Would You Have Been a Patriot or a Loyalist?

The Four Major Causes of the Revolutionary War

“Salutary Neglect”• Loose Enforcement of Economic Regulation Prior to the 7

Years War-For example The Navigation Acts/ The Sugar Tax

• Why? -Allow development of Colonial Industries-Costs Money to Pay Officials and Enforce Laws

• Result: ` -“Legal” Smuggling

-Colonists allowed to think They run their own affairs

This ended. Why? DEBT!!!

Geography

• Mighty Barriers make Neglect Easy

IE: The Atlantic Ocean• Long Lines of Communication Create Lag Time

even when Laws enforced• Illusion of Autonomy is a “Necessary Evil”• Expansion of Administrative Territory is

Tremendous After the Seven Years War• Result: Many Economic, Military and Political

Decisions Shifted Back to GB

Colonial Legislatures

• Day to Day Administration of Colonial Life handed to the Legislative Bodies of the Colonies Themselves

• Power for Internal Affairs seen as shifting to these Law making bodies

• Appointed Councils have given way to elected officials• Governors on the Spot rely heavily on their local taxation

and regulatory Powers• Creates a culture of Lawyers and Politicians with Colonial

Views• This Culture becomes the hotbed for demands for redress of

Grievances and Repeal

• Key: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

The Enlightenment

• 18th Century European Philosophical Movement• Reason is the Most dominant Idea• All problems can be solved with Logical Thinking

and Planning- Linked to the Scientific Revolution• Man has the Capability to Handle Political System

and Mold it and Change it if Necessary• Natural Rights/Social Contract/Representative

Government are Important Ideas• Key: John Locke/Charles Montesquieu/ Jean-

Jacque Rosseau • Guess Who Reads ALL this STUFF!!!!??

What Does This Lead to?

• Proclamation Line• New Taxes to Pay Off Debt• A Standing Professional Army• New Rules and Regulation• Tighter Controls and No More “Neglect”• “Big Mother” is watching You• Colonial Illusion of Running Their Own

Affairs is Shattered