#6 Lecture Prelude to Revolution I. A Changing Society Culminates with Revolution A. Rise of the Great Awakening the first evangelical Christian movement Bringing religion back to the center of the colonies in the 18 th century; they begin talking about the sinfulness of society but believe in a promise of grace B. Key Figures in the Great Awakening 1. Jonathan Edwards A founder of the first great awakening (sinners in the hands of an angry God) Places an emphasis on the personal relationship with God 2. George Whitefield An emotional preacher of the Great Awakening C. So why was the Great Awakening so transformative? Brings religion back to the center of the colonies; this caused people to rethink their society It was the first (or one of the first) inter-colonial movements; it touched all American colonies, challenged the hierarchy and authority within the colonies with the idea of individualism (this takes out the need of clergy as a means to talk to God), introduces the idea that everyone who comes to worship is seen as equal in the eyes of God, and intellectual stimulation brought through universities also. D. Emergence of Enlightenment Thought Individualism and humanitarianism (two main ideas of the 18 th century) The idea that society is governed by natural thought E. Key Figure in Enlightenment Thought 1. John Locke One of the first to write about these "natural laws" F. So what is so Revolutionary about these ideas? Says that the government exists to provide the individual with security, stability, and happiness, which are innate natural rights (the right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness) Philosophy: the government is there to help people, not to control them G. Creation of Republicanism 1. Core ideas of Republicanism Liberty is the individuals greatest right; a strong government poses a threat to liberty and should be limited, citizens have the right to overthrow the government should it abuse its power 2. Why was republicanism important? This leads to the revolution II. Imperial Warfare A. Increased European Encroachment 1. dominated by fighting for territory between English, French and Spanish B. The Seven Years War "The French and Indian War" (1756-1763) 1. what? 2. where?
2 3. When? 4. Why? Because the French and English were both moving into the Ohio Valley; both sides wanted the Native American alliance but the Native Americans wanted to remain neutral 5. Result? - Ends with the Treaty of Paris (1763) Gives the French territory to the west of the Mississippi to Spain France leaves North America Florida is English The Big Point The Real losers were the Natives Americans because once France pulls out of North America they can no longer play the French off against the English and they become dependant on the English which increases the rate of land dispossession 6. British and Colonists had a different perspective on the war: The English did not support the Seven Years War and the colonists were angered by this 7. Proclamation of 1763 C. Resulting Internal Conflict 1. Why did the Proclamation of 1763 cause conflict among English colonists? The colonists wanted to move west and the proclamation didn't allow them to do that; land became a major issue 2. Why was the debate about the Proclamation important? It became one of the many grievances which lead to the revolution III. England Clamps Down - Boycotts and Protests A. England Cracks Down on the Colonies Largest standing army on the proclamation line 1. Principle Problem after the Seven Years War DEBT 2. Principle Solution generate revenue through taxes a. Regulatory Taxes - sugar act (1764): generates tax by lowering the tax on sugar and increasing the penalties for smuggling (only affected the northern areas) b. Revenue Taxes - stamp act (1765): tax on any paper goods (documents, mail, ect.); this was the first attempt to directly tax the American people Newspaper publishers and lawyers were strongly affected so bad press was inevitable **The Big Point Up until this point the colonial assemblies were the only ones to issue taxes thought that parliament was trying to usurp their power!** B. The Colonists Respond Two Things Develop Got inter-colonial discussion and coordinated public action C. Parliament Responds 1. Repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766 2. Issue Declaratory Act Says that parliament has the right to legislate 3. colonies Townsend Act (1767)
3 Revenue generating act; issued on imports such as tea and paper products (but not as many as the stamp act) **This is when Parliament really gets involved does it by repositioning troops in Boston and this creates tension between local citizens and soldiers D. Boston Massacre The result of a mob which developed and grew within Boston (5 were killed); people became upset and rallied against the British; the press overreacted E. Tea Act 1773 Regulatory tax (controls trade and tax on imports); gives monopoly of importing tea to the British East Indian Company F. Boston Tea Party Colonists rally together and dump 45 tons of tea into Boston harbor; Britain reacts by passing the Intolerable Acts (this closes Boston Harbor and places a limit on the colonists' power; states that British soldiers will be tried in Britain instead of in America and it requires colonists to house soldiers in their homes) IV. Inching Toward Independence A. The First Continental Congress September 1774 The goal of this was to resolve conflicts with England, they weren't ready to declare independence; they claimed that the British had no right to tax, the colonists had no representation in parliament so taxing them was taxation without representation This backs the popular sentiment of the people (boycotts, opposition to taxes, ect.) B. The Shot Heard Around the World April 1775 Lexington and Concord was the first official conflict between the British and the colonists C. Second Continental Congress May 1775 The goal was to create an army (the leader of this army was George Washington) and they issued a currency to pay for this army; they didn't declare independence because they still hoped that the king would intercede on their behalf and they feared that they did not have enough support The Prohibitory Act suspended trade between Britain and the colonies The result of this gathering was the Olive Branch Petition (which asks the king to side with them; the king rejects this) The Big Point realize the king is not going to intercede leads to revolution D. Common Sense January 1776 Thomas Payne states that Britain has no authority over the colonies and that the king is not perfect **Becomes the Justification for Revolution that has popular appeal E. Third Continental Congress May 1776 Armed conflict had been occurring for about a year; they decided that it was time to push for independence V. "We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident" - The Declaration of Independence A. Purpose July 4, 1778 the colonies declared themselves independent states
4 B. Principle Author Thomas Jefferson C. Content Appealed to a higher authority (God) D. Challenges Created by the Declaration of Independence 1. once they dissolved their relationship to the English Crown... Forced to decide what kind of government they wanted to create and what they should do with the loyalists When deciding the government they had to decide what they meant by "all men are created equal" 2. led to the Articles of Confederation, 1781 The Articles tied the nation together under a weak centralized government There would be a National Assembly (Congress who has the power over foreign relations and trade); they also had to establish term limits for all representatives 3. stipulations of the Articles of Confederation **The Big Point - important because meant that representatives from all 13 states had to agree on policy**
5 Terms The Great Awakening John Locke The Seven Years War (The French and Indian War) Proclamation of 1763 Regulatory Taxes Revenue Taxes First Continental Congress Second Continental Congress Common Sense Third Continental Congress Declaration of Independence Questions 1. What were some of the shifts in colonial culture that led to Revolution? How did they do so? Do you think Revolution would have come without such changes? 2. What was the Seven Years' War and how did it set the stage for Revolution? 3. What was so significant about the Proclamation of 1763? 4. Why does England crack down on the colonies? How do the colonists respond? Do you think the colonists overreacted? What about England? 5. What is the significance of each of the Continental Congresses and how do they set the stage for Revolution? 6. At what point in time do the colonists actually turn to Revolution? Readings AS: AS 105-140 (Chapter 4); 86-114