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→Republicanism as the cause of the Revolution
The [[Seven Years War]] ended in British victory in 1763, and there were no foreign threats to the American colonies, nor any serious Indian threats. London wanted stifling controls on the colonial economy and on westward expansion. They insisted that the colonists new taxes, but refused to allow representation in Parliament. Britain was not asking the Americans to share the burden of warfare--they never asked the colonial legislatures for that. Instead they insisted that Parliament had every right to tax the colonists whether they liked it or not. Power was the issue. Ominously London sent thousands of regular army troops--was this to protect the colonists from nonexistent threats, or to protect the Royal officials from the anger of the people?<ref> "Regular" means full-time, long-term soldiers, either British or Hessian (German) or American (the latter known as Continentals.) Contrast with "militia", who were temporary citizen-soldiers, commanded by state officers. After a battle the militia went home, and the regulars stayed in camp.</ref>
The [[Seven Years War]] ended in British victory in 1763, and there were no foreign threats to the American colonies, nor any serious Indian threats. London wanted stifling controls on the colonial economy and on westward expansion. They insisted that the colonists new taxes, but refused to allow representation in Parliament. Britain was not asking the Americans to share the burden of warfare--they never asked the colonial legislatures for that. Instead they insisted that Parliament had every right to tax the colonists whether they liked it or not. Power was the issue. Ominously London sent thousands of regular army troops--was this to protect the colonists from nonexistent threats, or to protect the Royal officials from the anger of the people?<ref> "Regular" means full-time, long-term soldiers, either British or Hessian (German) or American (the latter known as Continentals.) Contrast with "militia", who were temporary citizen-soldiers, commanded by state officers. After a battle the militia went home, and the regulars stayed in camp.</ref>
Nothing seemed more dangerous to the precious political liberties of the Americans than the sort of standing army Britain was forcing upon them. The colonists responded by setting up their own shadow government, including local committees and (beginning in 1774) a [[Continental Congress]]. The Empire thought it knew how to suppress rebellions--in 1715 and 1745 it had ruthlessly crushed the Highlanders in Scotland; in the 17th century it had taken control of Ireland in campaigns that killed thousands of Catholic rebels and left the Protestants in total domination.
Tensions came to a head in Massachusetts. In late 1773 at the [[Boston Tea Party]], patriots disguised as Indians dumped a shipment of tea into the harbor in protest. London officials were outraged and plotted to so weaken Massachusetts that it could never defy the Empire again. In early 1774 Parliament passed the Coercive Acts that imposed near martial law, closed the courts, ended local government, shut the port of Boston, and suspended traditional civil liberties and economic freedom. Congress denounced the Acts, called for boycotts of British goods, and recommended that the militias ready their weapons. Georgia became the 13th colony represented in the Congress; however, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, East Florida, West Florida and several island colonies in the Caribbean remained loyal. The French Catholics in Canada much preferred the tolerance of London to the anti-Catholic Yankees; they stayed loyal, as did the wealthy sugar planters who controlled the numerous West Indian colonies. East Florida, West Florida and Newfoundland were so small, so new, and so dominated by the British army and navy that they stayed loyal. Nova Scotia (just north of Maine) was the curious case. It had been settled largely by New England [[Yankees]], who favored Congress. Yet it was an isolated island, easily controlled by the Royal Navy from its powerful base in Halifax. Protests were put down, and the people stayed neutral, pouring their emotions into religious revival rather than revolution.
Tensions came to a head in Massachusetts. In late 1773 at the [[Boston Tea Party]], patriots disguised as Indians dumped a shipment of tea into the harbor in protest. London officials were outraged and plotted to so weaken Massachusetts that it could never defy the Empire again. In early 1774 Parliament passed the Coercive Acts that imposed near martial law, closed the courts, ended local government, shut the port of Boston, and suspended traditional civil liberties and economic freedom. Congress denounced the Acts, called for boycotts of British goods, and recommended that the militias ready their weapons. Georgia became the 13th colony represented in the Congress; however, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, East Florida, West Florida and several island colonies in the Caribbean remained loyal. The French Catholics in Canada much preferred the tolerance of London to the anti-Catholic Yankees; they stayed loyal, as did the wealthy sugar planters who controlled the numerous West Indian colonies. East Florida, West Florida and Newfoundland were so small, so new, and so dominated by the British army and navy that they stayed loyal. Nova Scotia (just north of Maine) was the curious case. It had been settled largely by New England [[Yankees]], who favored Congress. Yet it was an isolated island, easily controlled by the Royal Navy from its powerful base in Halifax. Protests were put down, and the people stayed neutral, pouring their emotions into religious revival rather than revolution.