Major Problems in the Era of the American Revolution, 1760-1791 (Major Problems in American History Series)

548 Pages·2013·49.929 MB·English

by  Richard D. Brown (editor), Benjamin L. Carp (editor)

I
MAJOR PROBLEMS IN
AMERICAN k HISTORY
lOughtonMifflin
Major Problems in the Era
American
of the Revolution,
760-1 791
1
SECOND EDITION
DOCUMENTS AND ESSAYS EDITED
B\
RICHARD BROWN
D.
) ) )
Major Problems in American History Series
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Major Problems in the Era ofthe
U
American Revolution, I 760-1 7(
MAJOR PROBLEMS INAMERICANHISTORY SERIES
GENERAL EDITOR
THOMAS PATERSON
G.
Major Problems
Era
in the of the
American Revolution,
1760-1791
DOCUMENTS AND ESSAYS
SECOND DITION
I
EDIT1 I) VA
RICHARD BROWN
1).
r\i\ Rsrn oi onni ncui
i i i
HOI GH TON Mil FLINi OMPAOT
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Preface xiii
CHAPTER
1
Interpreting the American Revolution
Page 1
ESSAYS
BarbaraClarkSmith • The Revolution Preserved Social Inequality 4
Gordons. Wood • The Revolution Destroyed Monarch} and Paved the
Way for Democracy 8
E H. Breen • Boycotts Made the Revolution Radical 13
CHAPTER
2
Society and Politics on the Eve o) the Revoluti
Page27
DOCUMENTS
1. Venture Smith, a Connecticut slave-. Earns His I reedom, 1729- 1766
2. John Adams, a College Graduate, Views Rural Massachusetts, 1760 ^2
5. Anna Green Winslow, a Schoolgirl, I earns Ahmii (,m\\ Ing I p in
Boston, 1771 37
4. PhilipVickersFithian, aNevt Jersey tutor, AdmirestheTidewatei
Gentry, 1773 40
/ S S A Y S
JackP. Greene • ThePreconditionsoftheAmerican Revolution 17
RichardR Beeman • The! mergenceol Populaj Politics ,v)
CHAPTER
*
The British I mi
DO M V TS
I I /
i i i.mkIin, (•/ a/ Devise Albany PlanofColonial Union
2. Benjamin i rank1in Predicts the Plan ol i nion Will i all
'.. Ordei in ( ouncil on the Reform ol the ( ustoma § 6
l. Rev. rhomas Barnard i ooks lo i uturc Glories I
Vlll Contents
ESSAYS
FredAnderson • Friction Between Colonial Troops and British
Regulars 79
P. J. Marshall • Britain Defined by Its Empire 88
CHAPTER
4
British Reforms and ColonialResistance
Page98
DOCUMENTS
1. Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions, 1765 99
2. Governor Francis Bernard Describes the Boston Riot, 1765 100
3. The Declarations ofthe Stamp Act Congress, 1765 102
4. "William Pym" Asserts Parliamentary Supremacy, 1765 103
5. The House ofCommons Questions Benjamin Franklin, 1766 105
6. Lord Camden (Charles Pratt) Exhorts Parliament to Change Direction,
1766 110
7. Parliament Repeals the Stamp Act but Declares Its Authority,
1766 112
8. John Dickinson Exhorts the Colonists to Opposition, 1767-1768 113
9. Charleston Merchants Propose aPlan ofNonimportation, 1769 117
ESSAYS
EdmundS. andHelenM. Morgan • The Assertion ofParliamentary Control
and Its Significance 119
PaulineMaier • TheTownshend Acts and the Consolidation ofColonial
Resistance 128
CHAPTER
5
The Imperial Crisis: From the Tea Act to
the Declaration ofIndependence
Page138
DOCUMENTS
1. John Adams Reflects on the BostonTea Party, 1773 140
2. Parliament Debates the Coercive Acts, 1774 140
3. The Coercive Acts, 1774 143
4. Thomas Jefferson Asserts American Rights, 1774 146
5. Declaration and Resolves ofthe First Continental Congress, 1774 152
6. King George Proclaims America in Rebellion, 1775 154
7. Thomas Paine Calls for Common Sense, 1776 155
8. The Declaration ofIndependence, 1776 170