PRECONDITIONS

The Road to the Revolution

“What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760 - 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.”

John Adams August 24, 1815

Question: Explain in your own words what Adams is saying in this passage.

Benjamin Rush

Consider Benjamin Rush’s attitude in this diary entry. What emotions are displayed?

How would you characterizeRush’s behavior?

The Road to the Revolution

In many ways, the American Revolution was unpredicted

Colonists were the most loyal subjects to the British Crown

Colonists were immensely proud to be British

Reluctant Revolutionaries

Underlying Strains

Salutary Neglect

The Enlightenment

The Great Awakening

Salutary Neglect

Britain passed few laws to govern the colonies Remain loyal to Britain Trade only with Britain (Mercantilism)

The Colonies left on their own to develop Benefitted both Britain and the colonies

The Enlightenment

Movement built on Reason Shed superstition in the face of Reason and logic Embrace science rather than tradition Applied reason to ideas of government (Locke)

The Great Awakening

1740s were a period of religious revivalNew religions sproutedStressed ‘democratic’ ministryStressed looking out for one’s neighbors

The French and Indian War

Brought out the strains in the relationshipSeven year war against the French and their

alliesEnded in a British victory

Britain took all of Canada from France Britain took control of North America east of the

Mississippi

However,

Doubled the British DebtRemoved the French from North AmericaGave Britain a world

empire to control

Helped create trouble

Parliament felt colonies had to be kept in lineConcerns arose over conflict between

colonists and Native AmericansBritain had to pay down its debt