Lecture Notes: Chapter 5 - Crisis Between Colonies and Britain

Context and Background

Seven Years War (1763): Ended in 1763, left Britain in debt.
Britain's Shift: From salutary neglect to more hands-on governance over colonies, altering relationships.

Trade Regulation and Smuggling: Navigation Acts were loosely enforced before 1763, leading to smuggling.
Writs of Assistance: Open-ended search warrants for officials to curb smuggling, leading to tension.
Currency Act: Prohibited colonies from printing paper money.
Stamp Act: Direct tax on paper goods, led to "taxation without representation" debates.
- Affected all colonists, first widespread tax.
- Resistance led to the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1776.

Sons of Liberty: Formed to resist British taxes, supported by merchants and craftsmen.
Stamp Act Congress: Organized boycotts against the Stamp Act.
Regulator Movement (1760s): Protested under-representation in South Carolina Assembly.

Tax on Goods: Items like tea, glass, lead, etc.
John Dickinson: Called for reconciliation with Britain.
Daughters of Liberty and Homespun Movement: Encouraged homemade goods to boycott British imports.

Colonial Tensions: Soldiers competing with colonists for jobs, leading to conflict.
Incident: British soldiers fired at a crowd, killing 5, including Crispus Attucks.
Paul Revere's Engraving: Propaganda increasing anti-British sentiment.

Tea Act: Tax to support British East India Company; led to Boston Tea Party.
Intolerable Acts: Britain's response included closing Boston port and new Quartering Act.
Quebec Act: Extended Canada’s boundary, angering colonists.

First Continental Congress: Formed in response to Intolerable Acts; promoted disobedience.
Lexington and Concord (1775): "Shot heard round the world" initiating conflict.
Bunker Hill (1775): Heavy British casualties.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine (1776): Argued for independence, widely popular.
Declaration of Independence (1776): Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, included grievances against the King, inspired by Enlightenment.

British Advantages: Better army, Hessian soldiers, elite navy.
American Advantages: Home-field, strong leadership, integrated units.
Key Battles:
- Saratoga (1777): Led to French support for Americans.
- Yorktown: Last major battle; led to Treaty of Paris.

US Independence: Recognized by Britain, gained land to Mississippi River, and fishing rights.

Salutary neglect and its impacts, Stamp Act, Townsend Acts, Tea Act, and Boston Tea Party.
Declaration of Independence’s global impact, advantages during the war, Battle of Saratoga.