American Pageant Theme Notes Ch. 7

Themes in U.S. History
Chapter 7

American Diversity
Sons of Liberty
Daughters of Liberty

American Identity
The Seven Years’ War reinforced an American political Identity
“No Taxation Without Representation”
BOYCOTTS
Dec 16, 1773: colonists disguised as Indians dumped 342chests of tea into Boston harbor

Culture
Woolen garments of home-spun became fashionable
Eating lamb chops was discouraged

Demographic Changes

Economic Transformations
Mercantilism - the economic theory that all parts of an economy should be coordinated for the good of the whole state; hence, that colonial economics should be subordinated for the benefit of an empire.
VA tobacco planters had a monopoly in the British market
Navigation Law of 1650: All American Imports and Exports had to be carried through GB so they could collect taxes.
GB had a £140 million debt – ½ from defending the colonies
Sugar Act of 1764 – 1st law ever passed by that body for raising tax revenues in the colonies for the crown; by Prime Minister George Grenville; increased tax on sugar
Quartering Act of 1765 – required colonies to provide food and housing for British troops
Stamp Act of 1765 – to raise money to support a new military force; stamps were required on most paper products
1766 – Parliament repeals the Stamp Act
1773 – British East India Company were given a monopoly on tea in America
The Association – complete boycott of British goods;
Inflation

Environment

Globalization
Mercantilism - the economic theory that all parts of an economy should be coordinated for the good of the whole state; hence, that colonial economics should be subordinated for the benefit of an empire.
“Champagne Charley” Townsend – 1767 elected Prime Minister, promised to pluck feathers from the colonial goose with a minimum of squawking

Politics and Citizenship
Republicanism – modeled by ancient Greek and Romans, all citizens willingly subordinate their private, selfish interests to the common good; opposed to hierarchical and authoritarian institutions such as aristocracy and monarchy.
Whigs – feared the threat to liberty posed by the arbitrary power of the monarch and his ministers; warned citizens to be on guard against corruption and to be vigilant against possible conspiracies to denude them of their hard-won liberties.
Stamp Act Congress of 1765 – NYC, 27 delegates from 9 colonies, drew up statements of their rights and criticisms and beseeched the king and Parliament to repeal the legislation
1766 – Parliament repeals the Stamp Act
Declaratory Act: Parliament had a right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever, 1766
1767 – Townsend Acts, import tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea
London Government – suspended the legislature of NY in 1767 for failure to comply with the Quartering Act
Intercolonial committees of correspondence
1774 – Series of acts to punish Boston and MA; Boston Port Act – closed Boston Harbor until damages were paid and order could be ensured;
Intolerable Acts
1774 - Quebec Act – gave the conquered French the rights they had before (Catholicism)
September 5 to October 26, 1774 – Continental Congress – Philadelphia, 12/13 colonies, 55 men, drew up several dignified papers, Declaration of Rights

Reform
The British had the right to veto any colonial laws, colonists resented this, although they only used it 469/8563 laws passed.

Religion

Slavery and Its Legacies in North America

War and Diplomacy
British landed two regiments of troops in Boston in 1768
March 5, 1770 – Boston Massacre
April 1775 British commander in Boston sent a detachment of troops to nearby Lexington and Concord. 1st shoots of the Revolution