Lecture # 3

American War of Independence/American Revolutionary War/American Revolution

13 North American Colonies declared themselves free from British Empire.

Reason: “American Enlightenment” – Political and Social Upheaval.

Ideology behind the Revolution

1. Liberalism:

A new sense of “liberty” and “natural rights”

Magna Carta – His/Her royal subjects can’t be taxed without consent.

John Locke’s theory of social contract – “Two Treatises of Government”. Among the “natural rights” of
the man was the “right of the people to overthrow their leaders”, should the leaders betray the historic
rights of Englishmen.

Words like “unalienable rights”, “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”, “the consent of the governed”,
“separation of state and church”, “due process”, “equality under law” were included in constitution of
US.

2. Republicanism:

Founding fathers of US saw aristocracy, inherited kingship and corruption prevailing in the Britain as the
biggest threat to American liberal values.

Republicanism – To put civic duty ahead of personal desires.

3. Religious Tolerance:

Diverse nationalities developed a sense of religious tolerance.

Developed the ideas of “separation of state and church” – First amendment.

Deism – Superiority of natural thought over organized religion.

4. Common Sense:
i. Published by Thomas Paine in 1776 when hostilities were at highest level.
ii. People created societies, people responsible for making laws.
iii. Rejected institution of monarchy.
iv. Discussed hostilities between GB and USA.
v. Optimistic view of America’s military capacity.
 Why Americans shifted from Cooperation to demand of Independence
Taxation without Representation
1) Navigation Acts - 1651:
British Empire operated under “mercantile system”. So GB imposed navigation acts.
2) Molasses Act – 1733:
Six pence per gallon on imports of molasses from non-British colonies. Americans resorted to
smuggling. In 1761, James Otis petitioned in Boston court but lost the case.
3) Sugar Act 1764:
Reduced duty on molasses by half, but imposed stringent regulations on collection.
4) Currency Act:
Regulated paper money issued by the colonies of British America. The Acts sought to protect
British merchants and creditors from being paid in depreciated colonial currency.
5) Stamp Act:
First direct tax levied on colonists. It required that many printed materials in the colonies be
produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. Stamp tax has to be paid in valid
British currency, not in colonial paper money.
6) Townshend Act:
In 1767, Tax on paper, glass and tea was imposed.
7) Tea Act:
In 1773,
8) Quebec Act of 1774:
Extended Quebec boundaries to the Ohio River
9) Intolerable Acts: (Series of FOUR laws)
i. Massachusetts Government Act 1774
ii. Administration of Justice Act, 1774 or Murdering Act
iii. Boston Port Act 1774
iv. Quartering Act 1774

American opposition to open illicit legislation

1- Opposition to open-ended search warrants.
2- Stamp Act Congress 1765:
Nine out of 13 colonies drew up a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” – No taxation
without representation.
3- Sons of Liberty:
“Patriots” were drilling militia. British colonel Issac Barre named them. Motto – No taxation
without representation.
4- Boston Tea Party:
In December 1773, Americans threw three shiploads of taxed tea in to sea – Boston Port Act
1774
5- Boston Massacre:
Five civilian were killed by a British soldier
6- First Continental Congress:
12 colonies met on September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
56 delegates from 12 colonies attended congress except Georgia.

Decisions taken:
i. Boycott of British goods.
ii. Provided the date May 10,1775 for Second Continental Congress
7- Second Continental Congress:
i. 13 colonies met on May 10, 1775 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
ii. 50 delegates attended the second continental congress.
iii. It managed American revolutionary war.
iv. Adopted “Declaration of Independence” on July 4, 1776
v. Appointed George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of revolutionary forces.
vi. Final achievement of congress was formulation of Articles of Union.

Factions among colonists

1- The Patriots: (70 % to 80 %)
Patriots, Wigs, Or Americans
2- Loyalists: (15 % to 20%)
Tories, or KING’s men:
3- Neutrals: (Small faction)
Quakers – members of a religious movement which focused on the priesthood of all
believers.

Peace in Paris 1783

1- Acknowledged sovereignty of US.
2- Established boundaries between USA and GB.
3- Recognized the lawful contracted debts to be paid to creditors on either side.
4- Provision was made for the return of land to the loyalists.
5- Bound USA to prevent future confiscation of property of Loyalists.
6- Prisoners release was ensured.

Lecture # 2
 Colonial History of US
Discovery of America
Christopher Columbus discovered in 1492 AD.

Financed by Queen Isbella of Castile, modern day Spain.

Columbus was trying to find a new trade route to Japan and China.

Columbus made FOUR voyages:

i. In 1492, reached Bahamas island (Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria).

ii. In 1493, wandered around different islands of America.
iii. In 1498, reached south America
iv. In 1502, reached Mexico

In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and Netherlands launched major
colonization programs in eastern North America.

All early attempts failed because of high death rates.

By 1600-1650, diseases brought by European settlers decimated the Native Americans

living in the Eastern US.

No aristocrats settled. Only soldiers, adventurers, and tradesmen arrived.

Small wars between colonies but mostly they remained peaceful.

War between France and GB devastated colonies badly.

Economic reason to colonize NORTH AMERICA

There were four key European countries that colonized North America.

Several European countries followed the trip made by Columbus in search of new trade
routes to Asia. They ended up colonizing North America for different economic reasons.

1. Spain colonized America because they were searching for gold and silver. They did find a
lot of gold and silver when they conquered the Aztec and Inca Empires.
2. France colonized North America because of the great amount of furs they found there.
The French traded with the Indians for furs that they then took back and sold in Europe because
people were willing to pay a lot of money for furs in Europe.
3. The Dutch (from the Netherlands) started a city in America called New Amsterdam. The
English later took over the city and renamed it New York. The Dutch were merchants
 (businessmen) and wanted to set up a city that would be an international city of business and
trade. The fur trade was the first business in New Amsterdam.
4. The English colonized North America for several different economic reasons. Basically,
they found goods that had a market in Europe. The English that settled New England found
timber that was great for building ships. The English that settled the middle colonies of New
York and Pennsylvania found good farmland that was great for growing food that could be sold in
Europe. Finally, the English that colonized the southern colonies found that area was good for
growing cash crops like tobacco.

Religious reason to colonize North America

Spain and France had the same religious motivation for colonizing North America. Both Spain and
France sent missionaries to North America with the goal of converting the Indians to Catholic
Christianity.

Colonists from England like the Puritans wanted to escape persecution they were experiencing in
England. The Puritans settled in New England and attempted to create a religious utopia where
everyone would live by Puritan rules based on the Bible.

The Dutch (from the Netherlands) were Christians, but they did not come to America for a specific
religious reason. However, a thing to remember about the Dutch and religion is that they were very
tolerant of other religions. In New Amsterdam (New York), there were Catholic and Protestant Christians
as well as Jews. As time went on, people of many different faiths settled in New

Four distinct regions

1- New England
i. Playmouth(1620-1643)
ii. Massachusetts Bay Colony
2- Middle Colonies
i. New Jersey
ii. Pennsylvania
iii. New York
iv. Delaware
3- Chesapeake Bay colonies
Virginia
The Province of Maryland
4- Lower South
i. North Carolina
ii. South Carolina
iii. Georgia

European Colonies:

1- Spanish Colonies
2- New France
3- New Netherlands
4- New Sweden
5- Russian Colonies
 Evolution of Government system in colonial America
In 1776, there were three forms of colonial governments in British colonies:

1. Provincial Colonies:
A governor along with his administrative council was appointed by the Crown.
New Hampshire, New York, Viriginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Massachusetts
2. Proprietary Colonies:
Governed as royal provincial colonies with the exception that their governors were appointed by
Lord Proprietors.
Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland
3. Chartered Colonies:
Charter governments were political cooperations created by letters patent, giving the grantees
control of the land the powers of legislative government.
Rhode Islands, Connecticut, Masachussettes – Massachussets charter was revoked in 1684 and
was replaced by provincial government in 1691.