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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
World History
Lecture - 04
18th Century (Part - 02)
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18th Century (Part - 02)
Causes of American Revolution
1. Policy of Mercantilism(Mercantilism exploitation):
Mercantilism was a colonial policy that was the primary cause of American resentment.
It was the economic doctrine between the 16th and 18th centuries.
According to this doctrine, a nation should accumulate wealth in the form of precious metals i.e. gold or
silver, etc. by encouraging export and discouraging import.
According to this doctrine colonies existed to serve the mother country. Therefore the policy of
mercantilism was one-sided and exploitative.
By this policy they wanted to subordinate the colonial economy.
They passed the Navigation Act of 1651 to promote their own shipping industry at the cost of American
industry.
They also discouraged the growth of capitalism and industry in America.
2. Development in Colonies (Maturity and Enlightenment in American Colonies):
In the 18th century, American colonies (Total of 13) were a “nation in making”.
The people living there were enlightened and mature.
They had made great progress towards self-government.
Now they (people who migrated there) had no love for their mother country.
They came under the influence of enlightened thinkers.
They started to demand Freedom, Liberty, and Equality.
They also started to appreciate the Separation of Power, a Democratic form of Government, etc.
3. Role of Seven Year War (1756-1763):
The British defeated France in the Seven Year War.
This war had cost a lot of money to Britain and after the end of this war they decided to make up for the
cost of the war by taxing the people in the British colonies in America.
They passed many acts under the Granville Measures: like the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Quartering
Act; The idea was to collect maximum from these colonies and to enforce their regulation strictly.
Because of these kinds of strict policies, protests started and Americans gave the slogan “No Taxation
Without Representation”.
Many political organizations were now started to form in American colonies like “Sons of Liberty”,
and” Daughters of Liberty” but tax continued like Townshend Measures.
4. Failure of the Policy of Lord North:
English Prime Minister Lord North adopted some measures to reconcile the colonies.
He offered to remove the taxes, but he wanted to assert his rights to tax, which was not acceptable to the
colonies.
5. Boston Tea Party 1773:
In Boston, a few Americans under the guidance of Samual Adams boarded the ship dressed as American
Indians and they threw away the boxes of tea into the sea.
This act was considered a lawless act and the British passed an intolerable act.
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6. Failure of Philadelphia Congress in 1774:
In 1774, in the first continental congress in Philadelphia, representatives of the colonies except Georgia
met and declared their rights.
They sent a petition to the British king but the petition was rejected by the British king.
Now the colonies started military preparation and, in 1775, the war started between the colonies and the
British at different places like the Battle of Lexington, the Battle of Concord, and the Battle of Bunker
Hills, etc.
There was a Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
They decided to make George Washington their commander-in-chief.
They finally adopted a declaration of independence which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776.
Gradually there was French help they started winning the battles.
The greatest victory was the Battle of Saratoga (1777).
Finally in 1781, the British surrendered at Yorktown and they recognized the independence of America
in 1783.
Significance/Impact of the American Revolution:
It was a great blow to the invincible image of Great Britain.
It was an attack on the policy of Mercantilism.
America emerged as a model country.
The tradition of a written Constitution started from the American Revolution.
Now there was a Federation.
The process of decolonization started and it acted as a great source of motivation for many colonial countries.
It gave impetus to capitalism and industrial progress.
It influenced the French Revolution.
This revolution popularized ideas like Fundamental Rights, Liberty, Nationalism, and Equality.
Now America started emerging as a strong nation. Later, it played a very decisive role in world history after
100 years.
This was the first successful implementation of the idea of Enlightenment.
