American revolution

• American colonies

  • 1775 2.5 mil europeans and Africans living in 13 British colonies along eastern coast of N America
  • Half were indentured servants (tied to employer)
  • Companies who founded colonies gave workers free passage in return of 4 years of labour
  • 1619- African slaves brought to work on tobacco and rice plantations
  • 50000 migrants convicts transported instead of prison
• British Government and colonists 


  > Independent- loyal to won area

  War - 1756-63 Britain fought the seven year war with France, British sent to Quebec for protection

  Economy- Pay for military protection, British imposed 1756 stamp act

  Ideas- Colonists had no MPs in parliament and argued 'No taxation without representation'

  > Dec 1773 - Boston tea party

  Government

  > Retaliated to Boston tea party

  > Closed Boston harbour until colonists paid compensation

  > March 1776 Britain repealed stamp act and passed declaratory act stating their right to make laws for the colonies
• Loyalists

  • Remain part of British empire, benefit from trade
  • Family from there
• Radicals

  • Colonies had rights to representation
  • Radical pamphlets argued for American independence from royal authority
  • 'Common sense' sold over half a million and was influential
• Stamp Act 1765

  • Tax on paper
  • Paid in sterling not local currency which made it more difficult to pay
  • Tax was fiercely resisted
  • Tex collectors resigned in protest
• Reaction in Britain- Conservatives

  • Rebellion In America divided opinion in Britain
  • Conservatives- argued government had every right to make laws
  • American colonies were essential to Britain's positions as a world power
  • Determined to crush the revolution by any means
• Reaction in America - Liberal

  • Heavy-handed approach made rebellion more likely
  • Radicals used taxation without representation to pressure the government for a change in Britain
  • Adam smith argued that colonial restrictions on trade damaged Britain's wealth and power: Free trade was better
• War of independence

  • Sent army to put down revolution
  • 1778 Feb French hound against Britain
  • 1791 British army surrounded and surrendered at Yorktown to the Americans and French armies
  • 1782 Parliament passed legislations saying they would not continue to use force against colonies
• 1776 Declaration of Independence
• Impact

  • First time colony became independent from European ruling power
  • Ideas of independence, human rights and individual liberty took root
• Significance

  • Britain wasn't ruined by the loss of American colonies, empire grew in other directions
  • Trade with India and Canada grew, import raw materials deem these colonies fed the Industrial Revolution, creating new source of wealth
  • Support of radical ideas behind American revolution led to demands for political change at home: End to corruption among political elites