‘Topic 1: The loss of the American Colonies, 1770-83:
Introduction;
Cause of loss of 13 American colonies rooted in Britain's conflict with France.
Britain's need to fund conflict with France was frontal in policy choices.
For colonials: the introduction and nature of British taxation proved wholly acceptable.
1760s and 1770s: British attempt to alter economic relationship between colonies and Britain.
o Terms seemed necessary and sensible to British.
o Resulted in breakdown between countries.
Boston 1170: chaos as colonists rioted against British duties on imports to colonies.
o British stationed 600 troops in city from Sept 1768 to preserve peace but only made it worse.
o 22 Feb: man, loyal to British and avoided customs tax was surrounded.
He shot on crowd and killed 11-year-old boy (5,000 attended funeral).
o 5th March Boston Massacre: troops guarding Customs House fired into protesting Bostonians
(5 killed incl. Crispus Attucks - leader of protest).
Timeline;
1765 Stamp Act: tax on printed documents (considered 'utterly destructive of public
happiness').
1767 Townshend Duties on tea, lead, glass, paint, china and wine.
1770 5 March: Boston Massacre following weeks of unrest.
1772 Nov: first committee of Correspondence set up (suggestion of Sam Adams).
1773 May: Tea act allows EIC to trade directly with America rather than going through
London.
16 Dec: Boston Tea Party: patriots throw 342 chests (£10,000) in to sea in protest
against Tea Act.
1774 Coercive Acts introduced in response to Boston Tea Party.
Sept: Representatives of colonies meet in Philly in Continental Congress (response
to Coercive Acts).
1775 18 April: First shots of war fired between Lexington and Concord.
17 June: Battle of Bunker Hill.
1776 June: process of drawing up new constitution for new nation begins.
4 July: Declaration of Independence formally adopted by congress.
1777 Oct: Burgoyne's retreat to Saratoga following failure of campaign from Canada.
Nov: New Constitution approved by Congress.
1778 June: France declares war on Britain.
1779 June: Spain enters war as French ally.
1781 19 Oct: British surrender to Americans at Yorktown (ends war).
1783 3 Sept: Peace of Paris signed by Britain, USA, France, Spain and Holland.
Causes of the American Revolution;
Taxation without representation: colonies had no representation in parliament for taxing (denied a
basic right).
7 Years War: very expensive, had to find ways to make money other than land tax. (British people
didn't have to pay).
Sugar Act: took steps to enforce tax, sugar and molasses smuggled. Merchants angry that smuggling
got difficult (disrupted greater economy and led to boycotting British goods).
Currency act: attempt to standardise currency in colonies, colonies couldn't mint their own coins. Act
abolished all currency colonies created and converted them to sterling (Colonists angry).
Stamp Act and Townsend Revenue Act: opposition to Stamp Act united colonies (built up networks
and ways of organising themselves).
Boston Port Act/ Tea Act 10 May 1773: EIC had too much tea (men protested).
Intolerable Acts: Governments response to protest, Boston became opponent of British rule.
Introduction;
Cause of loss of 13 American colonies rooted in Britain's conflict with France.
Britain's need to fund conflict with France was frontal in policy choices.
For colonials: the introduction and nature of British taxation proved wholly acceptable.
1760s and 1770s: British attempt to alter economic relationship between colonies and Britain.
o Terms seemed necessary and sensible to British.
o Resulted in breakdown between countries.
Boston 1170: chaos as colonists rioted against British duties on imports to colonies.
o British stationed 600 troops in city from Sept 1768 to preserve peace but only made it worse.
o 22 Feb: man, loyal to British and avoided customs tax was surrounded.
He shot on crowd and killed 11-year-old boy (5,000 attended funeral).
o 5th March Boston Massacre: troops guarding Customs House fired into protesting Bostonians
(5 killed incl. Crispus Attucks - leader of protest).
Timeline;
1765 Stamp Act: tax on printed documents (considered 'utterly destructive of public
happiness').
1767 Townshend Duties on tea, lead, glass, paint, china and wine.
1770 5 March: Boston Massacre following weeks of unrest.
1772 Nov: first committee of Correspondence set up (suggestion of Sam Adams).
1773 May: Tea act allows EIC to trade directly with America rather than going through
London.
16 Dec: Boston Tea Party: patriots throw 342 chests (£10,000) in to sea in protest
against Tea Act.
1774 Coercive Acts introduced in response to Boston Tea Party.
Sept: Representatives of colonies meet in Philly in Continental Congress (response
to Coercive Acts).
1775 18 April: First shots of war fired between Lexington and Concord.
17 June: Battle of Bunker Hill.
1776 June: process of drawing up new constitution for new nation begins.
4 July: Declaration of Independence formally adopted by congress.
1777 Oct: Burgoyne's retreat to Saratoga following failure of campaign from Canada.
Nov: New Constitution approved by Congress.
1778 June: France declares war on Britain.
1779 June: Spain enters war as French ally.
1781 19 Oct: British surrender to Americans at Yorktown (ends war).
1783 3 Sept: Peace of Paris signed by Britain, USA, France, Spain and Holland.
Causes of the American Revolution;
Taxation without representation: colonies had no representation in parliament for taxing (denied a
basic right).
7 Years War: very expensive, had to find ways to make money other than land tax. (British people
didn't have to pay).
Sugar Act: took steps to enforce tax, sugar and molasses smuggled. Merchants angry that smuggling
got difficult (disrupted greater economy and led to boycotting British goods).
Currency act: attempt to standardise currency in colonies, colonies couldn't mint their own coins. Act
abolished all currency colonies created and converted them to sterling (Colonists angry).
Stamp Act and Townsend Revenue Act: opposition to Stamp Act united colonies (built up networks
and ways of organising themselves).
Boston Port Act/ Tea Act 10 May 1773: EIC had too much tea (men protested).
Intolerable Acts: Governments response to protest, Boston became opponent of British rule.
