Crash Course U.S. History: Events Leading to the American Revolution

Overview

• Focus on the events preceding the American Revolution.
• Begins with the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War).

Seven Years' War

• Known in various parts of the world under different names.
• Lasted for nine years, despite the name.
• Main causes: Economics and mercantilism.
• British economic policy: Mercantilism (regulation for national power).
  • Encouraged local production, tariffs, monopolies.
  • Promoted favorable trade balance.
  • Colonies crucial for raw materials and markets for goods.

Role of Slavery

• Central to the colonial economy.
• Key trade goods: Tobacco and sugar, heavily reliant on slave labor.
• Part of the triangular trade between Europe, Africa, and the colonies.

British and French Rivalry

• Britain's main rival: France.
• Despite Spain's significant empire, sparsely populated.
• French colonies had fewer colonists but were expanding into critical trade areas.

Causes of War

• 1749: Virginia governor granted land to Ohio Company.
• Tensions with Native Americans and French allies over land claims.

Key Battles and Events

• 1754: George Washington's failed attempt to remove French from western Pennsylvania.
• Key British victories: Capture of French forts including Duquesne, Ticonderoga, and Quebec.
• War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763.

Territorial Changes

• Britain gained Canada and Florida.
• France retained valuable sugar islands in the Caribbean.
• Spain received Cuba and the Philippines.

Native American Impact

• French withdrawal left Native Americans to deal with British expansion.
• Led to Pontiac's Rebellion (1763).

Proclamation Line of 1763

• British forbid settlement west of Appalachian Mountains to prevent further conflicts.
• Ignored by settlers, leading to tension.

Ideological Shifts

• Rise of Republicanism and Liberalism:
  • Republicanism: Government without a king; virtue as a public good.
  • Liberalism: Protection of natural rights (life, liberty, property).

The Great Awakening

• Religious revival in the 18th century.
• New denominations emerged; increased emotional religious fervor.
• Criticism of church hierarchies paralleled political dissent.

Conclusion

• Breakdown in respect for authority due to religious, political, and economic changes.
• Set the stage for the American Revolution.

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• Crash Course produced by Stan Muller, script by Raoul Meyer and John Green.
• Viewer engagement through comments for historical questions.
• Encouragement to maintain curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.