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Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances

Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances. APUSH Mrs. Housenick 9/13/12. The Road to Revolution. After French and Indian War, British needed to protect larger American empire than ever--> EXPENSIVE! Will ask colonists to pay for some of the costs of empire--> REVOLUTION!

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Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances

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  1. Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances APUSH Mrs. Housenick 9/13/12

  2. The Road to Revolution • After French and Indian War, British needed to protect larger American empire than ever--> EXPENSIVE! • Will ask colonists to pay for some of the costs of empire--> REVOLUTION! • Americans reluctant revolutionaries • At first just wanted “rights of Englishmen,” not to separate from England

  3. Deep Roots of Revolution • People used to more equality in America, political participation and some self government • By mid-1700s idea of republicanism key • People involved in government • Based on virtue of people (civic virtue) • Also, influence of radical Whigs • Group in England that questioned rule of monarch • Made people aware of corruption of government, need to protect their rights

  4. The Problem with Mercantilism • Economic system British used on American colonies • Goal was for England to gain as much gold and silver as possible by exporting more than it imported • Wanted colonies to export cheap raw materials only to England for production of manufactured goods England could export at high price • Expected colonies to not make certain products and to buy imported manufactured goods only from England

  5. Mercantilist Laws • 1650 Navigation Law--all shipping in or out of colonies had to be on British ships, certain products could only be shipped to England • Currency shortage in colonies since constantly buying more than they sold • Colonists printed paper currency, later prohibited by Parliament • Royal veto established so Britain could get rid of any colonial legislation that hurt mercantilism • Rarely used, but principle made colonists very upset

  6. Was Mercantilism So Bad? • Easy to get around with smuggling • British often paid great prices for America’s raw materials • Colonists protected by British navy and army • BUT • Colonial economy not allowed to grow • Dependency on British • Colonists felt used

  7. Unpopular Acts • Passed by Prime Minister George Grenville to make money to pay British debt • 1763--began strictly enforcing Navigation Acts • 1764--Sugar Act--first tax in the colonies, paid by sugar importers • 1765--Quartering Act--colonists had to provide food and shelter for British troops

  8. Stamp Act Uproar • 1765--first direct tax in colonies on all paper products • Any offenders in colonies would be tried in admiralty courts--no jury, presumed guilty until proven innocent • Colonists begin to wonder if British have soldiers in colonies just to keep colonies in check • NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! • Colonists argued colonists couldn’t tax them if they had no voice in Parliament • Only colonial legislatures could pass taxes • Grenville argued colonists had “virtual representation”

  9. Colonial Protest Against Stamp Act • 1765--Stamp Act Congress--nine colonies represented • Really just issued a statement against Stamp Act, but still important sign of colonial unity • Nonimportation agreements--organized boycotts of British goods • Showed colonial unity and activism • Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty held more radical protests--tarring and feathering • England agreed to repeal stamp act • But passed Declaratory Act--Parliament still has supreme power in colonies

  10. The Townshend Acts • Passed by new Prime Minister Charles Townshend in 1767 • Light import tax on glass, lead, paper, paint and tea • Colonists in rebellious mood • Angry about tax on tea and that money would be used to pay royal officials in America • Lots of smuggling of tea • British sent in more troops-->tension with colonists • 1770: BOSTON MASSACRE--troops opened fire on colonists, 11 killed or wounded

  11. Committees of Correspondence • Townshend Acts repealed except for tax on tea • 1772: Samuel Adams organized committees of correspondence in Boston, many others followed • Spread spirit of resistance with letters, spreading information on protests, sharing info with other colonies

  12. Boston Tea Party • 1773: Parliament gave British East India Co. monopoly on selling tea in colonies • Actually made tea cheaper, but by this point, principle mattered more than price! • Power struggle between British determined to enforce law and colonists determined the defy it • 1773: Boston Tea Party • 100 Bostonians board docked ships, stole tea and dumped it into ocean • British determined to punish colonists and prove their authority

  13. The Intolerable Acts • 1774: To punish Boston and Massachusetts • Boston Port Act closed harbor until damaged paid • Restrictions on town meetings • Also 1774 Quebec Act • To deal with French subjects in Canada • Guaranteed French right to be Catholic and keep many of their old customs including no representative assembly or trial by jury • Americans already angry, saw this as attempt to set undemocratic principles in America and spread Catholicism

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