Download Causes of the American Revolution

Causes
of the
American Revolution
Day 89
American Revolution (1775-1783)
A war between the American Colonies and
the British that resulted in the colonies
separating from Great Britain and becoming
independent. Led to the colonies becoming
the United States of America.
From 1607 until 1763, Great Britain practiced a policy of
“salutary neglect” with the colonies. Basically, this meant
that the British did not strictly enforce parliamentary laws in
the colonies. They did this because the Prime Minister at the
time, Robert Walpole, convinced Parliament that “If no
restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish.”
This policy allowed the enforcement of trade laws to be
lenient.
Beginning in 1763, however, the British
changed their position on this. Now they
wanted to heavily and tax and regulate the
colonies. Do you remember why from the
previous lesson?
Because they needed money to pay for the long war
they had just fought with France for colonial control in
various places around the world. Also because they
wanted the colonists to pay the bill for building and
manning forts along the Proclamation Line they had
just set in 1763.
Adopting policies that the
colonies should pay a larger
proportion of the costs of
supporting the British empire
was not popular with the
colonists.
This was followed by other laws
intended to demonstrate British
authority over the colonies; this
too was unpopular in America.
They had become quite
comfortable with the salutary
neglect policy.
But even before the British began to impose more taxes and
regulations on the colonists, other thoughts about freedom
and liberty and independence were being discussed.
The period leading up to the American Revolution is
sometimes called the Age of American Enlightenment. It was
a time when colonial leaders were beginning to question
many some of the social and political decisions that had been
previously made.
Enlightenment
Enlightenment means to see things more clearly or
perhaps in a new way. Enlightenment ideas included such
things as freedom, liberty, natural rights, self-government,
things that we take for granted now, but things that were
new and ground-breaking in the mid 18th century.
With these ideas in mind, the American Enlightenment
would ultimately lead to a new sense of political and social
identity.
Taxes and regulations imposed by King George III only
served to convince the Founding Fathers that their
Enlightenment ideas were reasonable and that
independence was their best alternative.
With no regard to how the colonists felt, the
British king imposed heavy taxes, collectively
known as the Objectionable Acts.
Navigation Act – restricted colonial trade
Sugar Act
– taxed sugar and molasses
Stamp Act
– taxed all paper items
Quartering Act –forced colonists to house and feed
British soldiers
Declaratory Act – British empowered to make more
laws governing the colonies
Townshend Acts – taxed glass, lead, paper, paint,
and tea
Discussion questions:
If you had been a colonist, what action would you
have taken to protest these new taxes imposed by
the king?
What actions can citizens take today if they
disagree with government decisions?
What is the difference between then and now?
British Mercantilism
Colonists objected to the
British policy of
mercantilism--an economic
system under which the
British controlled all colonial
trade and taxes. Colonists
objected to mercantilism,
because it meant they were
only allowed to trade with
the British, and were
expected to import only
British goods.
Because the colonies lacked elected representation in
the British Parliament, many colonists considered the
laws to be illegitimate and a violation of their rights as
Englishmen. The opinion of the British government,
which was not unanimous, was that the colonies
enjoyed “virtual representation.” What do you think
virtual representation means?
The idea of a “revolution”
(a dramatic change) began
to be discussed.
A motivating force behind the need for revolution
was the idea of “republicanism.” This is a belief
that the supreme power in a country should have
to answer to the people who elect him/her. Even
in Britain, a political group was emerging that
pointed out that the British government had
become corrupt. Americans feared the corruption
was crossing the Atlantic.
The commitment of most Americans to
republicanism and to their individual rights
energized the revolution. Britain was increasingly
seen as hopelessly corrupt and hostile to American
interests.
Britain threatened to take
away the established liberties
that Americans had become
accustomed to having.
Thomas Paine's best-selling pamphlet Common Sense fueled
the fire. It appeared in January 1776, after the Revolution
had started. It was widely read by colonists and spread the
ideas of republicanism and liberalism.
This pamphlet promoted the idea of separating from Britain.
It encouraged recruitment for the Continental Army.
Common Sense asks the reader to look
to the future but make a choice right
now. It offered a solution to
Americans who were disgusted by
British control and tyranny (cruel
and unjust authority by a government).
Because of the policy of
salutary neglect, the colonists
had basically been left to
govern themselves. The
effects of this led to the
colonies considering
themselves separate from Great Britain anyway. It also
led them to form a collective identity. What is the term
for a group of states that are loosely allied with one
another? C O_ N
_ _F _E _D _E _R_A_T_I _O N
When Parliament tried to reassert its power by making
the colonists trade only with Great Britain, the colonists
revolted.
General Causes:
• End of salutary neglect
• Stricter laws and taxes
• British mercantilism
• No representation in
Parliament
General Consequences:
• U.S. independence
recognized
• Right to settle lands west
of the 13 colonies
• New national government
• Desire for self-government • New Constitution
• Enlightenment ideas like
republicanism, liberty,
independence
• Freedom, liberty, civic
rights