U.S. History Lecture Notes: Pre-Revolutionary America and the American Revolution

Overview of Colonial Society

• The colonies had a diverse population before independence.
  • Indigenous peoples experienced significant changes due to colonization.
  • Some colonists sought independence from England.
  • Loyalists wanted to be treated as British subjects.
  • Many were undecided (fence-sitters).
  • Enslaved individuals and indigenous communities had distinct interests and were often excluded from discussions.

The French and Indian War

• Part of the larger Seven Years' War between France and Great Britain.
• Marked as the First World War by Winston Churchill.
• Extremely bloody and costly.
• Different interpretations of the war's aftermath:
  • British Parliament passed laws to increase control over colonies.
  • Colonists viewed these laws as steps toward tyranny.

Key Legislative Acts

• Stamp Act (March 1765)
  • Required stamps on newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards.
  • Control shifted from individual colonies to the British crown, causing unrest.
  • The act was repealed, but other taxes followed, increasing tensions.

Growing Tensions and Events Leading to Revolution

• March 1770: Boston Massacre

  • Confrontation between British soldiers and colonists devolved into violence.
  • Crispus Attucks became the first American to die for the cause.
  • The incident was used as propaganda by anti-British leaders.

• December 1773: Boston Tea Party

  • Protest against the Tea Act, which was seen as undermining local merchants.
  • Colonists, disguised as Mohawks, dumped 92,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor.
  • The tea belonged to the British East India Company, with some Parliament members as shareholders.

Effects of Protests

• Boycotts emerged following the Stamp Act, leading to increased colonial unity.
• Women played a critical role in boycotts by creating homemade goods to replace British imports.
• The first Continental Congress met in 1774 as a response to the Intolerable Acts.

The Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Series of laws imposed by Parliament:
  1. Boston Port Act - Blockaded Boston Harbor.
  2. Massachusetts Government Act - Replaced elected officials in Massachusetts.
  3. Administration of Justice Act - Allowed British officials to be tried in England.
  4. Quartering Act - Allowed British troops to occupy private buildings.

Escalation to War

• By early 1775, militias were forming in the colonies.
• April 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of armed conflict.
• June 1775: Second Continental Congress formed an army under George Washington.
• Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and signed on August 2, 1776.

British Strategies and Challenges

• British initially tried to isolate New England but faced resistance throughout the colonies.
• Sought alliances with loyalists and attempted to utilize the Southern colonies.
• The role of the French in aiding the American cause was crucial.
• British failure to convert military victories into political support for their cause.

Conclusion of the War

• Key battles: British defeat at Yorktown (1781).
• Peace negotiations led to significant territorial gains for the United States.
• Indigenous allies and enslaved individuals abandoned by the British post-war.
• Demonstrated ongoing issues of inequality for various groups post-revolution.

Reflection

• The revolution created a new nation but did not establish equality for indigenous peoples, enslaved individuals, and women.
• Future discussions will explore these ongoing challenges.