British Actions and British Actions and Colonial ReactionsColonial Reactions

1765 – 17751765 – 1775

1765 – Stamp Act1765 – Stamp Act

British ActionBritish Action

Britain passes the Britain passes the Stamp Act, a tax Stamp Act, a tax law requiring law requiring colonists to colonists to purchase special purchase special stamped paper for stamped paper for printed items.printed items.

American newspapers reacted to the Stamp Act with anger and predictions of the demise of journalism.

1765 – Stamp Act1765 – Stamp Act

Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction

Colonists harass Colonists harass stamp distributors, stamp distributors, boycott British boycott British goods, and prepare goods, and prepare a Declaration of a Declaration of Rights and Rights and Grievances.Grievances.

British Reaction to Colonial ProtestsBritish Reaction to Colonial Protests

March 1766 –March 1766 –

Parliament repeals Stamp Act, butParliament repeals Stamp Act, but

issues Declaratory Act.issues Declaratory Act.

1767 – Townshend Acts1767 – Townshend Acts

British ActionBritish Action

Britain taxes certain Britain taxes certain colonial imports colonial imports and stations troops and stations troops at major colonial at major colonial ports to protect ports to protect customs officers.customs officers. The Repeal - Or the Funeral Procession, of

Miss Americ-Stamp, 1766. This cartoon shows the British ministers mourning the repeal of the Stamp Act. Courtesy Francis G. Walett, Patriots, Loyalists & Printers. American Antiquarian Society (Worcester, 1976), 21.

1767 – Townshend Acts1767 – Townshend Acts

Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction

Colonists protest Colonists protest “taxation without “taxation without representation” and representation” and organize new organize new boycott of imported boycott of imported goods.goods.

British Reaction to Colonial ProtestsBritish Reaction to Colonial Protests

British enforce the act and station British enforce the act and station 4,000 troops in Boston to curb the 4,000 troops in Boston to curb the violence against customs agents.violence against customs agents.

1770 – Boston Massacre1770 – Boston Massacre

British ActionBritish Action

British troops British troops stationed in Boston stationed in Boston are taunted by an are taunted by an angry mob. The angry mob. The troops fire into the troops fire into the crowd, killing five crowd, killing five men.men.

1770 – Boston Massacre1770 – Boston Massacre

Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction

Colonial agitators label Colonial agitators label the conflict a the conflict a “massacre” and “massacre” and publish a dramatic publish a dramatic engraving depicting engraving depicting the violence.the violence.

"The Bloody Massacre" engraving by Paul Revere appeared in the Boston Gazette and was sold as a poster.

British Reaction to Colonial ProtestsBritish Reaction to Colonial Protests

Parliament repeals the Townshend Parliament repeals the Townshend Acts, except for the tax on tea.Acts, except for the tax on tea.

1773 – Tea Act1773 – Tea Act

British ActionBritish Action

Britain gives the East Britain gives the East India Company India Company special special concessions in the concessions in the colonial tea colonial tea business and shuts business and shuts out colonial tea out colonial tea merchants.merchants.

1773 – Tea Act1773 – Tea Act

Colonial ReactionColonial Reaction

Colonists in Boston Colonists in Boston rebel, dumping rebel, dumping 15,000 pounds of 15,000 pounds of East India Company East India Company tea into Boston tea into Boston Harbor.Harbor.

British Reaction to Colonial ProtestsBritish Reaction to Colonial Protests

Parliament passes the Intolerable Acts Parliament passes the Intolerable Acts in 1774.in 1774.

1774 – Intolerable Acts1774 – Intolerable Acts

British ActionBritish Action

King George tightens King George tightens control over control over Massachusetts by Massachusetts by closing Boston closing Boston Harbor and Harbor and quartering troops.quartering troops.

General Thomas Gage, commander in chief of British forces in North America, was appointed the governor of Massachusetts.

1774 – Intolerable Acts1774 – Intolerable ActsColonial ReactionColonial Reaction

Colonial leaders form Colonial leaders form the First Continental the First Continental Congress and draw Congress and draw up a declaration of up a declaration of colonial rights. colonial rights. Colonists also step Colonists also step up military up military preparations.preparations.

1775 – Lexington and Concord1775 – Lexington and Concord

British ActionBritish Action

General Gage orders General Gage orders troops to march to troops to march to Concord, MA, and Concord, MA, and seize colonial seize colonial weapons.weapons.

1775 – Lexington and Concord1775 – Lexington and ConcordColonial ReactionColonial Reaction

Minutemen Minutemen intercept the British intercept the British and engage in and engage in battle – first at battle – first at Lexington, and then Lexington, and then at Concord.at Concord.

The Second Continental The Second Continental CongressCongress

The Atmosphere at the MeetingThe Atmosphere at the Meeting

Some delegates were militant radicalsSome delegates were militant radicals– Colonies declare independenceColonies declare independence– Establish a Continental Army and name a general to Establish a Continental Army and name a general to

lead themlead them– (ex. John Adams)(ex. John Adams)

Others were more moderateOthers were more moderate– (ex. John Dickinson wanted peaceful reconciliation)(ex. John Dickinson wanted peaceful reconciliation)

Problem remains: militia still camped around Problem remains: militia still camped around BostonBoston

Olive Branch PetitionOlive Branch PetitionColonies state loyalty to the KingColonies state loyalty to the King

Ask for His help in ending the conflictAsk for His help in ending the conflict

King George III proclaims the Colonies in a state of King George III proclaims the Colonies in a state of rebellion and hires mercenaries, also blockades the rebellion and hires mercenaries, also blockades the American coast.American coast.

Other Measures by the Other Measures by the Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress

Second Continental Congress (May 1775)Second Continental Congress (May 1775) Called Washington to head colonial armyCalled Washington to head colonial army While not a military genius (he lost more battles than While not a military genius (he lost more battles than he won), he was trusted implicitly by his soldiers. he won), he was trusted implicitly by his soldiers.

He refused to be paid, though his records indicate He refused to be paid, though his records indicate expenses of over $100,000.expenses of over $100,000.

Shrewd political choice by Congress: Virginian, Shrewd political choice by Congress: Virginian, wealthy, aristocratic, above reproachwealthy, aristocratic, above reproach

Other Congressional MeasuresOther Congressional Measures

Began printing Began printing paper $ to pay paper $ to pay soldierssoldiers

Organized a Organized a committee to committee to deal with deal with foreign nationsforeign nations

Following Bunker Hill (costly victory for British), King Following Bunker Hill (costly victory for British), King George III proclaimed colonies in rebellion and hired Hessians George III proclaimed colonies in rebellion and hired Hessians to crush rebels.to crush rebels.

Thomas Paine published Thomas Paine published Common SenseCommon Sense, a pamphlet , a pamphlet

selling 120,000 copies.selling 120,000 copies. – Appealed to natural law ("an island should not rule a continent") Appealed to natural law ("an island should not rule a continent")

– King George was brutish and undeserving of colonials' respect King George was brutish and undeserving of colonials' respect

– America had a moral obligation to the world to be independent America had a moral obligation to the world to be independent and democraticand democratic

Second Continental Congress declared independence Second Continental Congress declared independence

July 2, 1776.July 2, 1776. – Jefferson headed the committee drafting the written Jefferson headed the committee drafting the written

statement. Arguments were based on John Locke's contract statement. Arguments were based on John Locke's contract

theory of governmenttheory of government::All people have natural rights ("Life, liberty, and the pursuit of All people have natural rights ("Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness")happiness")

When a government abuses rights, the people have a right to "alter When a government abuses rights, the people have a right to "alter or abolish" it or abolish" it

King George has acted tyrannically. Long list of wrongs done by King George has acted tyrannically. Long list of wrongs done by King to colonists. King to colonists.

The colonies are independent.The colonies are independent.

– Declaration gave a clear position for rebellious colonists, forcing Declaration gave a clear position for rebellious colonists, forcing others to choose rebellion or declare as Loyalists. others to choose rebellion or declare as Loyalists.

Reactions to IndependenceReactions to Independence

Public celebrations and demonstrations rang out Public celebrations and demonstrations rang out through the colonies among the patriotsthrough the colonies among the patriots

The Women’s reactionThe Women’s reaction– Abigail Adams took care of her children and the business Abigail Adams took care of her children and the business

of the farmof the farm

– Supported independence, championed women’s rightsSupported independence, championed women’s rights

– “…“…Remember the ladies, and be more generous and Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to the them than your ancestors.”favorable to the them than your ancestors.”

Loyal Subjects to the King…..LoyalistsLoyal Subjects to the King…..Loyalists– Colonial Americans opposed to independenceColonial Americans opposed to independence

– Also known as Tories affiliated with the political party of Also known as Tories affiliated with the political party of Lord NorthLord North

– Attacks made on loyalists in the coloniesAttacks made on loyalists in the colonies

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Created by the 2Created by the 2ndnd Continental Congress in 1777, but not Continental Congress in 1777, but not approved by the states until 1781approved by the states until 1781

Congress was dominant force, but it was weakened by rulesCongress was dominant force, but it was weakened by rules– All bills required 2/3 vote for passageAll bills required 2/3 vote for passage

– Any amendment tot eh Articles required an unanimous voteAny amendment tot eh Articles required an unanimous vote

– Each state had 1 vote regardless of its population or number of Each state had 1 vote regardless of its population or number of representatives in congressrepresentatives in congress

– No power to regulate commerce (trade)No power to regulate commerce (trade)

– No tax enforcement power (states paid taxes voluntarily)No tax enforcement power (states paid taxes voluntarily)

The Congress was weak while the states remained strong The Congress was weak while the states remained strong politicallypolitically

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris

American negotiators (Franklin, Jay, John Adams) sought to American negotiators (Franklin, Jay, John Adams) sought to advance American interests in lengthy negotiationsadvance American interests in lengthy negotiations

– Original demands were for independence, large territorial Original demands were for independence, large territorial concessions (Franklin wanted all of Canada), and fishing concessions (Franklin wanted all of Canada), and fishing rights in North Atlantic.rights in North Atlantic.

– Americans feared the French and Spanish would bargain Americans feared the French and Spanish would bargain with British at the expense of the U.S.with British at the expense of the U.S.

– Ignoring the instructions of Congress, they made a Ignoring the instructions of Congress, they made a separate peace with the British before full negotiations took separate peace with the British before full negotiations took place.place.

Major provisions Major provisions – Britain formally recognized independence of U.S.Britain formally recognized independence of U.S.– Boundaries set from Great Lakes on the North to the Boundaries set from Great Lakes on the North to the

Mississippi River on the West to Florida on the South. No Mississippi River on the West to Florida on the South. No access to the Gulf of Mexicoaccess to the Gulf of Mexico

– No further persecution of Loyalists and restitution for No further persecution of Loyalists and restitution for confiscated property "recommended" to states.confiscated property "recommended" to states.

– Fishing access for Americans in waters off East CanadaFishing access for Americans in waters off East Canada– No reference to ending slave trade, an original goal of the No reference to ending slave trade, an original goal of the

AmericansAmericans

The follow throughThe follow through– British did recognize American Independence; however British did recognize American Independence; however

they gave little respect to the US. The same from Alliesthey gave little respect to the US. The same from Allies

– We had no access to the Gulf of MexicoWe had no access to the Gulf of Mexico

– British troops continued to occupy outposts and forts in the British troops continued to occupy outposts and forts in the (old) Northwest Territory (Ohio Country)(old) Northwest Territory (Ohio Country)

– Congress never gave any restitution to Loyalists, some Congress never gave any restitution to Loyalists, some 80,000 fled to Nova Scotia, Eastern Canada and England80,000 fled to Nova Scotia, Eastern Canada and England

– Many states forbade slavery in their state constitutions but Many states forbade slavery in their state constitutions but continued to thrive in the agricultural South. Eventually continued to thrive in the agricultural South. Eventually Britain would band slavery in its EmpireBritain would band slavery in its Empire