American Revolution

Chain of Events

Introduction:

The British Parliament in order to be in full control had to centralize all power in its
hands tried to apply its rules in the colonies.
The Americans revolted against the effort of parliament at centralization.
Colonists never felt they were represented in the British parliament.
To them any act reached in that parliament was not binding.
The people in England began to ask for better representation, it was a chance or a call for
the Americans to do likewise; not in their own parliaments, but in the British parliament
itself because they were under its jurisdiction – authority and control.

The American Revolution

Let us now examine the grievances – complaints – of the American people against the
British Parliament.

There are several questions we will try to answer:

What did the Colonists want?
What did the British Parliament do to antagonize them or alienate them?
How did the British Parliament react to their demands?

Before we can do that let us refer to one piece of legislation – law – passed as far back as
1651 it is called The Navigation Act.

According to the Old Navigation Act all goods brought into England and
to the British colonies – America included – must be carried on British
ships, or at least on ships that belonged to the country of origin of the
goods.

Another thing we need to remember is the behavior of the Colonists, British and French
in the Seven Years War in America.

The Albany Plan of Union

In the early 1750s, rivalry between England and France over who would control the
North American continent led to what is known as the French and Indian Wars.
This conflict lasted from 1756 to 1763 (7 years), and left England the dominant power in
the area that now comprises the eastern United States and Canada. Aware of the strains
that war would put on the colonies; English officials suggested a "union between Royal,
Proprietary & Charter Governments." Some colonial leaders were thinking along the
same lines.

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In June 1754 delegates from most of the northern colonies and representatives from the
Six Iroquois Nations met in Albany, New York. There they adopted a "plan of union"
drafted by Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania.

Under this plan each colonial legislature would elect delegates to an American
continental assembly presided over by a royal governor (governor appointed by the
British crown). Such a plan if successful would form the nucleus or true union, and many
of these ideas would be revived and adopted in Philadelphia more than thirty years later.
After the plan was made public, the Crown did not push it since British officials realized
that, if adopted, the plan could create a very powerful entity that His Majesty's
Government might not be able to control.
On the other hand, the colonists were not ready for union, nor were the colonial
assemblies ready to give up their recent and hard-won control over local affairs to a
central government.
That would not happen until well after the American settlements had declared their
independence.
But the Albany Plan was the first step towards such a union.
This is the American side of the story

What about the British?

The British were expecting more active participation from the Colonists. During the war
it was the British who supplied the men and the arms. They felt that they were fighting
the American war for them. By 1763 - The French and Indian War, known in Europe as
the Seven Year's War, ends with the Treaty of Paris.
Under the treaty, France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River,
except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return
for Cuba.

Pontiac Revolt:

The same year - In May, the Ottawa Native Americans under Chief Pontiac begin an all-
out war against the British west of Niagara, destroying several British forts and
conducting a siege against the British in Detroit. The British defeat Pontiac’s forces. The
siege of Detroit ends in November, but hostilities between the British and Chief Pontiac
continue for several years.
This war, between Indians and British, was in British opinion, by far more important to
the Colonists than to them and still they were unable to deal with it on their own. The
British Parliament as the head of state was willing to do the job in the colonies, but that
cost money. They devised new taxes to make the American pay at least part of the
expenses.
1763 - The Proclamation of 1763, signed by King George III of England, to ease tensions
with Native Americans. This act forbids any English settlement west of the Appalachian
Mountains and requires those already settled in those regions to return east for the same
reason. What it adds up to, from the American perspective, was punishment to the settlers
who had sacrificed so much to settle in these regions.

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Taxation

As for the new taxes, that would prove to be a far more difficult problem for the British.
As a matter of principle, people in the colonies pay only local taxes and custom duties.
Financially they were of no significance to the British treasury; it was a matter of
principle.

o 1750 - The Iron Act is passed by the English Parliament, limiting the growth of
the iron industry in the American colonies to protect the English Iron industry.
o 1751 - The Currency Act is passed by the English Parliament, banning the
issuing of paper money by the New England colonies by 1764 - The Currency
Act extended to all colonists. This act was a threat to the entire colonial economy
of both the industrial North and agricultural South, thus uniting the colonists
against it
o 1764 - The Sugar Act is passed by the English Parliament to meet the war debt
from the French and Indian War; with additional taxes to pay for the expenses of
running the colonies and newly acquired territories.
o 1764 - The English Parliament passes a measure to reorganize the American
customs system to better enforce British trade laws, which have often been
ignored in the past.
o 1764 - In May, at a town meeting in Boston, the issue of taxation without
representation is raised. In August, Boston merchants begin a boycott of British
luxury goods.

What is taking place here?

What we are seeing is American resistance to all laws imposed by the British Parliament.
I they cannot share in this Parliament therefore they are under no obligation to obey its
laws.

o 1765 - In March, the Stamp Act is passed by the English Parliament imposing
the first direct tax on the American colonies, to offset the high costs of the British
military organization in America.

Thus for the first time in the 150 year old history of the British colonies in America, the
Colonists will pay tax not to their own local legislatures in America, but directly to
England.
Under the Stamp Act, all printed materials are taxed, including; newspapers, pamphlets,
bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs, dice and playing cards.
The American colonists quickly unite in opposition, led by the most influential segments
of colonial society - lawyers, publishers, land owners, ship builders and merchants - who
are most affected by the Act, which is scheduled to go into effect on November 1.

o 1765 - Also in March, the Quartering Act requires colonists to house British
troops and supply them with food.

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To all these new taxes, American’s reply was defiance and insubordination. As if
that was not enough the British were still trying to put the Colonists under control.

1765 - In July, the Sons of Liberty, an underground organization was formed in a

number of colonial towns. Its main goal was to oppose the Stamp Act. Members resorted
to violence and threats. Eventually their acts forced all British stamp agents to resign. It
also stopped many American merchants from trading British goods.

1766 - In January, the New York assembly refuses to comply with the Quartering Act.
Violence breaks out in New York between British soldiers and armed colonists, including
Sons of Liberty. The English Crown suspends the New York legislature for its refusal to
comply with the Quartering Act.
By March of 1766 it was clear that the state affairs could not continue. King George III
signs a bill repealing the Stamp Act.

But the British Parliament was still trying to impose its authority and to get the
Colonists to share in the expenses of running the colonies.

o June of 1767 Parliament passes the Townshend Revenue Acts,

imposing a new series of taxes on the colonists. Items taxed include
imports such as paper, tea, glass, lead and paints.

o The Act also establishes a colonial board of customs commissioners in

Boston.

As a reaction the Bostonians decide to boycott English luxury items until the Townshend
Acts are repealed.

Matters were beginning to get out of hand

The British send war ship of 50 canons to the Boston harbor to help the custom
commissioners in collecting the custom duties. They set up permanent residence in the
Boston Commons to keep law and order. As a result of this tension the Boston Massacre
occurs as a mob harasses British soldiers who then fire their muskets pointblank into the
crowd, killing 5 and wounding others.

The American Revolution has its first martyrs

To ease tension in April of 1770 the British repeal the Townshend Acts. All duties on
imports into the colonies are eliminated except for tea. Also, the Quartering Act is not
renewed. Things quieted down.

o May of 1773 a new act was passed: the Tea Act.

It gives the near bankrupt British East India Company a virtual tea monopoly by allowing
it to sell directly to colonial agents. It was bypassing American middlemen, and

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underselling American merchants. Parliament authorizes the company to ship half a
million pounds of tea to a group of chosen tea agents.

October 1773 colonists hold a meeting in Philadelphia to oppose the tea tax and the
monopoly of the East India Company. A committee then forces British tea agents to
resign their positions.
In November, a town meeting is held in Boston endorsing the actions taken by
Philadelphia colonists. Bostonians then try, but fail, to get their British tea agents to
resign.

A few weeks later, three ships bearing tea sail into Boston harbor.
Two meetings are held in Boston. Colonists decide to send the tea on the ship,
Dartmouth, back to England without paying any import duties. The Royal Governor of
Massachusetts, Hutchinson, is opposed to this. He orders harbor officials not to let the
ship sail out of the harbor until the tea taxes are paid. A group of Bostonians occupies the
ships and dumps all the tea into Boston Harbor
The popular name of this incident is: Boston Tea Party.

As a reaction:

o March of 1774 an angry English Parliament passes the first of a series of

Coercive Acts (called Intolerable Acts by Colonists) in response to the
rebellion in Massachusetts.

o The next series of Coercive Acts were passed virtually ending any self-
rule by the colonists there.

o The English Crown and the Royal governor assume political power
formerly exercised by colonists.

o At the same time the British government issues the Quebec Act
establishing a centralized government in Canada. The Quebec Act
greatly upsets American colonists by extending the southern boundary of
Canada into territories claimed by Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Virginia.

First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26,

1774. Delegates, representing every colony, except Georgia attended.

The 13 states will form the first Union of the United States of America.

By now it was clear to Colonists and to the British that this was NOT war OVER taxation
rights
This was a war to determine who will have the upper hand in the colonies and in
this case what came to be known as the United States

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On September 17, the Congress declares its opposition to the Coercive Acts, and also
promotes the formation of local militia units.
On October 14, a Declaration and Resolves is adopted that opposes the Coercive Acts,
the Quebec Act, and other measure taken by the British that undermine self-rule.
The rights of the colonists are asserted, including the rights to "life, liberty and
property."

October 20, the Congress agrees to boycott English imports, affect an embargo of exports
to Britain, and discontinue the slave trade.
The British react by ordering the governor of Massachusetts to enforce the Coercive Acts
and suppress "open rebellion" among the colonists by all necessary force.
April 19, 1775 at dawn armed Massachusetts militiamen stand face to face on Lexington
Green with the British guards.
It has never been known who ordered or who fired the first, which they say: 'shot heard
around the world' but whatever this shot marked the beginning of the American
Revolution.

Twelve of thirteen colonial delegations (New York abstains) vote in support of the
resolution for independence.
On July 4, the Congress formally endorses Declaration, with copies to be sent to all of the
colonies.

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

o We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal

o They are endowed (given) by their Creator with certain fixed Rights.
o Among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

o To secure these rights, Governments are instituted (set up) among Men, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the people.

o Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the

Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.

The British were not going to leave the colonies without a fight
And fighting follows. The French helped by sending ammunitions. Prussia joins the
Continental Army.

Finally on September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and
Great Britain.
The peace process brought a vaguely formed, newly born United States into the
arena of international diplomacy, playing against the largest, most sophisticated,
and most established powers on earth.

All 12 States will be recognized as independent

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New York remained under British rule.

What effect did this revolution have?

o Among its people
o Among the rest of the world

More importantly why do we call it a Revolution and not just a war for
independence?

When the Am. Rev. began it was directed against the actions of Parliament. But as it
progressed the tone changed. Now the rebels directed their anger against the king
Why was that important?
o First: colonists did not recognize the authority of parliament to start with.
o Second: people tend to accept the fight against an individual more than against a
political body.

The first point of significance about the American Revolution is: the colonists were
asserting – stating and declaring – the right of any people to revolt against a despot –
even the king of England on of the strongest monarchs at the time

The second point or significance of the Am. Rev. was in putting in writing – in the
constitution – the basic rights of the individual – liberty, equality, and the pursuit of
happiness
These rights are self-evident that is they are basic and the right of every individual not a
reward or donation by the government

Other than to the blacks the colonists were very tolerant religiously and socially. They all
came to America:
o To escape religious persecution
o To escape social discrimination
o To seek equal political opportunities
o No nobility in American.
o Name and birth gave one no advantage
o Church and state were separated.
o Leaders of the Revolution came from the intellectual elite
o The rank and file was from all walks of life