Roots of Revolution: Key Topics (Seven Years' War to Intolerable Acts)

Seven Years' War (1756−17631756-1763)

  • Britain defeats France, gains territory in North America.
  • War debt leads Britain to tax colonies.
  • Colonies resent tighter control and cost empire.

Impact of the Enlightenment (ideas:naturalrights,liberty,andself−government;JohnLockeideas: natural rights, liberty, and self-government; John Locke)

  • Ideas of natural rights, liberty, and self-government (John Locke).
  • Colonists question monarchy and absolute authority.
  • Promoted belief in equality and consent of the governed.

Salutary Neglect and British Empire

  • Before 17631763, Britain loosely enforced laws, letting colonies self-govern.
  • After war, Britain ends this policy and enforces taxes/laws strictly.
  • Colonists feel rights are being taken away.

Taxes

  • SugarAct1764Sugar Act 1764, StampAct1765Stamp Act 1765, TownshendActs1767Townshend Acts 1767.
  • Colonists protest "taxation without representation".
  • Boycotts and protests unite colonists.

Colonial reaction to British Policy

  • Formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty.
  • Increased resistance through boycotts, protests, and petitions.
  • Growing unity among colonies against British rule.

Boston Tea Party and Intolerable Acts (1773−17741773-1774)

  • Colonists dump tea in Boston Harbor to protest Tea Act.
  • Britain responds with harsh laws (closing Boston Harbor, restricting assemblies).
  • Colonists form First Continental Congress – step toward independence.

Connections and implications (summary)

  • The sequence shows how military conflict and debt translated into colonial taxation and tightened imperial control.
  • Enlightenment ideas provided philosophical justification for questioning authority and seeking legitimate consent of the governed.
  • The shift from Salutary Neglect to strict enforcement heightened colonial resentment and sense of rights violations.
  • Organized resistance (Sons of Liberty, boycotts, petitions) laid groundwork for intercolonial unity.
  • The Boston Tea Party and subsequent Intolerable Acts acted as catalysts, culminating in a formal move toward independence with the First Continental Congress.