THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The Beginning

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING

The American Revolution was caused by the colonists’ sometimes violent reaction to the British government trying to tighten its control over the colonies following the French and Indian War.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR LEADS TO REVOLUTION British ends up $140 million in debt and

needs the colonists to help pay it off Colonists realized the British army isn’t

invincibleColonists had seen the army defeated

several times and become disillusioned with the army British army didn’t recognize colonial rank,

lowest British soldier was higher than the highest colonial

British army discipline was too harsh Army was seen as vile, used foul language, etc

PARLIAMENT LEGISLATION Royal Proclamation of 1763

Forbad the colonists from settling over the Appalachian Mountains

King feared a repeat of Pontiac’s RebellionTroops were too expensive to keep on

frontierUpset the colonists because they helped

fight the war and in their mind the war was only being fought over the right to the Ohio River Valley

PARLIAMENT LEGISLATION CONT Prime Minister Grenville and King

George III order strict enforcement of the Navigation Acts using Writs of Assistance (open ended search warrants)

They want the colonists to help pay off the national debt

Sugar Act 1764Lowered taxes on sugar to convince

colonists to pay the taxes instead of smuggle

Cost more to enforce than they collected from it

PARLIAMENT LEGISLATION CONT Quartering Act 1765

Tax on the colonists to provide food and shelter for the British soldiers in the colonies

Why were there soldiers in the colonies? War with France was over. French were no

longer in control of any part of North America Pontiac’s War was over Soldiers were helping enforce the navigations

acts and subduing the colonists

STAMP ACT 1765 Required a stamp on bills of sale,

commercial, and all legal documents, playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, marriage licenses, etc

Britain had one for decades Colonists were appalled at such a direct

tax without their consent

REPEAL OF STAMP ACT Stamp Act Congress 1765

The Loyal 9, nine colonies sent representatives, Boston was at the forefront

Step toward inter colonial UnityBack in Virginia: Patrick Henry “give me

liberty or give me death Non-importation Agreements

Agreed not to import British goods, especially woolen goods

Step toward inter colonial unity Everyone involved: men, women, children,

spinning bees, homemade textiles, and manufactured goods.

REPEAL OF STAMP ACT Stamp Collectors are forced to resign by

the colonists Parliament is forced to repeal the Stamp

Act At the same time they pass the

Declaratory Act in 1766Declaratory Act stated that Parliament still

had power to legislate over the colonists even thought they repealed the Stamp Act

VICE-ADMIRALTY COURTS No juries Burden of proof was on defense Courts were either in England or in

Canada Judges were paid based on 5% of the

cargo he ordered confiscated