Toward Independence: Years of Decision 1. Great War for Empire ends in 1763 a.

colonists initially rejoice "triumph of British arms" 2. Bonds uniting Britain and American disintegrate a. white Americans seemed to be relatively happy and prosperous - why rebel? b. British attempt to reform imperial system i. violent response, political conflicts will lead to civil war. c. the empire could have worked with political comprimise l. The Imperial Reform Movement 1. Great War for Empire - mixed legacy a. drives French out of Canada; British dominate North. A b. mountain of debt prompts British to impose new taxes c. and to move from self government to rule by imperial officials A. Legacy of War 1. War changes relationship between British and American colonies a. during war, colonists and British fight over funding and political objectives b. massive presence of British troops reveals cultural differences i. British shock Americans with arrogant demands ii. British call colonists "dregs of society" 2. War exposes weak political position of British governers and oficials a. had a lot of power in theory; really had to share with colonial assemblies b. this outraged British, so they enforced the Navigation Acts more strictly i. merchants bribed customs to avoid paying duties of Molasses Act ii. to avoid such corruption, Revenue Act is passed to tighten customs 3. Victory provokes shift in military policy a. deploy 10,000 man peacetime army in North America i. for King George III to create patronage positions for friends ii. to discourage thoughts of rebellion among residents of newly aquired Quebec iii. to prevent Spanish reclaim of Florida iv. British worry about settlers' loyalty now that they dont need protection from Canada v. "secure the dependence of the colonys on Great Britain", show they would use force 4. War increases British national debt a. from 75 mil. to 133 mil. b. interest charges from war are 60% of budget, forcing cutbacks in other areas c. taxes needed to be raised, but they were already high and paid by Parliment members d. taxes underrepresented poor and middle class ii. higher import duties on tobacco and sugar iii. raised excise levies (sales tax) on salt, beer, and distilled spirits e. question of taxing colonists was still unanswered.

5. To collect these taxes, they increase powers and double bureaucracy size a. customs officers arrested smugglers holding goods with unpaid import duties b. despite protests, one penalty for smuggling was indentured servitute in America i. nearly 50,000 banished B. The Sugar Acts and Colonial Rights 1. New generation of British officials reformed imperial system a. George Grenville won approval of a Currency Act that protected English merchants i. it banned the use of paper money (often worth less than face-value) ii. colonists had to pay their debts in gold or silver, always in short supply 2. The Sugar Act - new Navigation Act to replace Molasses Act a. They knew settlers had to sell wheat, fish, and lumber to the French islands. b. those sales brought in molasses, sugar, and bills of exchange c. without those, colonists wouldn't be able to buy British goods, so that trade was necessary d. So, Grenville placed a smaller duty of 3 pence per gallon, instead of 6 e. Merchants protested that it would wipe out French Island trade f. privately planned to smuggle and bribe anyway 3. Merchants and Colonists also protest new legislation a. argue that new duties were taxes which, according to their Consitution, ought to originate with the people. b. those who violated would be tried by viceadmiralty courts, which Americans opposed i. the Sugar Act closed the loophole of friendly juries c. new courts revived old fears, make Americans feel unequal and degraded. ll. The Dynamics of Rebellion 1. The colonists had only faced an attack on their insitutions once: Dominion of New England i. now both king and parliment wanted reform 2. Patriots organize protest meetings, riot in streets, articulate an ideology of resistance A. The Crowd Rebels 1. Stamp Act Congress