unit 2

why did Franklin suggest the Albany plan of union?

He suggested this plan because it provided 2 things: a unified government and more structure. This plan would bring together all the colonies to decide on national government.

What are the historical roots for the creation of unity and identity?

This unified a lot of the colonies and gave American identity that was shared between all the colonies.

What were the international issues involving America?

• 7 year war (England was now needed in America)

  • Native Americans aligned with the French

the effect of the treaty of paris on France

lost her Canadian possessions (got forced to give it up), most of her empire in India, + claims to lands east of the Mississippi River

the effect of the treaty of paris on Spain

got all French lands west of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, but lost FL to England

the effect of the treaty of paris on England

got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Carribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India

Why paris?

France was central in europe, democratic, major country

Treaty of Paris

• There was a legislation put in place restricting American colonist from crossing the Appalachian Mountains, but they wanted westward expansion so they had trouble fitting people

  • Because… 

    • England was worried they would move so far west that they would lose control.

Proclamation of 1763

Most of the fights happening in the war happened past the mountains

What are the effects of the French + Indian War? (social/cultural)

• More unity among american

• Came together to fight the war/against the british

• The British got upset with Americans, because they thought it was their fault + that the Americans were not a put together army with training. 

• Started using the term american to differentiate them from england

What are the effects of the French + Indian War? (political)

• Salutary neglect is over

• American governments were growing in strength

What are the effects of the French + Indian War? (economic)

• Suffered due to trade

• British started to go back to the mercantilist policies

How were Native American Relations Changed by the treaty of paris?

• Reduced the influence of native american tribes

• Did Not improve

• Only positive was that future settlement prevented more negative impact

Impact on Colonies

Unity	Identity
Saw  more of it some parts, due to Americans coming together to fight	Due to a heavier influence of England on america

treaty of paris’ impact on the British?

• Severe debt

  • Didn't know where to get money since they were already highly taxed

• About 5 prime ministers went through during the war

• This guy who i forgot like introduced new taxes to england + america

  • Was like everyone in america needs to start helping out

Keeping the peace?

• British leave 10,000 regular army troops in north america to police French-speaking Canada + frontier

  • Was a reason they were in debt b/c it cost them money

• Why did they engage in this strategy?

• How will colonists respond?

  • Probably scared

  • Thought it was a threat to liberty

British respins

• What actions must the British take to recover losses and ongoing expenses as a result of the war? What options do they have?

• Who will be taking these actions? Why is that significant?

• How will the colonists respond to these measures?

  • Felt they weren’t represented

Sugar Act (1)

• Officially the revenue act of 1764

• Why is this name itself an issue?

  • They were admitting the tax was only to make money

• Reduced 1733 Molasses Act tax on imported French Molasses from 6 to 3 (50%)

  • Why did colonists respond to this so negatively?

• Required that american shippers post bonds guaranteeing legal insurance

Sugar act (2)

• Prohibited colonial governments from issuing paper money

  • Why is this an issue?

    • Constricted trade 

    • Made it harder for them to buy things from britain, because they didn’t take cash

question of authority

• Discussion occurred with respect to the nature of parliament's authority in the colonies–How far did it extend?

  • Basically made people think that if they protested they would get whatever they wanted

• Colonist protest!

Act II: Ob-Scene I: The Stamp Act

• English Prime Minister Greenville gave colonies a year to develop an alternate revenue program,

  • How would the colonists respond?

    • They just wouldn't do it, avoid it

  • What was the plan of the government?

    • To just do whatever they wanted

The Stamp Act

• The english had already been paying this tax

• Effective November, 1763

what did the stamp act cover

• Newspapers

• Pamphlets

• Almanacs

• Legal Documents

• Liquor Licenses

• College Diploma

• Playing Cards

• Dice

why were the items covered in the stamp act significant?

Since they were not necessary items and only some of the rich would continue to purchase them.

what did the colonist do in response to the stamp act?

they didn’t buy the taxed items or they accepted it. some rebelled

where was the defiance to the stamp act more pronounced?

In cities there are more stores so more things to buy and more things to tax. Also more people to talk to and easier for it to spread.

what legal arguments would the colonists use to invalidate the tax?

They could argue that they weren’t represented and that their government was not included. 

why did Virginia fight against the tax?

• They couldn’t afford it

• They were in debt

• They didn’t feel represented

virginias opinons in the time of the stamp act

• Said the king didn’t deserve the right to rule the colonies

  • He said that if you even speak of it, it was treason

• Some of their officials got caught speaking abt the tax, it was then published

• They were under the watch of England

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

!!!!!

responses to the stamp act

• Virginia House of Burgesses

• Throwing things

• Set someone's house on fire

• protest

Radicalism - Sons of Liberty

• Recruit artisans, shopkeepers, citizens

• Samuel Adams 

  • He acknowledged that it would be more effective if they were more organized.

Stamp Act Congress

• Called by MA/9 colonies attended/developed 12 resolutions

• State that Parliament has the right to legislate for colonies but not to tax directly

how did england regard the stamp act congress?

 They felt threatened by the smaller governments

reaction to the stamp act

“The people have become more attentive to their liberties…and more determined to defend them…Our presses have groane, our pulpits have thundered out legislatures have resolve, our towns have votes; the crown officers have everywhere trembled, and all their little tools and creatures been afraid to speak out ashamed to be see.” -Samuel Adams.

British response to Americas push back on the stamp act

• Declaratory Act

  • We don't tax you, but we can still legislate you and don't agree with you

  • Americans reject this because they

What was the state of economic and political affairs in England?

Parliament was gaining authority but the king wanted the authoritative power.

Revenue crisis, people weren't working, people were resisting taxes, things were very expensive.

should the colonists care about England’s economic and political affairs?

They should care. It could eventually spread to them and affect them.

how did Englands economic and political affairs influence government policy around America?

They try a new revenue strategy (shocking)

What is the revenue strategy after eliminating the Stamp Act?

To tax things that people buy but are not necessary items. 

what did the second tax act affect and why

Paper, lead, and tea. they choose these items since they weren’t necessary.

NY assembly suspended due to the noncompliance with the Quartering Act of 1765-Impact?

N.Y. got unorganized due to their assembly getting suspended.

How did the response to Townshend differ from that after the Stamp Act? Why is this the case?

They didn’t like it, but they held back for a while since they didn’t think it was as big of a deal.

What is the key organizational difficulty for the dissenters?

They couldn’t communicate easily or quickly.

what were circular letters

Letters that would travel around (circulates)

where did circular letters orginate?

massachusetts

who wrote circular letters?

Samuel Adams

what were the key points of circular letters?

it was the 1st network message

what were the possible/actual British reactions?

Tried to take their money. They legit took away MA legislation. (really dumb move on their part)

How does increased control affect the rate of protest in the colonies?

more protest/rebellions

What is the impact of the British seizure of a ship owned by Hancock?

People were mad and there was rage throughout the colonies.

Boston Massacre

• The british fired first, after colonists told them “fire,fire,fire”

• They were charged with murder

  • Lawyers were expensive

• John Adams thought soldiers deserved a fair trial, he represented them

  • He was a revolutionary

• Accounts on classroom

why were the townshend acts repealed?

Widespread protest and riots in America and Americans refused to import British goods.

what tax still remained in force after the townshend acts? why was it left?

the tea tax; To establish that they still had authority over the colonies

why did samuel adams power/influence grow?

Since he was convincing and he had an idea that people agreed with

From where does Samuel Adams draw his followers?

He originally got people from the city, but then he needed more so he went to bars to get people on his side. And volunteer fire companies, because they didn’t have a lot of money and they were taking a huge risk for no pay. He goes to merchants for money.

What is the personal risk Samuel Adams incurred? 

He was determined to be a threat to the crown, but he had a lot of money so he didn’t care.

Why did the Gaspee incident occur?

So basically people believed they were harassing the fisherman. Then these people on the ship sailed the ship onto the ground. So ya then the colonists set the ship on fire.

How was the gaspee incident representative of colonial and British concerns?

The colonists didn’t like the British, and the British continued to have overwhelming control over the colonies. 

How did the gaspee incident help the revolutionaries? 

They had evidence of the British harassing them and stealing from them

Why was the 1773 Tea Act introduced? 

To help the East India Company, due to them losing a lot of money. They basically cut the tea tax in half so more people would buy it (then they completely removed it)

What accusations were lodged against the East India Company? 

That they were sending bad tea

What message would colonists be sending by drinking tea from the East India Company?

They would be accepting that they would do what the British said.

What happens when the tea arrives?

They dumped the tea off the boat

What was the British response to the “Boston Tea Party”

They wouldn’t move the tea and kept bringing more

What were the most dangerous components of the british policy following the boston tea party?

financial

reaction in england + colonies of the boston tea party and the policy that followed

england: thought the colonists went mad

colonies: still mad about the tax

coercive acts

• Closed port of Boston to all shipping until destroyed tea was paid for

• Declare British soldiers and officials immune from local court trials for acts committed while suppressing civil disturbances. 

• Parliament alters Mass charter to transfer the council from an upper legislative chamber elected by the the lower house to a body appointed by the governor – people could no longer veto governors actions

• Authorize governor to prohibit all town meetings except for annual meeting to elect officers

• General Thomas gage, Commander-in-Chief of British forces in America replaces Hutchinson as governor

• Strike of democracy

What is the American response to the Intolerable Acts?

Boston wanted to completely end trade 

What is the rate of participation? How is this different from the past?

Not a lot of people participated because they needed it and it didn’t directly concern them.

Why was the First Continental Congress imperfect?

They were only interested in themselves, weren't very strong, + didn’t act quickly.

How did regionalization influence decision-making and debate?

They all had different relationships with England and only reps debated so the true feeling of the people wasn’t recognized in decisions. 

Declaration of Rights + Resolves– appeals to the “immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English Commission, and the several [colonial] charters and compacts” under which they had lived.

!!!!

patrick henry

• Became a significant revolutionary

• Unity

What dramatic changes occurred with respect to unity and identity after the First Continental Congress?

They were no longer individual colonies but they came together as America and began the dignified American identity. 

What colonial actions foreshadowed revolution?

Armed malitas + revolts against England

Why were some actions of the American somewhat hypocritical?

They were going on the offensive side and they were starting the fight

How did the troop level in Boston affect the social + political environment?

People felt threatened and on edge when the troops were watching over. 

Why did Gage deploy troops west?

Since he was facing rebellion and wanted to control it.

What happened in these skirmishes? Why are they historically important? Aftermath? 

• The rebellious views began spreading throughout the colonies (specifically to Concord, CT). 

• The British then went to concord to capture the people who rebelled and to take their weapons. 

• The people in concord got alarmed of this and they prepared to fight/kill the British. 

• They had minutemen distracting and stalling the British so they could have more time to prepare. 

• The British army's formation gave them a disadvantage because they were all together making them easier to hit.

• The British retreated, but the Americans followed them back to Boston. Due to the geography (hills) the Americans had an advantage of shooting downwards, which kills more.

Aftermath: 273 troops were killed/injured. 95 Americans experienced injury/death. 

Who was responsible for the catastrophic deterioration of the relationship between the British and Americans?

The British 🇬🇧; they didn’t trust them and the Americans resented them. The British were the ones who kicked off the fight and continued it.

The Americans 🇺🇸; They were provoking England to have a fight.

How was the tenor of the 2nd Continental Congress different from the 1st?

• It became the official government of the 13 colonies.

• First time attendees

  • BENNY FRANK (like certified)

  • TOMMY JEFF

  • JO LAY

  • JO HAN

What advantages did the SCC have?

Unified the colonies against parliament

What were the major aggressive actions of the SCC?

They called up a military.

How might this be seen internationally? What did they do to “control the story”?

Went from small isolated fights to big battles

Why George Washington?

• Tall + Rich

• He was from Virginia

  • Most powerful colony, anchored the south

What events began to ensure the continuation of armed hostilities?

• Declaration of the causes of taking up Arms; Basically why they were greeting an army

• Olive Branch Petition; Wanted England to forgive them

How did Thomas Paine change dialogue in America?

He wrote a pamphlet 

Declaration of Independence

• Mostly written by Jefferson, but there was a whole group who collaborated on it.

• They presented it to congress to vote on independence

• 9 voted yes; 2 against; 1 abstained; 1 wasn’t there

  • Majority voted yes

  • Didn’t have support from the 4 other states, so they couldn’t fight for it.

what are the challenges facing the American leaders and people?

• Creating a unified government to lead them

• Establishing themselves as a world power (economics, government, political, army)

• Getting England to grant them independence

• Foreign relations (political + trade)

• Disease/Death 

• Native relations 

• Westward expansion.

• Begin only relying on themselves and not relying on Britain

• Creating the basis of a country (currency, rights, land control)

• Laws/Justice system

• War

• Support for the cause

• Cut off immigration 

• Potential attacks by other countries

• War in progress

• Paying for the war

  • Debt

• Developing a winning strategy

Battle of Brooklyn, NY

• August 27, 1776

• American defeat

• British General Henry Clinton completes maneuver in the middle of the night

• Washington evacutes 9,000 men across the East River, and does not lose one in the process.

Winter Encampment at Morristown

• Army collapses during the encampment due to harsh winter weather conditions

• 1,000 continental soldiers remain along with a few militiamen

Spring recruitment efforts

Congress’ offer of $20 and 100 acres of land for anyone who enlists for 3 years or duration

Margaret Corbin

• Commands her dead husband's cannon until she is seriously wounded during British attack on Fort Washington, NY

• Becomes 1st woman to be pensioned by the government

American Crisis

• Series published by Thomas Paine

• Discusses the shrinking of the summer soldier and sunshine point

• “...but he who stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman”

Washington crosses the Delaware

• Christmas

• Force of 2,400

Arrive at Trenton

• Surprise garrison of 1,500 Hessians (German Mercenaries hired by British)

• Only 6 Americans (including Monroe) wounded

Battle of Saratoga (NY)

• British General John Burgoyne surrenders to American General

Valley Forge (Southeastern PA-Schuylkill R.)

• Brutal winter

• Many deserted 

• Lack of food, outbreak of disease

• Washington warns congress that without aid, the army will either “starve, dissolve, or disperse” – no response due to political stalemate

• Washington forages from local states