American Revolution Origins

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO TAKE UP ARMS AND REVOLT VIOLENTLY AGAINST YOUR COUNTRY?

How do modern political, social, or market movements spread?



THE ROAD TO WAR

I. Changing Policies:
(ending “salutary neglect”)
A. Navigation Acts:
B. Sugar Act (1764)
George Grenville
Patrick Henry

C. Stamp Act (1765)

Stamp Act Repealed in February of 1766

In spite of each parasite, each cringing slave
Each cautious dastard, each oppressive knave
Each gibing ass, that reptile of an hour
The supercilious pimp of abject slaves in power
We are met to celebrate in festive mirth
The day that gave our freedom second birth
That tells us, British Grenville never more
Shall dare usurp unjust, illegal power
Or threaten America’s free sons with chains,
While the least spark of ancient fire remains

D. Townshend Duties (1767)

…written by John Dickinson of Delaware…1768.

Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts, shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America's name.

In freedom we're born, and in freedom we'll live;
Our purses are ready,
Steady, Friends, steady.
Not as slaves but freemen our money we'll give.

II. Escalation:
A. The Boston Massacre

B. Burning of the Gaspee

C. The Boston Tea Party, 1773

Revolutionary Tea, ANONYMOUS SONG

There was an old lady lived over the sea
And she was an island queen.
Her daughter lived off in a new country
With an ocean of water between.
The old lady’s pockets were full of gold
But never contented was she,
So she called on her daughter to pay her a tax
Of three pence a pound on her tea,
Of three pence a pound on her tea.

D. Intolerable Acts
(1774, also called The Coercive Acts)

1. Boston Port Bill
2. Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act
3. Impartial Administration of Justice Act
4. Quartering Act

--RELATED BUT NOT CALLED INTOLERABLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS INTOLERABLE--
The Quebec Act

III. Events plus Ideas=

Revolution
A. EVENTS:
Lexington and Concord

B. IDEAS:
1. Thomas Paine,
“Common Sense” 1776

Why does Paine think it is in America's best interest to be free from Britain?

What are his five best arguments?

How do you think a loyalist would react to Paine's arguments?

Write a short rebuttal to “Common Sense.”

“But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain...let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING.”
“Small islands not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet, and as England and America, with respect to each Other, reverses the common order of nature, it is evident they belong to different systems: England to Europe- America to itself.”

2. Thomas Jefferson:
Declaration of Independence