Birth of the Republic

Transcription

1 Birth of the Republic 1

2 2 The American Colonists Mainly of English descent Scotch-Irish / Germans --> Pennsylvania Black Africans --> the South Believed they were preserving the true traditions of English history, as exemplified in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

3 3 American colonists were overwhelmingly Protestant, and Calvinist in origin. Majority of colonists in every colony made their living from the soil most lived on land they cultivated.

4 Widespread ownership of property single most important fact about Americans before the Revolutionary period social classes not as divided as in the old world there were aristocrats, but was no permanent underclass property ownership gave economic independence and political independence to the average American. 4

5 5 Every American colony had a representative assembly elected by property holders. Assemblies made laws, levied local taxes Colonists took pride in being subjects of Great Britain Great Britain left the colonies alone ( )

6 6 King appointed the Royal Governor; carried out royal policy. relied on colonial assemblies for funding assemblies controlled local taxation, power of the purse

7 Navigation Acts 7 a series of acts passed by Parliament to regulate colonial trade so raw materials flowed to the mother country, from colonies, and manufactured goods flowed to the colonies (Mercantilism) Purpose of the Navigation acts: to promote the economic welfare of the Empire in general.

8 8 Enforcement of the Acts was left to the King (prior to 1763) King left enforcement to his Sec. of State Board of Trade and Plantations advised the Sec. of State on how to run the colonies Sec. of State told Royal Governors Royal Governors told colonists Colonists pretty much did as they pleased

9 Colonial perceptions prior to 1763 British 'salutary neglect' gave colonists perceived power over their own affairs. Colonial assemblies and the colonists were not prepared for direct Parliamentary legislation affecting the colonies. 9

10 Sugar Act and the Stamp Act:

11 End of the Seven Years War Doubled the national debt of England added huge territory to administer (east of Miss. R.; Canada) tax burden in England was already very high

12 The Sugar Act & George Grenville became Chancellor of the Exchequer (1763) Sugar Act passed by Parliament (1764) revised old customs law purpose was to raise money for the Empire 12

13 Colonial reaction 13 the question of Property became the first great challenge of the Revolutionary period. Right of Parliament (Assemblies) to levy taxes was the most important feature of supremacy over the King.

14 14 Ideas of John Locke man's property must not be taken away without his consent. consent must be given either in person, or by his representative.

15 15 Colonial Englishmen (Americans) were not represented in Parliament. English believed in virtual representation. all members of Parliament represented all Englishmen Colonials believed in actual representation.

16 Stamp Act of A duty paid on all legal documents Parliament saw Stamp Act as a way to raise revenue Colonists saw Stamp Act as an attack on the security of property because it was levied without their consent

17 Effect of Stamp Act 17 colonial boycott of imported British goods mobbed stamp distributors 9 colonies sent representatives to New York (Oct., 1765) sent petitions/resolutions to Parliament petitions denied Parliament's authority to tax colonies

18 Developing governmental 18 Principles no taxation without representation colonial mindset rejected virtual representation Colonies believed they were wholly beyond the control of Parliament Colonial view was Parliament had the right to legislate, but not the right to tax (without their consent!)

19 Parliament Repealed Stamp Act, Feb., 1766 Parliament believed colonies objected only to internal taxes Parliament passed the DECLARATORY ACT affirming their authority over the colonies "in all cases what so ever. implied the right to tax 19

20 Townshend Duties, An attempt to raise duties through external taxation on imported goods. Was an attempt to replace L 400,000 in tax relief given England landowners duties were to be assessed and collected in America American customs service were to be re-organized, and headquartered in Boston

21 Effect of Townshend Duties Colonists agreed to boycott & nonimportation of English goods Colonists denied right of Parliament to levy duties for the purpose of raising revenue Parliament sent British Army Regular troops to Boston (Sept., 1768) 21

22 Boston Massacre occurred March 5, troops harassed with snowballs, rubbish troops opened fire; 3 Bostonians died, 8 wounded Townshend Duties repealed (March, 1770) all duties repealed, except small tax on tea non-importation agreements broke down coincided with beginning of 3 years of commercial prosperity 22

23 The Evolution of Revolution

24 American view of taxation 24 Taxation was the exclusive right of their own elected representatives. control over taxation seen as the only security for life & property Colonists saw each Parliamentary attempt at direct or indirect taxation as an attempt to deprive them of control over their possessions.

25 25 Colonists wondered if they were threatened by Parliamentary legislation. A series of incidents caused colonists to re-examine their relationship with Great Britain

26 June, "Gaspee" incident: British revenue ship burned by colonists Massachusetts Royal Gov. & Judges began being paid by the King, not the colonial assembly

27 November, Formation of Committee of Correspondence (Samuel Adams) denounced Parliament for violating colonial liberties Committees spread to other colonies

28 May, Parliament passed the Tea Act to help East India Tea Co. Company able to sell directly to retailers no Colonial middlemen No Colonial profits

29 December, Boston Tea Party

30 April, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts closed port of Boston to commerce changed Mass. form of government (charter to Royal) quartered troops in Boston

31 June, Parliament passed the Quebec Act extended the boundaries of Quebec as far south as the Ohio River.

32 September, First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia adopted nonimportation, nonexportation, nonconsumption agreements questioned the legitimacy of any Parliamentary authority in the colonies at all.

33 April, Battle of Lexington was a British attempt to seize gunpowder/arms stored at Concord, Mass. Colonials drove British into Boston; laid siege to the town

34 May, Second Continental Congress met chose Geo. Washington to lead Continental Army

35 August, George III declared the colonies in rebellion hired Hessian (German) mercenaries to use in colonies

36 1776- The Year of Decision 36

37 January, Thomas Paine published Common Sense mission was to liberate America from the very idea of monarchy

38 May, Continental Congress adopted a resolution advising the colonies to assume complete powers of government within their boundaries.

39 39 June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee (Va.) introduced a resolution formally declaring the colonies independent

40 July, Lee's resolution was adopted July 2nd Declaration of Independence adopted by Second Continental Congress on July 4th