Road to Revolution 1763- 1775 Essay Example

were particularly notorious for enforcing mercantilism. The first of these laws was enacted in 1650 to counter rival Dutch shippers who were infringing on American shipping. These laws limited commerce between the colonies and England (and vice versa) exclusively to English vessels and prohibited any others.

Other laws stated that European goods consigned to America had to first be landed in England, where custom duties could be collected. Additionally, certain products, known as "enumerated goods," could only be shipped to England. Settlers also faced restrictions on what they could manufacture domestically, such as woolen cloth and beaver hats for export (although they were allowed to produce them for personal use). Since Americans had no currency, they constantly purchased goods from Britain, causing a continuous outflow of gold and silver from America and forcing some to resort to trading and bartering. As a result, the colonists were eventually compelled to print paper money, which faced depreciation. Furthermore, colonial laws had the potential to be invalidated by the Privy Council; however, this authority was rarely exercised (only 469 times out of 8,563 laws).

Despite the infuriation of colonists, the use of mercantilism continued. III. Both the merits and menace of mercantilism can be identified. • Merits of mercantilism include the existence of Navigation Laws that were widely hated. However, these laws were not heavily enforced until 1763, which led to widespread smuggling. This lack of enforcement is commonly referred to as “salutary neglect.” • Notably, John Hancock became incredibly wealthy due to his involvement in smuggling.

Despite the fact that tobacco planters could only export their product to Britain, they held a monopoly within the British market. Additionally, Americans had

unique chances for self-governance and possessed the most powerful army in the world, which was funded by Britain and didn't require payment. These conditions persisted even after the United States gained independence.

The Americans were fortunate as they did not have to pay for a large army and navy. Even oppressive laws were not strictly enforced, resulting in more benefits for average Americans compared to average Englishmen. Mistakes that were made were not intentional, at least until the revolution. France and Spain also adopted and heavily enforced mercantilism.

• The American Revolution was sparked by the enforcement of mercantilism by Britain in 1763. Disadvantages of mercantilism included limiting Americans' ability to buy, sell, ship, or manufacture under ideal conditions.

• The South, known for producing crops not grown in England, was favored over the North.

• Virginia, which exclusively grew tobacco, relied on British buyers who frequently paid poorly and caused many planters to incur debt.

• A widespread belief among colonists was that Britain was exploiting her colonies for maximum benefit.

• Theodore Roosevelt later said, “Revolution broke out because England failed to recognize an emerging nation when it saw one." IV. The Stamp Tax Uproar After the Seven Years’ War (French & Indian War), Britain had a huge debt. Although it had no intention of making the Americans shoulder the entire burden, Britain believed that Americans should pay one-third of the cost since Redcoats had been used to protect them. • Prime Minister George Grenville was an honest and capable financier but lacked tact. He ordered the enforcement of the Navigation Laws, which sparked resentment among settlers.

He implemented the Sugar Act of 1764 to raise duties on

imported foreign sugar from the West Indies. However, due to widespread opposition from disgruntled Americans, the duties were eventually lowered. The Quartering Act of 1765 obligated certain colonies to provide food and housing for British soldiers. In the same year, he also introduced a stamp tax as a means to generate funds for the newly-formed military. This tax, known as the Stamp Act, required the use of stamped paper or the placement of stamps as proof of tax payment.

The Stamp Act required stamps on bills of sale for approximately 50 trade items and certain commercial and legal documents. Offenders could be tried in admiralty courts under both the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act, where defenders were presumed guilty until proven innocent. Grenville believed these taxes were fair, asking colonists to pay their fair share, especially since Englishmen paid a much higher stamp tax. However, Americans felt this was unfair as they were being taxed for an unnecessary army when the French army and Pontiac's warriors had already been defeated. As a result, they responded violently, particularly against the stamp tax.

Americans united under the battle cry, "No taxation without representation!" They were primarily enraged by the principle at stake - Americans believed that Parliament had no right to impose taxes on them since they had no representation in Parliament. Grenville argued against this notion, suggesting "virtual representation" where every member of Parliament represented all British citizens, including Americans. However, Americans dismissed this concept as nonsense.

The Stamp Act Congress occurred in 1765, with representatives from 9 out of the 13 colonies meeting in New York City to discuss the Stamp Tax. Although it was not widely

acknowledged in Britain, this congress aimed to promote unity among the colonies, similar to the Albany Congress during the French and Indian War. Some colonists chose to boycott supplies and produce their own goods instead of buying British products. The Sons and Daughters of Liberty group went further by enforcing punishments like tarring and feathering on those who violated the boycott. They also raided important officials' homes and confiscated their money as acts of aggression.

Stunned, demands were made in Parliament for the repeal of the stamp tax, with many questioning why 7.5 million Brits had to pay heavy taxes for the protection of the colonies, while only 2 million colonials refused to pay one-third of their own defense costs. In 1766, Parliament revoked the Stamp Act but enacted the Declaratory Act, asserting Parliament's right to "bind" the colonies "in all cases whatsoever." VI. The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston "Massacre" • Charles "Champaign Charley" Townshend (an individual capable of delivering eloquent speeches in Parliament even while intoxicated) convinced Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts in 1767.

They levied small taxes on lead, paper, paint, and tea, although the taxes on all except tea were eventually removed. In 1767, the legislature of New York was suspended for not adhering to the Quartering Act. However, tea continued to be illegally imported, leading to the deployment of British troops to enforce the law. On the evening of March 5, 1770, approximately 60 Boston townspeople were harassing around ten Redcoats.

One individual was struck in the head and another was struck by a club. In response to being heavily provoked, the soldiers fired their weapons without receiving orders, resulting

in the injury or death of eleven individuals considered "innocent". Among these casualties was Crispus Attucks, a black man who had once been enslaved and who was seen as the "leader" of the mob during the Boston Massacre. Attucks came to represent the pursuit of freedom, transitioning from being a slave to becoming a freeman and ultimately a martyr who stood against Britain in the name of liberty. Only two British soldiers were taken to court for their involvement in the event. VII.

The Seditious Committees of Correspondence • King George III, while 32 years old, was considered a good person but a poor ruler, as he surrounded himself with flatterers like Lord North. • The Townshend Taxes had little impact and were ultimately repealed, except for the tax on tea. • To maintain rebellious sentiments and disseminate propaganda, the colonies established Committees of Correspondence— networks of letter-writers that served as precursors to the Continental Congress. The first committee was initiated by Samuel Adams, and they played a crucial role in perpetuating the spirit of revolution. VIII.

Tea Brewing in Boston • Back in 1773, the British East India Company, struggling with a surplus of 17 million pounds of unsold tea, faced imminent bankruptcy. • To resolve the situation, the British made a deal to sell the tea to the Americans. However, the Americans had their suspicions, viewing it as a deceitful attempt to lure them with cheaper tea while still imposing taxes. • In response, on December 16, 1773, a group led by patriot Samuel Adams, disguised themselves as Indians and proceeded to open 342 chests, pouring the tea into the ocean in what became known

as the "Boston Tea Party." o In Annapolis, a similar action took place, with the ships being burned to water level. The reaction to these events varied greatly, ranging from approval to outrage and disapproval.

Edmund Burke famously stated, "Men are not capable of both taxing and pleasing, just as they cannot simultaneously love and be wise." IX. Parliament enacts the "Intolerable Acts" • In 1774, Parliament passed a series of measures, known as the "Repressive Acts," with the intention of punishing Massachusetts and the American colonies. These acts were dubbed the Intolerable Acts by the colonists. o One of the acts, the Boston Port Act, resulted in the closure of Boston's harbor.

Self-government was limited by forbidding town hall meetings without approval. The charter to Massachusetts was revoked. The Quebec Act, a good law in bad company, guaranteed Catholicism to the French-Canadians, permitted them to retain their old customs, and extended the old boundaries of Quebec all the way to the Ohio River. Americans saw their territory threatened and aroused anti-Catholics were shocked at the enlargement that would make a Catholic area as large as the original 13 colonies. Plus, Americans were banned from this region through the Proclamation Line of 1763.

X. Bloodshed and the First Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia from September 5th to October 26th, 1774. The purpose of the congress was to address various issues, although seeking independence was not yet a priority. Among the outcomes were a list of grievances, which were subsequently disregarded by Parliament, and the formulation of a Declaration of Rights. All but one of the colonies attended the congress, with Georgia being the only exception.

They made a

decision to meet once more in 1775, the following year, on the condition that nothing occurred. The event known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" took place in April 1775. During this event, the British commander stationed in Boston dispatched a group of soldiers to Lexington and Concord in order to confiscate supplies and apprehend Sam Adams and John Hancock. Following the death of eight of their own at Lexington, the Minutemen retaliated at Concord, successfully repelling the Redcoats. Their tactics included hiding behind rocks and trees, similar to Indian warfare.

Imperial Strength and Weaknesses • When the war broke out, Britain had several advantages: (1) a population of 7.5 million compared to America's 2 million, (2) a superior navy, and (3) considerable wealth. • Additionally, George III hired around 30,000 Hessians (German mercenaries) and maintained a professional army of approximately 50,000 soldiers, with about 50,000 American loyalists and numerous Native Americans supporting their cause. However, Britain still had to deal with the situation in Ireland, which required the deployment of troops. Moreover, France was poised to betray Britain at any moment, and the absence of William Pitt was also felt. o It is worth noting that many British individuals did not wish to harm their American counterparts; William Pitt even withdrew his son from the army as a demonstration of this sentiment. o Initially, English Whigs supported America, unlike Lord North's Tory Whigs who sided with George III. They believed that if the king were victorious, his rule over England might become tyrannical.

Britain's generals were not very good, and its soldiers were treated brutally. There was often a lack of supplies, and Britain was

fighting a war far away from home, about 3,000 miles away. America was also large, and there was no one capital to capture and weaken the country. XII.

American Pluses and Minuses:
• Advantages: Americans had exceptional leaders such as George Washington, a remarkable general, and Ben Franklin, a skilled diplomat. In addition, they received covert support from the French in the form of guns, supplies, and gunpowder. The young Marquis de Lafayette, at just 19 years old, became a major general in the colonial army and proved to be a tremendous asset. The colonials utilized a defensive strategy and were self-sustaining. Their marksmanship skills excelled, with a proficient American rifleman capable of hitting a target's head at a distance of 200 yards.

o Despite enjoying the moral advantage in fighting for a just cause and facing relatively favorable historical odds, the Americans had some noticeable disadvantages.

• One major disadvantage was the lack of unity among the Americans.

• Jealousy was prevalent among colonies, as they resented the Continental Congress' attempts at exercising power.

• Sectional jealousy arose over the appointment of military leaders, with some New Englanders even favoring British officers over Americans from other colonies.

• Another disadvantage was their limited financial resources. Inflation greatly affected the families of soldiers and resulted in widespread poverty.

Despite lacking a navy, Americans had no military force at sea. At the same time, the American army urgently required essential resources such as clothing, wool, wagons for food transportation, and various supplies. Furthermore, numerous soldiers were only provided with basic training.

German Baron von Steuben, who did not speak English, disciplined the soldiers. African Americans also served and died in

the military, although initially, many colonies denied them the opportunity. By the end of the war, over 5,000 black individuals had joined the American armed forces. African-Americans also served in the British army.

In November 1775, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation offering freedom to enslaved black individuals in Virginia who joined the British Army. As a result, by the end of the war, approximately 1,400 Blacks were transported to Nova Scotia, Jamaica, and England. Additionally, many individuals chose to sell goods to the British due to their payment in gold. However, a significant number of people were indifferent to the revolution and therefore raising a considerable military force proved challenging, if not unattainable.

Only through the passionate dedication of a small group of individuals did the Americans emerge victorious.