Crash Course: US History - American Revolution

Key Distinctions

• American Revolution vs. American War for Independence:
  • These are not the same; the Revolution was not solely about taxes.
  • The Revolution involves broader ideological shifts.

Background Context

• Seven Years War (Treaty of Paris, 1763):
  • Ended with restrictions on colonists from taking land from Indians.
  • Left Britain with substantial war debt, leading to new taxes.

Taxation and Colonial Discontent

• Taxes Imposed:

  • Taxes on trade (e.g., wool, hats, molasses) existed before but were often evaded via smuggling.
  • Primary issue was lack of representation in Parliament, not the taxes themselves.

• Sugar Act (1764):

  • Adjusted molasses tax but enforced anti-smuggling laws.
  • Tried smugglers in British, rather than colonial, courts.

• Stamp Act (1765):

  • Required stamps (not free) on all printed material, targeting paper users like newspapers and lawyers.
  • Sparked formation of the Stamp Act Congress and a boycott of British goods.

Rise of Colonial Unity

• Coordinated Protests:

  • Led by groups like the Sons of Liberty.
  • Stamp Act repeal seen as a victory, followed by the Declaratory Act asserting British tax rights.

• Townshend Acts (1767):

  • Imposed new customs duties, leading to another boycott.
  • Supported by groups like the Daughters of Liberty.

Escalation of Tensions

• Boston Massacre (1770):

  • Clash between colonists and British soldiers, leaving five colonists dead.
  • British soldiers were mostly acquitted, defended by John Adams.

• Tea Act (1773) and Boston Tea Party:

  • Tea Act lowered tea prices but undercut smugglers.
  • Boston Tea Party protested the principle of taxation.

Legislative Backlash

• Intolerable Acts:
  • Enacted in response to the Boston Tea Party.
  • Included measures like the Massachusetts Government Act and Quartering Act.

Move Towards Revolution

• First Continental Congress (1774):
  • Coordinated colonial resistance, forming a government-like body.
  • Advocated for disobedience to Intolerable Acts and preparation for war.

Intellectual Foundations

• Shift in Ideals:
  • Colonists moved from seeking rights as English subjects to advocating for natural rights.
  • "Human rights" concepts began gaining prominence.

War for Independence Begins

• Outbreak of Conflict (1775):

  • Fighting began at Lexington and Concord.
  • Colonists lost at Bunker Hill but forced British to retreat from Boston.

• Diverse Colonial Views:

  • Not all colonists supported independence; some feared extreme political shifts.

Influence of "Common Sense"

• Thomas Paine’s Pamphlet (1776):
  • Advocated for independence with straightforward, persuasive arguments.
  • Helped shift public opinion towards revolution.

Declaration of Independence

• Second Continental Congress:
  • Declared independence within six months of "Common Sense."

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Conclusion: The American Revolution combined ideological shifts, coordinated political resistance, and key influential writings to set the stage for the War for Independence. The transformation in colonial attitudes and the rise of a unified colonial identity were pivotal in this era.