again
being sacrificed
London also has a new regulation which allows the Privy Council to
veto laws
Although the veto power was used rather sparingly, the colonists
resented it
The Merits of Mercantilism

Although the Americans considered the mercantilism selfish and

deliberate, the laws mostly benefited the Americans
Americans tobacco planters enjoyed a monopoly on British markets
Americans enjoyed undiluted rights of Englishmen with the added perk
of self-government
Americans enjoyed the shield of the professional British army without a
penny of cost
Overall, Americans benefited from this mercantile system

The Menace of Mercantilism

Stifled economic initiative because Americans were not at liberty to
buy, sell, ship, or manufacture
The South benefited more than the North as they grew non-English
products
Even tobacco was hit because of the low prices set by the British
middlemen
Impoverished Virginia joined Massachusetts in revolt against England
Americans felt used by the British (cows being milked)
The colonies were kept in a state of perpetual adolescence and never
allowed to come to age.
The Stamp Tax Uproar
The costly Seven Years War ended Britain in debt
British officials were wise to not have Americans pay for the war on
their front; however, they feel they should at least contribute to the
cost of troop garrison for their protection
Prime Minister George Grenville ordered the British navy to strictly
enforce the navigation laws
1764: Sugar Act, first law ever passed to raise money for the British.
Taxed foreign imported sugar.
1765: Quartering Act, measure required certain colonies to provide
food and quarters for British troops
1765: Stamp Act: required stamps on certain items and all legal
documents.
Offenders of the Stamp Act are tried in Admiralty Courts where jury is
not allowed
Americans made a distinction between legislation and taxation. They
agreed the parliament can make decisions affecting the entire empire
but cannot impose taxes without American representation
Grenville dismissed these protests and defended that Americans are
represented through virtual representation

The principal of no taxation without representation was supremely

important and the American colonists clung to in throughout the
revolution

Parliament Forced to Repeal the Stamp Act

1765: Stamp Act Congress brought up in New York and 20 members
drew up a statement of their rights and grievances
The congress was effective in its widespread nonimportation
agreements
o Woolen garments became fashionable
o Eating lamb chops were discouraged as sheep need to mature
Mobilization in support of the nonimportation gave ordinary American
new opportunities to participate in colonial protests
Sons/Daughters of Liberty too the law into their own hands and forced
nonimportation upon violators
The Stamp Act was eventually repealed after a heated debate
The repeal proved that London would give in to boycott and mob action
The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston Massacre
Control of the British ministry is now controlled by Champagne
Charley, a gifted and erratic man who can give brilliant speeches even
when drunk
1767: Townshend Acts a light duty on import glass, white lead, paper,
paint, and tea
o The distinction is that these taxes are external taxes which
means they will be paid at the port
Colonists found that the tax on tea was irksome
Worst yet, the profits of the Townsend Acts will be used to pay the
salaries of royal governor and judges
In order to gain a tighter grip on the colonies, Britain landed more
soldiers in Boston
Americans resented the character of these soldiers and taunted them
mercilessly
1770 a clash called the Boston Massacre occurred, both sides were to
be blamed
The Seditious Committees of Correspondents
1770: King George III was strenuously attempting to restore the
declining British Empire
o Surrounded himself with yes men such as Lord North
The Townsends Act was not producing nearly enough profit the fund
the troop stationed in America
Most of the duties from the Townsends Act were repealed except for
the duty on tea

Americas rage was further fueled by redoubled efforts by the British to

enforce the Navigation Laws
Samuel Adams of Boston was unimpressive in appearance but
ultrasensitive to infraction upon colonial rights. He was soon known as
the Penman of the Revolution
Samuel Adams also organized in Massachusetts the local committee of
correspondence, their chief function was to spread propaganda and
information

Tea Party at Boston and Elsewhere

1773: the colonies are at peace until the East India Company entered
the picture
The East India Company is facing huge debt and in order to solve this,
the British government gave the company full monopoly over tea in
America
o Tea is cheaper than ever as a result
Americans saw this as a way of tricking them into paying the detested
tax by using cheap tea
Not a single one of several thousand chests of tea reached the hands
of the consignees.
Annapolis Marylanders burned the cargo and the vessel
Boston Tea was dumped into the ocean
Britain was outraged and punishment would be the only option
Parliament Passes the Intolerable Acts
1774: passed a series of repressive acts aimed at Boston
Boston Port Act: closed the harbor until all damage are paid and order
could be assured
Enforcing officials who killed colonials in the line of duty could now be
sent to England for trial
Quebec Act: allowed Quebec to expand all the way down to the Ohio
river. The land is thus snatched from the Americans. The area is also
Catholic which angered many Protestants
The Continental Congress and Bloodshed
American dissenters seems to have gone too far with the Boston Tea
Party and the British seems to gone too far with the harsh punishments
Responses to the Intolerable Acts include a summoning of a
Continental Congress where distinguished individuals from each
colonies attended except for Georgia
Continental Congress was a convention rather than a legislative body
o Declaration of Rights
o The Association: complete boycott to British goods,
nonimportation, nonexportation, and nonconsumption

The Association was enforced like law, violators are punished and
troops are trained
April 1775: British commander in Boston send a small dispatch of
troops to seize a store of colonial gunpowder
The British troops were met at concord with tough and ready
Americans. Shots were fired and the war officially started

Imperial Strength and Weakness

Strength
Population
Naval power and monetary wealth
Large professional army

American Pluses and Minuses

Strength
Outstanding leadership
Foreign aid from France
Fighting defensively
Self-sustaining in agriculture
Excellent marksmen
Moral advantage believing that they
are

Weakness
Oppressed Ireland was a smoking
volcano
France was waiting for revenge
London government was not have
the leadership genius
The generals in America are second
rated
Distance to America

Weakness
Rebels badly organized for war
Jealousy and the resentment of
control by each of the colonies
Economic difficulty

A Thin Line of Heroes

Basic military supplies in the colonies are scanty
Manufactured goods are short in supply especially clothing and shoes
Blacks also fought and died for America
Blacks who served on the British side were promised freedom after
their service
American profiteers often sold to the British because they can pay in
gold