The Road to Revolution
Colonial Warfare
• series of European wars (1688-1763) had impact on colonization
– influenced political, economic, & ideological development of English America
– constant threats from French, Spanish, and Native Americans
• 1713 Treaty of Utrecht ushered in 3 decades of peace
– more “salutary neglect” under PM Walpole
Fighting for North America
The French & Indian War
1754-1763
Fighting Erupts
• Seven Years War* abruptly ended peace in Europe
– fighting started in the Ohio River Valley (1754)
• France had began fortifying ORV to deter British settlement
– George Washington sent to prevent completion of Fort Duquesne
– Washington’s surrender proved victory would be tough
• British colonial officials met in Albany to discuss defensive plan
– the Albany Plan called for colonial confederation to provide defense
– Ben Franklin promoted plan with “Join or Die” cartoon
– but plan was rejected by colonies and motherland
the Climax
• Britain struggled until William Pitt became Prime Minister
– major shifts in strategy and objectives
– forced France to surrender Quebec (1759) and Montreal (1760)
• signing of the 1763 “Peace of Paris” ended the war
– effectively removed French presence from North America
Effects of the Seven Years War
• Great Britain emerged as dominant power in North America
• tensions between British officers and Colonial militiamen
– fueled British belief that colonies could not protect themselves
• extreme cost of British victory created huge war debt
– led to major tax increases  most important effect
The End of Salutary Neglect
Debt divides an Empire
• the French & Indian War* had left Britain in severe debt
– British citizens suffered from high prices & taxes
• many colonists opposed idea of paying war debt
– new Tory government under King George III felt otherwise
• war debt issue brought abrupt end to salutary neglect
– need to enforce new taxation policies
– British belief in the inability of colonies to protect themselves
Renewed Indian Conflict
• Pontiac’s Rebellion engulfed the Ohio Valley in 1763
– Chief Pontiac refused to hand over land conquered by Britain
– Ottawons attacked British settlements from Great Lakes to VA
– British regulars finally subdued rebellion after 18 months
• George III signed Proclamation of 1763 to protect colonies
– a line of demarcation barred settlement west of Appalachian Mnts
– colonists viewed the “Proclamation Line” as permanent interference
Development of a Payment Plan
• legislative attempts to increase role of colonies in paying war debt
– Currency Act of 1764  limit colonial paper money
– Sugar Act of 1764 offset “Triangular Trade”
– Quartering Act of 1765 damaged colonial autonomy
• previous measures paled in comparison to Stamp Act of 1765
– first “direct tax” on colonists
– funded formation of a standing colonial army
Colonial Reaction to British Measures
• Stamp Act of 1765 produced negative reactions in all 13 colonies
– Patrick Henry coined the phrase “no taxation without representation”
• James Otis rallied colonial reps to meet as “Stamp Act Congress”
– agreed that crown could impose external taxes but only local elected officials
could impose internal taxes
– Prime Minister Grenville responded with “virtual representation” argument
Increased Resentment
• colonial anger towards “virtual representation” argument
– tax collectors harassed by the Sons of Liberty (Samuel Adams)
• boycott of British goods to protest the Stamp Act
– forced repeal in 1766  but replaced by the Declaratory Act
• new plan instituted by British treasury official Charles Townshend
– Townshend Acts of 1767  harsher taxes / writs of assistance
– colonists reacted slowly—Townshend Acts were “external taxes”
• John Dickenson’s “Letters from a Farmer in PA” rekindled anger
– Sam Adams wrote “Mass. Circular Letter”  against internal & external taxes
– Lord North repealed Townshend Acts in 1770
Mounting Turmoil
• relatively calm atmosphere from 1770 to 1772
– the “Sons” used Committees of Correspondence to keep spirit of protest alive
– propagandists celebrated events like the “Gaspee incident”
• increased resentment of the Quartering Act in Boston
– hostility towards British troops resulted in the “Boston Massacre”
– British guards fired on a mob of angry Bostonians
the “Boston Tea Party”
• the Tea Act of 1773 renewed colonial resentment of taxation
– colonists refused to purchase tea and organized the Boston Tea Party
• Britain responded by passing the Coercive Acts in 1774
– revoked MA’s charter & expanded Quartering Act
– also passed 1774 Quebec Act  expanded borders / encouraged Catholicism
– enraged colonists nicknamed these the “Intolerable Acts”
Revolutionary Ideology
• the “Enlightenment” shaped revolutionary thought in America
– advocated reason as primary source for legitimacy and authority
– fueled revolutionary spirit that swept America during the 18th Century
– notable thinkers  Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke
• John Locke’s theory of “natural rights” challenged absolute rule
– sovereignty is derived by the will of the governed  Social Contract
– known as the “Father of Liberalism”
– justified rebellion to protect natural rights of life, liberty, & property
On the Eve of War
• Intolerable Acts convinced colonial leaders of the need to organize
– anticipation of British retaliation
• colonial representatives organized First Continental Congress in 1774
– met in Philly to discuss acceptable forms of protest and reaction
– sent “Declaration of Rights & Grievances” to King George III
– created the Association to form boycott committees