Overview
This lecture covers British imperial reforms after the Seven Years' War, colonial responses to new taxes and limits on expansion, and the escalation to armed conflict at Lexington and Concord.
Britain Reforms and Native Relations
- After 1763, Britain tried to govern its North American colonies without treating them as special partners.
- The Proclamation of 1763 established a boundary along the Appalachians, restricting colonial westward expansion to avoid conflicts with Native Americans.
- Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763-1765) was a major Native American uprising against British rule in the newly acquired territories.
New Taxation and Colonial Protest
- Britain sought to raise revenue through direct taxes: Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Act (1765), Townshend Duties (1767), and Tea Act (1773).
- These taxes were highly visible and opposed longstanding colonial practices of self-governance and "salutary neglect."
- Colonial resistance included smuggling (against Sugar Act), political resolutions (Virginia Resolves on Stamp Act), and organized boycotts (non-importation agreements).
- The Sons of Liberty enforced boycotts and resisted British policies through intimidation and sometimes violence.
Escalation: Coercive Acts and Continental Congress
- The Boston Tea Party (1773) led to the Coercive or Intolerable Acts, punishing Massachusetts by closing Boston’s port and replacing civilian government with military rule.
- The Quebec Act granted civil liberties to French Canadians, angering other colonists.
- Colonial leaders met at the First Continental Congress (1774) to coordinate a collective response, favoring continued economic boycotts over immediate armed resistance.
Lexington, Concord, and the Path to War
- After failed peaceful measures, Massachusetts prepared for armed resistance, forming militia units (Minutemen).
- In April 1775, British troops marched on Concord to seize colonial weapons, sparking battles at Lexington and Concord ("the shot heard around the world").
- Misinformation and propaganda about the events fueled broader colonial support for armed resistance.
- The Second Continental Congress convened soon after, trending toward war, but sent the Olive Branch Petition as a last plea for peace.
Why War Broke Out
- Radical leaders on both sides escalated tensions, making compromise impossible.
- Colonial paranoia about authoritarianism and loss of freedoms made colonists highly sensitive to British actions.
- Most colonists saw themselves as defending longstanding British rights, not seeking revolution.
Was the American Revolution Truly Revolutionary?
- A revolution is defined as a sudden, radical change; initially, colonists were fighting to preserve traditional order, not create new systems.
- Early revolutionary leaders were conservative elites, not aiming for radical societal change.
- Compared to revolutions in France or Russia, the American Revolution was relatively moderate and gradual until independence was declared.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Proclamation of 1763 — British law forbidding colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
- Sons of Liberty — Colonial group using intimidation and violence to oppose British policies.
- Coercive Acts / Intolerable Acts — British laws punishing Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party.
- Non-importation Agreements — Colonial boycotts of British goods to protest taxation.
- Lexington and Concord — First armed conflicts between colonial militia and British troops in April 1775.
- Olive Branch Petition — Last attempt by Continental Congress to seek peace with King George III.
- Revolution — A sudden and complete change in political or social order.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read the next chapter covering the Revolutionary War.
- Review the outcomes of the Second Continental Congress and their impact on the move towards independence.