Unit 2: Pre-Revolution Part 1

The French and Indian War

A war between the French/Delaware Native Americans and the British/Colonists/Iroquois Native Americans. It started over the desirable Ohio River Valley. George Washington led the Virginia militia to remove the French. The Battle at Fort Necessity marked the beginning of the war. The British did poorly at first but effectively blockaded the coast. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris of 1763.

Albany Plan of Union

This plan was created before the official start French and Indian War at the Albany Conference. Colonial negotiations to form an alliance with the Iroquois failed. However, Benjamin Franklin and other colonial leaders did suggest the Albany Plan of Union. This plan said that the colonies should form a federal (national) government and work together for a common defense. The colonies rejected the plan. It was important because it was the first time that colonists thought about coming together for a common goal.

Enlightenment

This was a movement that started in Europe. Philosophers started to apply the ideas of rationalism to political, social, and economic situations. John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau all wrote about the government's role in society. They believed that the government was a social contract between the citizens and the ruler(s). The rulers were required to listen to the people and protect their natural rights. These ideas caused colonists to think differently and begin to question their government.

Great Awakening

This was a religious awakening that started in Europe and came over to the colonies. This movement called people back to organized religion. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards helped to bring people back to church with powerful sermons.

Mercantilism

This economic system said that a country must acquire gold and silver by exporting more than it imported. It said that a colony needed to establish colonies to gain necessary raw materials and sell manufactured goods. Colonies were forbidden from trading with other nations. England tried to control its colonies with the Navigation Acts. It also punished them when they failed to follow mercantilism.

Salutary Neglect

This terms means beneficial neglect. England was unable to control its colonies' economy closely due to distance and the high cost of regulating colonial trade. This meant as long as most trade went through proper procedures that England was willing to turn a blind eye to smuggling.

Treaty of Paris 1763

This treaty removed France from North America. It also gave Quebec and the Ohio River Valley to England.

The Proclamation of 1763

After Pontiac's Rebellion the British leaders decided to ban colonists from moving West of the Appalachian Mountains. This would reduce the cost of protecting colonists in the Ohio River Valley and would keep colonists closer to the coast and British control. Colonists felt betrayed because they had fought in the French and Indian War to gain access to move into this region.

Duties

Taxes on imports and exports

Sugar Act

This act was created by George Grenville to help pay the debt Britain had created from participating in the French and Indian War. Parliament believed that because England had paid for the war to protect the colonists that the colonists should share the cost of the war. The act raised taxes on imported goods and created new taxes. Colonists felt like their natural rights to representation had been violated. They could only be taxed by their colonial governments. The act also prevented colonists due process (proper court procedures). Colonists started to protest this act with slogans like "No taxation without representation".

Currency Act

This act was passed to prevent colonists from paying their debts in paper money. It said that all debts had to be paid in gold or silver because paper money lost its value quickly. Colonists had a difficult time doing business because there was a limited amount of gold and silver in colonial markets.

Quartering Act

This act was originally passed for colonists to help pay for the cost of stationing British soldiers in the colonies after the French and Indian War. It originally said that abandoned/empty buildings were to be used to house soldiers. Colonists felt like the British government was trying to spy on them and disliked having British influence so close to them. This act was later changed and said that soldiers could be housed in colonial homes.

Stamp Act

Required that printed materials be issues on specially stamped paper purchased from tax agents. Violators of the Stamp Act would be tried in British admiralty courts rather than by a jury of their peers. It was the first internal tax imposed upon the colonists by the British government, and came as a result of the British government needing to earn revenue to pay debts from the French and Indian War. When the Stamp Act went into place, colonists began to boycott all British goods. The boycotts worked and this act was repealed the following year.

Declaratory Act

This act was in response to the repealing of the Stamp Act. Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but issued the Declaratory Act immediately after. The Declaratory Act states that Parliament has power over the colonies and authority to put duties on goods. When colonists argued, "No taxation without representation," Parliament responded that their taxes were "Englishmen representing Englishmen."

Virtual Representation

Colonists were "Englishmen" and English citizens living in England were also "Englishmen". Parliament was made up of "Englishmen representing Englishmen."

Writs of Assistance

These were general search warrants that said that a British Customs Official could search anywhere and anything if there was evidence of smuggling. Colonists felt like this violated their natural rights and limited their right to privacy.

Townshend Acts

Created by Charles Townshend to solve England's worsening financial problems, this series of acts was passed after the Declaratory Act. The Townshend Acts included the Revenue Act, which put customs duties on glass, lead, paper, paint and tea imported by the colonies. Like the Sugar Act, the Townshend Acts allowed officials to seize private property without following due process, under certain circumstances.

The Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a group of Boston colonists began heckling and throwing snowballs at British soldiers. In response, a squad of soldiers came to protect the Customs (tax) House against the colonists. This would result in the troops firing shots into the group, killing five and wounding six. The shooting became known as the Boston Massacre as colonial newspapers portrayed the British as tyrants willing to kill those standing up for their rights.

Committees of Correspondence

These were formed in response to the acts of Parliament and the Gaspee incident. Thomas Jefferson suggested that each colony form their own committee to keep in touch with other colonies. These committees would communicate about British activities, helped to unify the colonies, and helped colonial leaders coordinate their protests.