SelfInflicted Wound The Road to Independence, 17631776

1
Self-Inflicted WoundThe Road to Independence,
1763-1776

• Goal to understand the escalation of the
  British/American Conflict after the French and
  Indian War

2
Most Colonists LIKED Being British until 1760s

• Appreciated the British legal and political
  system enjoyed freedom from British control
  (Salutary Neglect)
• England provided protection for lucrative
  cross-Atlantic trade
• Most colonists WERE British and spoke English

3
The Colonies Disliked Each Other More than the
British

• James Otis "were these colonies left to
  themselves tomorrow, America would be a mere
  shambles of blood and confusion" (1765)

4
French and Indian War Changes the Whole
Relationship

• Very expensive to beat the French and Indians
  between 1754-1763
• Very expensive fighting in Europe
• American colonists dont pay their fair share
  (what good is a colony if it doesnt benefit
  the mother country?)

5
The trouble all starts with one little report . .
.

• Chancellor of the Exchequer ("royal financial
  advisor") suggests tightening up the
  import/export tax system (customs duties)
• His suggestions are implemented by King George
  III to the dismay of all, it turns out

6
Problem Colonists Print Their Own Money

• Solution Currency Act -- all trade and British
  salaries to be paid in pounds sterling

7
Problem Colonists want to move West

• Solution Proclamation Act, 1763
• Quartering Act (stationing of 10,000
  lobsterbacks)

8
Problem Britain's taxes are up due to the F I
war

• Solution improve the system of tax collection
  (see Letter from the Exchequer document)
• Impose a series of acts
• Sugar Act
• Stamp Act
• Create military courts

9
Problem "Can we tax the American colonists
without representation"?

• Solution invent the term "virtual
  representation" (few Englishmen can vote, either,
  but they are "virtually represented" by their
  elected peers)

10
Colonial Response, 1765-gt

• Break things (Sons of Liberty/mobs)
• Boycott things
• Badger the King
• Claim "rights of Englishmen
• Claim "no taxation without representation"
• Broach the topic of independence
• Patrick Henry of Virginia
• Sam Adams of Boston

11
British Response

• Back down time and time again British choose
  to repeal acts in face of concerted opposition
• But Declaratory Act (so there!)
• But Try other tax schemes
• But British soldiers and colonists
• undermine conciliation efforts
• Boston Massacre
• Gaspee Incident
• Boston Tea Party

12
England Finally Puts Its Foot Down Too Late . .
.

• Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
• Colonial response 1st Continental Congress
• asks politely for return to old rules
• Imposes a debilitating boycott on British
  products
• Quebec Act (Not the Catholics! Not in Our
  Backyard! Mon Dieu!)

13
Hostilities Begin The Shot Heard Round the
World

• British decide to pacify the colonists
• Colonists form militias (minute men)
• Colonists create a network of spies (Paul Revere
  is most famous)
• British attempt to seize a weapons cache in
  Concord, Massachusetts
• Colonists resist
• War Begins in 1775

14
Colonial Response to Bloodshed

• Second Continental Congress meets
• Prepares for war (George Washington)
• Sues for peace (Olive Branch Petition)

• King George III is adamant no more compromises
• Fighting Continues (Bunker Hill)
• Thomas Paine writes Common Sense
• Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration of
  Independence July of 1776