POLI100- Lecture Class 4 Recording

The Influence of the Seven Years' War on the American Revolutionary War

  • The American Revolutionary War was influenced by earlier conflicts, specifically the Seven Years' War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America.

    • The Seven Years' War involved major combatants: Great Britain and France.

    • The war was extensive, fought across various continents.

    • It resulted in a significant increase in Britain's national debt, which doubled as a consequence of the war's expenses.

  • After the war, the map of North America changed dramatically, with British control increasing and French presence eliminated.

    • Colonists benefitted from the expulsion of the French from North America.

Economic Burden on Colonists

  • Due to the war's financial burden, British authorities believed American colonists should help pay for the costs incurred during the conflict.

  • Introduction of taxes to defray war costs led to discontent among American colonists:

    • Sugar Act of 1764

    • Imposed taxes on sugar and reduced the threshold for molasses import duties.

    • Marked a shift from 'salutary neglect' to strict enforcement regarding customs duties on imported goods.

    • Stamp Act of 1765

    • Required a stamp on all paper documents, including legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards.

    • Introduced penalties for selling unstamped paper.

  • Resulted in a slogan advocating for colonists' rights: "No taxation without representation."

    • This expressed the sentiment that taxation imposed by a distant government without colonist representation was unjust.

British Legislative Responses to Colonial Agitation

  • The British government responded to colonial unrest with the Declaratory Act.

    • Declared the right of Britain to legislate in all matters concerning the American colonies, including taxation rights.

    • Affirmed that colonies had no voice or representation in the matter.

Escalation of Tensions

  • Throughout the late 1760s and 1770s, tensions between American colonists and British troops escalated:

    • Boston Massacre

    • A confrontation between British soldiers and colonial civilians resulted in the deaths of five colonists, highlighting growing animosity.

    • Tea Act

    • Granted British monopolies on tea sales in colonies, inciting anger among colonists who protested through civil disobedience, culminating in the Boston Tea Party where three shiploads of tea were dumped into the harbor.

  • The British government's stern response included the Intolerable Acts:

    • Closed