Download Toward Independence: Years of Decision, 1763-1775

Chapter 5
Toward
Independence:
Years of Decision
1763-1775
Section 1: The Imperial Reform Movement,
1763-1765
• What factors triggered
the deterioration in
relations between
Britain and its
American colonies?
• Why were the British
so surprised by the
American reaction to
the Stamp Act
Upon completion of CH 5 you should know…
• How the Seven Years War affected Britain’s
relationship with its colonies.
• Be able to analyze & explain the intellectual,
political, & economic rationales colonists offered
for their dissatisfaction with British rule between
1763-1775
• Be able to explain how tensions & disagreement
between colonists and British officials became
outright resistance & rebellion by 1775.
• Be able to explain why the colonies & Britain
failed to achieve a compromise to avert hostilities.
CH 5: Toward Independence: Years of Decision,
1763-1775
The Legacy of the War
•
Seven Years War transformed the context in which the American colonies
operated within the empire. No longer distant & indirectly regulated, the
colonies had become central parts of the empire.
•
Many British officials became convinced that a more rigorous admin.was
needed both to control the empire & to generate funds to pay for the war.
By 1763 Britain’s national dept had grown from £75 to £ 133. The govt tried
to tighten admin. of the Navigation Acts, impose higher duties on trade, &
place 10,000 British troops in the colonies.
British Reform Strategy
1.
Sugar Act of 1764 introduced by PM George Greenville
A. Intended to replace evaded Molasses Act
B. 3 pence per gallon tax rather than 6 to balance British & colonial
interests
C. New England merchants (smugglers) and distillers organized political
resistance to Sugar Act
D. Vice-admiralty military courts tried colonial civilians who violated
Molasses Act.
E. New British reforms negated salutary neglect. Some denied colonials had
the traditional rights of Englishmen.
CH 5 Continued
The Growing Confrontation
• 1765 Quartering Act
• 1767 Townshed Acts: duties on paint, glass, tea, and other daily
products. Used to pay imperial salaries.
• 1667: Revenue Act: created a Board of American customs & viceadmiralty courts in Boston, Halifax, Philadelphia, & Charleston.
• By 1667 NY had refused to comply with Quartering Act, & the
Restraining Act of 1767.
American Resistance
• “taxation without representation!”
• Boycotts of British goods in Boston & NY. Philadelphia refused
• crowd actions in major cities transform a tax revolt into a more wide
spread sense of revolution.
• Daughters of Liberty began a boycott of British textiles.
• 1768: MA House sends letter to Lord Hillsborough stating opposition to
Townshed Acts. Lord Hillsborough dispatches 4 British legions to
Boston.
Section 2: The Dynamics of Rebellion
1. Who comprised the
Sons of Liberty?
2. What were the
ideological roots of
the Revolution?
Samuel Adams by John Singleton
Copley found at wikipedia.org
Section 4: The Road to War 1771-1775
1. How did the actions of each
side contribute to military
confrontation at Lexington &
Concord in 1775?
• Which side was responsible
for pushing events toward a
military confrontation?
• Which groups in colonial
society most actively
supported the rebellion?
Which groups were
Loyalists
Lexington & Concord
General Thomas Gage
Lt. Francis Smith
Lady Margaret Gage
Paul Revere
John Parker
Lexington & Concord