Reform, Resistance, Revolution

1. Reform, Resistance, Revolution

2. Imperial Reform • 1760: George III inherited throne of Great Britain, age 22 • Collapse of political coalition that led Britain to victory over France • King’s new ministers set out to reform the empire • William Pitt is replaced by George Grenville, Minister of the Treasury

3. The Grenville Ministry • John Wilkes • Journalist for North Briton criticized King • Member of Parliament • “Wilkes and Liberty” • War put Britain in debt • Revenues needed to police colonies – Grenville insists colonists contribute financially to fund their own defense

4. Indian Policy and Pontiac’s War • Indian and policy • Fulfill wartime promises • Proclamation Line of 1763 • Pontiac’s War • germ warfare (smallpox blankets) • Paxton Boys: Anti-Indian frontier reaction

5. The Sugar Act • 1764 – duties placed on Madeira wine, coffee, molasses • Colonists obtained cheaper molasses from French • Launched Grenville’s war against smugglers • Complicated paperwork and harsh penalties • Tried to make enforcement of Customs laws more profitable than accepting bribes

6. The Currency Act and the Quartering Act • Currency Act of 1764: • Forbade colonies to issue any paper money as legal tender • Quartering Act of 1765 • To quarter redcoats in private homes & taverns

7. The Stamp Act • Stamp tax on legal documents and publications in the colonies • “no taxation without representation” vs. virtual representation • Internal vs. external taxes • Colonist offer – Requisitions (colonial assemblies determine how to raise money asked for by the crown)

8. The Stamp Act Crisis • Resistance to Stamp Act: 1765 – lasted almost one year, then repealed • Patrick Henry • Stamp Act Congress • Stamp Act unconstitutional and should be repealed • Says virtual representation does not apply Patrick Henry

9. Nullification • “Sons of Liberty” and street violence • Stamp Act nullified de facto • Agents resign • Merchants and nonimportation resistance • “Sons of Liberty”

10. Repeal • Repeal Stamp Act (1766) • Declaratory Act (1766): perceived differently in colonies and Britain • Revenue Act (1766): 1 penny tax on any molasses imported to colonies

11. The Townshend Crisis • King George : government of “measures, not men” • Charles Townshend member of Parliament and the Cabinet • Townshend has a hard-line attitude towards colonies William Pitt

12. The Townshend Program • Townshend Revenue Act (1767) • Taxed imports colonies could only legally get from Britain • Purpose: pay salaries of colonial governors and judges, freeing them from control of colonial assemblies • British troops shifted from frontier to urban ports Charles Townshend

13. The Boston Massacre • Increasing confrontations between population and British soldiers in Boston • Sons of Liberty grow bolder • March 5, 1770: The Massacre • British: Captain Thomas Preston and others • Defense team: John Adams and Josiah Quincy, Jr. • Britain’s failed first attempt at military coercion

14. Engraving by Paul Revere

15. Slaves and Women • Anti-slavery movement in British empire by mid-1700s • Quakers, Evangelicals, Methodists oppose slavery • Even slave owners like Patrick Henry condemn the practice, but keep slaves for practical reasons • Sarah Osborn and education for slaves • Phillis Wheatley, freed slave and literary celebrity by age 20 • Boston Patriots push for end to slavery • Women’s role in nonimportation Phillis Wheatley

16. "On being brought from Africa to America": Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,Taught my benighted soul to understandThat there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.Some view our sable race with scornful eye,"Their colour is a diabolic dye."Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.´

17. The Last Imperial Crisis • Lord North attempts to save East India Company, Britain’s largest corporation • Southeastern England and colonies purchased smuggled Dutch tea • Millions of pounds of unsold tea left in East India Co. warehouses • Issue to Lord North was save East India Co.

18. The Tea Crisis • Lord North’s solution: make East India Co. tea cheaper than smuggled tea • Tea Act (1773) • Repealed duty on bringing tea to Britain • Retained duty on sending tea to colony • Gave monopoly on British empire tea trade to East India Company • Sons of Liberty resistance • Direct threats against ships • Boston “Tea Party”

19. Britain’s Response: The Coercive Acts • Coercive Acts • Boston Port Act (1774) • Quartering Act (1774) • The Administration of Justice Act (1774) • Massachusetts Government Act (1774) • To colonists, above become the “Intolerable Acts”

20. The First Continental Congress • 12 colonies (all except Georgia) • Philadelphia in September 1774 • Nonimportation and nonexportation • Crown and Parliament must repeal • Coercive Acts • Quebec Act • All Revenue Acts • Principle of no legislation without consent • The Association: promoted boycotts and protests

21. The Second Continental Congress • Minutemen become Continental army • George Washington made commander • Response to the Conciliatory Proposition • Olive Branch Petition • Thomas Jefferson and “The Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms” • Continental Congress assumed Crown’s functions of governance

22. Independence • Areas supporting independence • New England • Virginia and colonies South • Overthrow of royal governments • mid-Atlantic colonies • William Franklin • Thomas Paine • Common Sense • Lord George Germain • Russians and “Hessians” • Declaration of Independence Thomas Paine

23. Conclusion • Britain’s self-filling prophecy nightmare • British feared colonies’ independence unless major reforms were put in place • Resistance of the colonists confirmed Britain’s fears • Colonists feared that British government would deprive them their rights as Englishmen • Mutual confidence was undermined

24. Sources • Murrin, John M. Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People. Thomson Publishing: 2005.