The Road to Revolution - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Road to RevolutionSlide2

The Deep Roots

2 Ideas within colonists

Republicanism -> society in which all citizens willingly

lower

their private interests for the common good

Radical

whigs

feared threat to liberty

/ Rights they Earned

->

corruption

through monarch and

Parliament

(patronage/bribes)

Colonists become accustomed to running their own affairs

DISTANCE WEAKENS

AUTHORITY (Motherland vs. Colonial Land)Slide3

Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances

Georgia only colony formally established by British gov’t

Mercantilism

-> wealth was power

(Britain justified control over colonies)

Export more than import = more gold and silver

Colonies provide raw materials (

limited imports needed)

and market for exports

(desirable goods)

British

gov’t to colonies:

Colonies expected to give certain products (tobacco, sugar,

ships, etc.)

Refrain from exporting certain items

Buy imported manufactured goods exclusively from Britain

Stop beliefs of economic self-sufficiency or self-government

Passage of Navigation Laws (everything done through Britain)

Began to create a money shortage in colonies (used other things)

Britain had right to nullify any legislation passed in colonial assemblies

General welfare being sacrificed for Britain’s well-being?Slide4

Good/Bad News of Mercantilism

Seems selfish and cruel

Loosely enforced Navigational Laws

Smuggling becomes easy (John Hancock)

Colonies gain from British control

London wants ship parts

Monopoly of tobacco in Britain

Protection from the world’s greatest army/navy

Burdened by liabilities

Lowered economic initiative

Colonies begin to feel used Slide5

Trouble in Paradise

Britain in huge debt after French and Indian War

P.M. George Grenville orders Navy to strictly enforce Navigation Laws

Passed the Sugar Act

Raised tax revenue in the colonies by taxing imported sugar

Quartering Act

Required colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops

Stamp Tax

Mandated the use of stamped paper showing the payment of taxes

Colonists become angry -> taking away rights and liberties

“guilty until proven innocent” in admiralty courts

“No taxation without representation”

Leads to colonies wanting political independence Slide6

Colonies Fight Back

Stamp Act Congress

Devised plan to repeal legislation

Nonimportation agreements

Colonists become self-reliant

Development of Sons/Daughters of Liberty

Constantly heckled stamp agents

Britain responds with the Declaratory Act

Absolute power of the colonies Slide7

Townshend Acts

Named after Charles Townshend – leading government minister at time

Placed duties on imported goods such as glass, lead, paint, and paper (came from Britain)

3 penny tax on tea (most popular drink)

Protests bring slogan “taxation without representation”

Boycott of British goods – development of things such as spinning bees by women

British seized the Liberty (belonged to John Hancock)

Triggered riots = British stationed troops (Redcoats)Slide8

The Boston Massacre

Competition between colonists and poorly paid soldiers

March 5, 1770

Fist fight broke out

Mob gathered outside Customs Office and began taunting the guards

Shots fired = 5 dead

Defenseless citizens were killed

Things calmed down for 2 years

Rhode island colonists attacked a British patrolman

Committees of correspondence = communication network Slide9

Boston Tea Party

British East India Company was overstocked with tea because of boycotts

England imposes the tea act

Allowed the company to sell tea free of taxes

Cut out colonists; hoped colonists would buy cheaper tea

Protested violently

December 1773 – colonists dressed as Native Americans took action on 3 British ships

Dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor Slide10

Intolerable Acts

Multiple laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party

Shut down Boston Harbor

Martial Law – rule by military

Committees of Correspondence reacted by establishing the 1

st

Continental Congress

56 Delegates meet in Philadelphia and compose a list of colonial rights Slide11

Bloodshed

First Continental Congress

Response to the Intolerable Acts which included a Declaration of Rights

Parliament rejected the “Congress’s” petitions

Continued protests against people who were against these ideas

Troops go to Lexington and Concord

Seize armory

Minutemen defended it -> said to be the first shots of Revolutionary WarSlide12

Imperial Strength and Weakness

Britain had the advantage on many levels (population, military, etc.)

Also had help from the hessians (hired German mercenaries), Some Native Americans, and American loyalists

Britain responsible for watching Ireland

France wanting retaliation

Whigs fear winning the war would create a tyranny like gov’t

Sent second rate generals to lead, poor conditions for soldiers, fighting 3k miles from home

Colonies had no urban center to capture Slide13

American Strengths

Outstanding leadership in the colonies (Ex. -> G.W.)

Foreign aid from France

Marquis de Lafayette

Playing a defending role

Self sustained through agriculture Slide14

American Weaknesses

Poorly organized for war

Poorly united leadership

Individual pride within each region

Economic difficulty

Printed money = inflation = increase in prices

Lack in military supplies (too dependent on Britain?)

Poorly trained militiamen

Valley Forge, Pa

Soldiers faced a brutal winter with very little food

Did not have clothing or shoesSlide15

A Thin Line of Heroes

Women play role in war

Maintained farms/businesses, cooked for armies, etc.

Baron von Steuben -> becomes general in colonial army and provides very strict but well-needed training

Blacks fight in war for colonies

Also serve as cooks, guides, spies, drivers, and road builders

American progress hindered by profiteers

Put their own profits before the “American Cause”