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U.S. History

Chapter 5

The Colonial Crisis: 1750–1775

Book Version 23
By Boundless
Boundless U.S. History
U.S. History
by Boundless
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Section 1
The Seven Years' War: 1754-1763
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The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was fought between the colonies of Great Britain and New France, supported by American Indian allies on both sides.

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The Albany Congress and the Intercolonial Defense

The Albany Congress brought together colonial representatives to discuss relations with American Indian tribes and common defense against the French.

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The War and Its Consequences

The Seven Years' War changed relations between the European powers, their colonies and colonists, and the American Indians in North America.

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Pontiac's Uprising

British expansion into American Indian land after the French and Indian War led to resistance in the form of Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763. 

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The Western Lands

Following the French and Indian War, the colonial desire to expand westward was met with resistance from American Indians.

Section 2
An Empire of "Freedom"
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Blue Water Imperialism

The dominant 17th- and 18th-century British ideology of blue water imperialism was founded on the values of commerce and freedom—for some.

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The Concept of Civic Duty

After the Glorious Revolution, British and Anglo-American intellectuals contended that (white) men had inalienable rights to liberty and property.

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Classical Liberalism

Classical liberalism is a political philosophy committed to limited government, the rule of law, individual liberties, and free markets.

Section 3
The Political Climate of the Colonies
Voting in the Colonies

Free white males in the British colonies in North America were expected to vote and participate in political matters.

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Colonial Government

In the colonies, governance was primarily conducted at the local level, with local white male populations participating extensively in politics.

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Freedom of Expression and its Limits

Despite the restrictive nature of early colonial laws, the ideas of freedom of speech and expression emerged steadily over time.

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The American Enlightenment

The American Enlightenment was an era of prolific discourse in which Anglo-American intellectuals studied human nature, society, and religion.

Section 4
The Acts of Parliament
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The Acts of Parliament

The Quartering Acts ordered the local governments of the American colonies to provide housing and provisions for British soldiers.

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The Sugar and Stamp Acts

The Sugar and Stamp Acts of 1764 and 1765, intended to raise revenue in Great Britain, led to increased resistance from the colonies.

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Swelling Protest

The passage of the Stamp Act in the colonies was followed by a marked rise of organized protest movements and groups, including the Sons of Liberty.

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The Townshend Acts

Enforcement of colonial taxation in the form of the Townshend Acts only increased colonial tension and resistance, especially in Boston.

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The Boston Massacre and Military Occupation

The Boston Massacre was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which nine British Army soldiers killed five colonial civilian men.

Section 5
The Tea Party and the Coercive Acts: 1770-1774
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The Calm Before the Storm

The Tea Act of 1773 arose from the financial problems of the British East India Company and the dispute of Parliament's authority over the colonies.

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The Boston Tea Party

In response to the British Tea Act of 1773, the Sons of Liberty took action in what would later be known as the Boston Tea Party.

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The Coercive Acts

The Coercive Acts were meant to reverse the trend of colonial resistance but actually provoked higher levels of resistance.

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The First Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress was a convention of 12 colonial delegates that met on September 5, 1774, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Section 6
Armed Conflict Begins
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Lexington and Concord

A British attempt to seize military stores in Lexington and Concord led to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.

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The Battle of Bunker Hill

The Battle of Bunker Hill, though technically a loss for the Continental Army, signified the relative strength of the colonial forces.

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Fort Ticonderoga

The capture of Fort Ticonderoga allowed colonial forces to transport much-needed artillery to Boston and eventually break Britain's year-long siege.

Section 7
Conclusion: The Consequences of the British Parliamentary Acts
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Conclusion: The Consequences of the British Parliamentary Acts

A series of Parliamentary Acts from 1763–1774 contributed to rising colonial unrest, culminating in the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

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Chapter 4
Expansion of the Colonies: 1650–1750
  • English Administration of the Colonies
  • Self-Government in the Colonies
  • Early Conflicts
  • The Growth of the Colonies
  • Social Class in the Colonies
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Chapter 5
The Colonial Crisis: 1750–1775
  • The Seven Years' War: 1754-1763
  • An Empire of "Freedom"
  • The Political Climate of the Colonies
  • The Acts of Parliament
  • The Tea Party and the Coercive Acts: 1770-1774
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The American Revolution: 1775–1783
  • The Second Continental Congress
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