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In 1760, the American population numbered 2.5 million with 60% of these being below the age of 21. Wealth and lifestyle varied
widely throughout the colonies, yet most lived a lifestyle comparable or superior to the average English citizen. Most of
these people were not thinking independence in 1760, but by 1776, that thought was thrust upon them
George III ascends in 1760 at age 22
Sheltered and intellectually inadequate
Destroys the relationship with Whigs built by George II
Appoints party friend and Scot, Earl of Bute, as chief minister
Parliament saw this as an attempt to turn back the GR
Bute leaves office in 1763
None of GeorgeIII's chief ministers were capable men of vision
Neither Parliament nor the Crown held much concern for the Americas
Both believed in the legislative supremacy of Parliament
Colonists ridiculed the concept of virtual representation
John Adams and others thought reps should mirror constituents
Connecticut Assembly stated such in bold letters (1764)
American colonists were fond of John Locke
Inalienable rights (life, liberty, property) were to be preserved
Men formed a contract with their governments for protection
Arbitrary or unreasonable authority was unnatural, worthy of rebellion
Commonwealthmen like Trenchard and Gordon said temper power w/virtue
Colonial newspapers began to push for unity against GB authority
The costly Seven Years War led to great debt and dubious outcomes. Natives list the ability to play the French against
the British. Pontiac's Rebellion and the actions of the Paxton boys typified the violent nature of the conflicts on the frontier.
George Grenville replaced Bute and looked to reduce national debt
Concluded that colonists should pay for the army presence
Revenue/Sugar Act of 1764
Designed to raise revenues and prevent smuggling
Also reduced the duty on Molasses
Grenville also needed to prevent treasury official corruption
James Otis and a few others protested
Well-to-do Americans were most upset
Although Grenville had other options, he pushed the Stamp Act (1765)
Stamp distributors appointed throughout the colonies
A few in Parliament (Barré) warned of massive protests
Patrick Henry introduced 5 Virginia Resolves
The most radical were not passed
Parliament had no power to tax the Americas
Newspapers reported that all resolves were passed
Massachusetts called a general meeting to protest
Nine colonies sent reps to a Stamp Act Congress
Colonists resisted the Stamp Act through protest, riot and boycott
Tax collectors were burned in effigy
Tax collectors resigned inn large numbers
Grenville fell from power; replaced by Lord Rockingham
A young, inexperienced man who feared public speaking
Wanted to repeal the Stamp Act but was too chicken
Urged British merchants to push for repeal
Grenville (now in Parliament) resisted
William Pitt and B. Franklin pushed for repeal
Stamp Act repealed on March 18, 1766
Accompanied by Declaratory Act
Did not solve any fundamental problems
Led to colonial disrespect of GB authority
A Foolish Boast: Tea and Sovereignty
Pitt/Townshend promised increased taxes from the America
Parliament responded by lowering British land taxes
Townshend was forced to create a tax grab bag
Townshend Revenue Acts (Summer 1767) included
Taxes on paper, glass, paint, lead and tea
A greater enforcement of quartering in NY
An American Board of Custom Commissioners
Vice Admiralty courts for violators
Colonists responded negatively
Sons of Liberty and others organized protests
Colonial newspapers printed editorials
Massachusetts House drafted a circular letter, widely ignored
Royal governor ordered repeal of Letter
92 legislators voted to defy him
GB responded by transferring 4,000 troops to Boston
Mass colonists imagined a plot to deprive them of liberty
The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770
Samuel Adams stirred the fray; John Adams defended the soldiers
Townshend died, replaced by Lord North (1767)
North urged and received repeal of Townshend duties except tea tax
Loyalists and cooler heads prevailed on the surface
Dishonest British tax collectors lined their own pockets
Customs officers harassed both the poor and the wealthy
Rhode Islanders burned the Gaspee, a British customs vessel
Samuel Adams continued to agitate for the creation of a Christian Sparta
Parliament tried to prop up the East India Tea Company and prevent smuggling
Colonists saw this as an attempt to win support for taxation without representation
Colonists in Phil and NYC refused to allow tea ships to dock
MA Royal Gov Hutchinson refused to let tea ships return to England
You know what happened the Boston Tea Party
Lord North saw this as an affront to Parliamentary supremacy
Passed the Coercive or Intolerable Acts
Closed the port at Boston (until tea was paid for)
Ended the elected assembly
Allowed offending colonists to be tried in England
Forced quartering for punitive purposes
Parliament thought it would isolate Boston
Did not expect colonial support for the offenders
Quebec Act also passed
Awarded French Roman Catholics a large voice in politics
Failed to create an elected assembly
Colonists still upset about Proclamation of 1763
Continental Congress organized by committee of correspondence
55 delegates from 12 colonies (none from GA)
Middle colonies urged caution
NE colonies were most radical
Created the Association a network of committees to enforce an
embargo
George III rightly saw this as the beginnings of full rebellion
General Gage attempted to seize rebel supplies at Lexington and Concord (MA)
Paul Revere made his famous warning
Eight colonists were killed in the skirmish
Breed's Hill (Bunker Hill) was a victory for GB
40% casualty rate
A sign of a difficult fight ahead
Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia (May 1775)
Formed a Continental Army w/George Washington as commander
They created money, bought military supplies
Refused to declare independence
John Adams and Richard Henry Lee grew impatient
Prohibitory Act of 1775 cut off American trade
Paine's Common Sense sold 120,000 copies
The work denied the legitimacy of the monarchy
Called George III the Royal Brute
Persuaded common folks that independence was needed
Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776
Jefferson wrote The Declaration a list of grievances
Declaration accepted on July 4
Distance was the GB's biggest enemy
America was too vast to be tightly controlled, much less conquered
Colonists were committed to victory
Washington insisted on training troops
Had a sense of the army as a symbol
Militia were a key part of the fighting force
Loyalists were often Re-educated by patriots
Two all-black regiments fought for independence
10,000 southern blacks supported GB
Howe replaced Gage after losses in MA
Howe planned to cut of NE from the other colonies
Howe did not destroy the Continental Army when he had the chance
Howe did not believe that the cause of independence was popular
Washington defeated the drunk Hessians at Trenton (Dec 25, 1776)
GW lost the next battle, but lived to fight another day
GB consolidated its army for the winter
Burgoyne came S from Canada to meet Howe and cut off NY
Was defeated at Saratoga
GW harassed Howe as he moved from NY to Phil, not defeated
GW lost at Germantown as troops unexpectedly retreated
American victory at Saratoga encouraged French support
North sent Peace Commission to negotiate in April 1778
France recognized the United States so war might continue
France signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance
France was in their naval assistance would be key at Yorktown
Henry Clinton replaced Howe
The British Army was divided and defeated in the Carolinas by March 1781
Cornwallis decided to use Yorktown as the base of operation in VA
The French blockaded the coast and marched with Washington
Cornwallis surrendered on Oct 19. 1781
The war was essentially over
Brits or Patriots did not accept these folks
Many moved to England and were treated as second-class citizens
Some remained in the US and were harassed or has property confiscated
Franklin, Adams and Jay negotiated at Paris
Treaty of Paris signed on Sept 3, 1783
Granted full independence and set boundaries
Included fishing rights
Also allowed GB merchants debts to be paid, loyalist property returned
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