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

Introduction

• Presented by John Green
• Focus on the Seven Years War (also known as the French and Indian War) and its implications for the American Revolution.

The Seven Years War

• Known as the "First World War" by Winston Churchill.
• Americans referred to it as the French and Indian War.
• Lasted 9 years (1754-1763).

Key Themes

• History is interconnected: economics, religion, psychology, and more.
• Importance of understanding the causes and effects of historical events.

Economic Theory: Mercantilism

• Dominant economic theory in 18th-century British Empire.
• Government regulation to increase national power, promote local production, and ensure favorable trade balance.
• Colonies produced raw materials and purchased finished goods, essential for mercantilism.

Central Role of Slavery

• Vital to colonial economy, especially in cash crops like tobacco and sugar.
• Slave labor was integral to prosperity, linked to the triangular trade.

Rivalries and Alliances

• Britain’s main rival: France.
• French colonies were populous but sparsely populated compared to Spanish territories.
• French alliances with Native Americans over trade.

Causes of War

• Complicated causes, but the establishment of the Ohio Company in 1749 was significant.
• Conflict over land rights led to military confrontations, notably involving George Washington.

Notable Events

• Initial British military failures: Fort Necessity and Fort Duquesne.
• Turning point in 1759: capture of French forts, culminating in the British victory at the Plains of Abraham.
• Treaty of Paris (1763) resulted in significant territorial changes.

Consequences of the War

• Britain gained Canada and Florida but lost valuable territories in the Caribbean.
• Native Americans became the biggest losers, facing British expansion into their lands.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

• 1763 uprising by Native Americans against British encroachment.
• Resulted in the Proclamation Line of 1763 that restricted colonial settlement.

Setting the Stage for the American Revolution

• Colonists began to ignore British authority following the war.
• Rise of republicanism and liberalism as political philosophies:
  • Republicanism: government without a king, property owning citizens as virtuous.
  • Liberalism: government’s role in protecting natural rights (life, liberty, property).

The Great Awakening

• A religious revitalization that fostered individual experience and criticized traditional authority.
• Influenced by figures like George Whitefield, who emphasized personal salvation.

Breakdown of Respect for Authority

• Fueled by economic issues, political philosophy, and religious revivals.
• Set the groundwork for questioning British governance and authority in the colonies.

Conclusion

• Preview of upcoming discussions on how these themes connect to the American Revolution.
• Encouragement to engage with the content and ask questions.