Transcript Causes leading to the American Revolution

Causes leading to
the
American
Revolution
Salutary Neglect
The first Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Robert
Walpole, promoted the idea of Salutary Neglect.
“If no restrictions were placed on the colonies,
they would flourish.”
From 1607-1763 the colonists lived with no
economic restrictions…
Until now.!
French & Indian War
 Britain and France both wanted control of
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the Ohio River Valley.
The French, who were allies with the Indians,
refused to leave.
Britain declares war on France. Britain wins!
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 forced France to
give Britain control of Canada and land east
of the Mississippi River.
The war was expensive, so Britain starting
taxing the American colonies to pay the
debts.
Why? To minimize Dutch trade.
Think MERCANTILISM!
The colonies could only trade
with England or other colonies.
This led to smuggling to avoid
paying taxes.
Smugglers were considered
criminals.
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British soldiers maintained order in the
Ohio River Valley after the French and Indian
War. The Indians wanted the soldiers to
leave and went to war.
The Proclamation of 1763 gave American
Indians the rights to their lands and did not
let the colonists settle west of the
Appalachian Mountains. Those that had
settled, were told to leave!
Colonists ignored the law and Britain
realized they could not control the region.
Proclamation of 1763
Currency Act
 This gave Britain control over
the colonial money.
 This kept the colonies from
economic growth and it hurt
manufacturing.
The continued debt from the French and Indian
War caused Britain to pass this act.
This act taxed anything printed on paper!
The colonist refused to buy British goods.
BOYCOTT!
The Sons of Liberty was formed.
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Shh…Secret Society!
Benjamin Franklin told Parliament repeal the
Stamp Act or revolution might happen!
King George III repealed the act, but….
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Declaratory Act
 After the repeal of the Stamp Act,
Parliament passed this act.
 Parliament had full authority over
legislation in the colonies.
 Remember representative
government?
 This caused even more…
 Britain sends evens
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Quartering
Act
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more troops to control
the colonies.
This act forced the
colonists to house and
feed the British
soldiers!
The British soldiers had
writs of assistance.
Housing the soldiers
was expensive.
Britain said the
colonists should pay
their share of the cost
to protect them from
Indian attacks.
This increased…
Colonist had to pay taxes on paper, glass, and tea.
Colonist boycotted taxed goods.
Parliament repealed most of the taxes, except tea!
This led to protest.
More British troops were sent to the colonies.
You guessed it…..
Townshend Acts
Boston Massacre
 On March 5, 1770, tensions between the
colonists and British soldiers became deadly.
 Five unarmed colonists were shot.
 Paul Revere, a talented silversmith, depicted
the incident and sent the following picture
throughout the colonies. How?
 Night Riders! (Thank you, Benjamin Franklin,
Mr. Postmaster General)
This is what the colonists saw and read!
Unhappy BOSTON! see thy Sons deplore,
Thy hallowe'd Walks besmear'd with guiltless Gore:
While faithless --- and his savage Bands, With murd'rous Rancour
stretch their bloody Hands; Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their
Prey, Approve the Carnage, and enjoy the Day.
If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung
If speechless Sorrows lab' ring for a Tongue,
Or if a weeping World can ought appease
The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such as these;
The Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed,
A glorious Tribute which embalms the Dead.
But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal,
Where JUSTICE strips the Murd'rer of his Soul:
Should venal C-ts the scandal of the Land,
Snatch the relentless Villain from her Hand,
Keen Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd,
Shall reach a JUDGE who never can be brib'd.
The unhappy Sufferers were Messs. SAM. L GRAY, SAM.L MAVERICK,
JAM.S CALDWELL , CRISPUS ATTUCKS & PAT.K CARR Killed. Six
wounded two of them (CHRIST.R MONK & JOHN CLARK) Mortally
You are cordially invited to a
TEA PARTY!
In 1773, Parliament passes the TEA ACT.
Only the British East India could sell tea to the
colonies.
The price of tea was low, but the import taxes on it
for the colonists was high!
Merchants refused to unload the tea from the British
ships and refused to sell the tea to the colonists.
The Sons of Liberty, dressed as American Indians,
boarded the “tea” ships and dumped 342 crates of
BRITISH TEA into Boston Harbor.
Stopped all trade between Boston and
Britain.
Since Boston was closed, trading goods
between the colonies was stopped.
Stopped all town meetings.
Gave Britain control of the colonies.
(Remember “Salutary Neglect”?)
Strengthened the Quartering Act.
Coercive Acts (aka INTOLERABLE ACTS)