🫖American Revolution Unit 3 – The American Revolution Begins

Key Events and Timeline

• 1763: End of the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) resulting in British control over much of North America
• 1764: Sugar Act passed by British Parliament to raise revenue from the colonies
• 1765: Stamp Act imposed direct tax on printed materials in the colonies leading to widespread protests and boycotts
  • Sons of Liberty formed to resist the Stamp Act through intimidation and violence
• 1767: Townshend Acts placed duties on imported goods (glass, lead, paper, paint, tea) further angering colonists
• 1770: Boston Massacre occurred when British soldiers fired on a mob killing 5 colonists
  • Incident heightened tensions and fueled anti-British sentiment
• 1773: Tea Act gave British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies
  • December 16: Boston Tea Party protesters dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor
• 1774: Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party
  • First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia to coordinate colonial response
• April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War

Colonial Grievances

• Taxation without representation a major grievance as colonists lacked elected representatives in British Parliament
• British attempts to limit westward expansion with the Proclamation Line of 1763 angered colonists seeking new land
• Quartering Act of 1765 required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers seen as an infringement on colonial rights
• Navigation Acts restricted colonial trade benefiting British merchants and manufacturers at the expense of colonial economies
• Lack of representation in British government decisions affecting the colonies fueled resentment
  • Colonists believed their rights as Englishmen were being violated
• Growing sense of a unique American identity separate from British identity contributed to the desire for self-governance
• Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, consent of the governed, social contract theory) influenced colonial thinking about government and individual liberties

British Perspective

• Believed the colonies should contribute to the cost of their defense and administration after the French and Indian War
  • Debt from the war was a significant burden on the British economy
• Viewed the colonies as a source of raw materials and a market for British manufactured goods
  • Mercantilist economic policies aimed to benefit the mother country
• Saw the colonies as subordinate to the authority of the British Parliament and the Crown
  • Concept of parliamentary sovereignty held that Parliament had the right to legislate for the colonies
• Considered colonial resistance to be a challenge to British authority and a threat to the empire
• Some British officials (King George III, Lord North) took a hardline stance against colonial defiance
  • Believed that firm action was necessary to maintain control and prevent further rebellion
• Others in Britain (Edmund Burke, William Pitt) sympathized with colonial grievances and advocated for reconciliation
  • Argued that the colonies should have more autonomy and representation within the empire

Revolutionary Leaders

• Samuel Adams a key organizer of the Sons of Liberty and a vocal advocate for colonial rights
  • Played a leading role in the Boston Tea Party and the opposition to British policies
• John Hancock a wealthy Boston merchant and prominent figure in the resistance movement
  • Served as the president of the Second Continental Congress
• Benjamin Franklin a renowned scientist, inventor, and diplomat who represented colonial interests in Britain
  • Later supported independence and helped draft the Declaration of Independence
• Thomas Jefferson the primary author of the Declaration of Independence articulating the reasons for colonial separation from Britain
• George Washington a respected military leader who commanded the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War
  • Later became the first President of the United States
• John Adams a lawyer and political theorist who played a crucial role in the Continental Congress
  • Served as a diplomat during the war and later became the second U.S. President
• Thomas Paine an influential writer whose pamphlet "Common Sense" advocated for independence and republicanism

Military Strategies and Battles

• Guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the colonists to compensate for their lack of a standing army and resources
  • Hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and targeting of British supply lines
• Siege of Boston (April 1775-March 1776) a successful colonial effort to force the British to evacuate the city
  • Fortification of Dorchester Heights by the Continental Army led to the British withdrawal
• Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775) a costly British victory that demonstrated the resolve and skill of colonial forces
• Battles of Saratoga (September-October 1777) a turning point in the war with significant colonial victories over British forces
  • Convinced France to openly support the American cause with military aid and diplomatic recognition
• Battle of Yorktown (September-October 1781) the final major battle of the war resulting in the surrender of British forces
  • French naval support played a crucial role in the colonial victory
• Fabian strategy employed by George Washington to avoid decisive battles and wear down British forces over time
  • Focus on preserving the Continental Army and maintaining a war of attrition
• Importance of foreign support (France, Spain) in providing military aid, financial assistance, and diplomatic pressure on Britain

Impact on Colonial Society

• Divided loyalties within colonial society between Patriots (supporters of independence) and Loyalists (supporters of British rule)
  • Estimated 15-20% of the population remained loyal to the British Crown
• Economic disruption caused by trade restrictions, blockades, and the diversion of resources to the war effort
  • Inflation and shortages of goods were common challenges faced by civilians
• Social upheaval as traditional hierarchies and power structures were challenged
  • Increased political participation and the democratization of decision-making processes
• Opportunities for social mobility as the war created new avenues for advancement and leadership
  • Some individuals from lower social classes rose to prominence through military service or political activism
• Challenges faced by women who assumed greater responsibilities in the absence of men serving in the military
  • Managed farms, businesses, and households while also contributing to the war effort through fundraising and material support
• Impact on Native American and African American populations varied
  • Some sided with the British in hopes of securing greater autonomy or freedom
  • Others supported the colonial cause or remained neutral

Global Context and Influences

• American Revolution took place within the context of broader European conflicts and rivalries
  • France saw an opportunity to weaken its British rival by supporting the American colonies
• Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, self-governance, liberty) influenced the ideological foundations of the Revolution
  • Works of John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau shaped colonial thinking about government and society
• Colonial grievances mirrored those of other European colonies seeking greater autonomy and representation
  • Parallels with Irish and Scottish opposition to British rule
• American Revolution inspired other revolutionary movements around the world
  • French Revolution (1789) drew inspiration from American ideals of liberty and republicanism
  • Latin American independence movements in the early 19th century were influenced by the American example
• Diplomatic alliances and foreign support were crucial to the success of the American cause
  • French military aid, Spanish assistance, and Dutch financial backing helped tip the balance against Britain
• Global economic implications as the loss of the American colonies disrupted British trade networks and challenged mercantilist policies
  • Shift towards a more open and competitive international trading system

Legacy and Significance

• American Revolution resulted in the creation of a new nation founded on principles of liberty, self-governance, and individual rights
  • Establishment of a constitutional republic with a system of checks and balances
• Declaration of Independence a landmark document that articulated the ideals of the Revolution
  • Assertion of natural rights, equality, and the right of the people to alter or abolish oppressive governments
• Constitution of the United States (1787) a groundbreaking framework for a federal system of government
  • Bill of Rights (1791) enshrined individual liberties and limited government power
• Influence on political thought and the development of democratic institutions around the world
  • Inspired subsequent revolutions and independence movements
• Ongoing debates and struggles to fully realize the ideals of the Revolution
  • Challenges of slavery, women's rights, and the treatment of Native Americans persisted
• Economic consequences as the United States developed its own domestic industries and trade relationships
  • Shift away from mercantilism towards a more capitalist economic system
• Cultural impact as the Revolution fostered a sense of national identity and pride
  • Development of distinctly American art, literature, and intellectual traditions
• Legacy of the Founding Fathers as visionary leaders who shaped the nation's political and philosophical foundations
  • Ongoing influence of their ideas and the institutions they created