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The Navigation Acts
-reserved the entire trade of the colonies to English ships
-limited exports of some enumerated items outside the empire (rare stuff that they wanted to keep)
-designed to stimulate British industry and restrict colonial industry
-salutary neglect: when certain regulations became too burdensome, colonists ignored them and the English looked the other way -
Period: to
Enlightenment in America
Enlightenment thinkers argued that sovereignty should be in the hands of the people-- widespread influence in the colonies. social contract (people should have to willingly consent to the government) became very popular. ideas were not reflected in the British colonial government, and the colonists were becoming increasingly discontent with the political structure of the empire (wanted direct representation in government as opposed to the virtual representation) age of reason -
Period: to
The Great Awakening
-first truly national event in American history
-a wave of religious enthusiasm
-Whitefield: preached a god receptive to good intentions
-Edwards: warned of the hell awaiting the unconverted
-fostered religious toleration -
Period: to
7 Year's War
England and France had competing empires in North America. In the 1750's, the powers came into direct conflict sparking another colonial war. England was eventually victorious thanks to British troops and money. -
Treaty of Paris
-France surrendered basically all claims to north america
-Britain now controlled a giant empire which would prove difficult to maintain -
The Sugar Act
placed tariffs on sugar, coffee, wine and other imported goods. colonists considered these duties to be taxation without representation; they were outraged that England was taxing them to help defray the cost of ruling them -
The Stamp Act
-stiff excise taxes on all printed material
-direct tax
-Patrick Henry said that House of Burgesses was the only body that had the authority to lay direct taxes
-sons of liberty formed protest movements
-hurt the business of lawyers, merchants, newspapers
-led to a boycott of British goods -
Townshend Acts
The Townsend Acts placed levies on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea imported; the colonists responded with a new boycott of British goods (imports from England had almost halved). British transferred two regiments to Boston -
Boston Massacre
-crowd of rioters surrounding British soldiers
-soldiers panicked and fired, killing 5 Bostonians
-John Adams defended the soldiers (acquitted)
-British repealed the Townshend duties (except tea) -
Boston Tea Party
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Intolerable Acts
-weakened colonial legislatures and judiciary (strengthened the power of the governor)
-closed Boston harbor -
First Continental Congress