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MARIMUN2011 [email protected] 1
DAIS
HAMID SADR
Crisis Director
ABHINAV GUPTA
Assistant Crisis Director
DANIEL STYSIS
John Hancock, Chair
FELICIA MAZZARELLO
ViceChair
DEENA SMITH
Ambassador
DAEUN KIM
Ambassador
DEVANGI PATEL
Crisis Staff
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM YOUR CRISIS DIRECTOR
Deardelegates,
Iwishyou awarmwelcome toMarianopolis College and
theMariMUNconferenceof2011!Ihopethatyouarealllooking
forward to an exciting and intense Model United Nations
experienceatMariMUN2011.Forthiscrisiscommittee,wehave
chosentobeginthiscommitteeintheyear1775,atthebeginning
oftheSecondContinentalCongress.Researchanddebateofthis
topicwill bea greataddon towhateverknowledge you already
haveonthesubject.Numerousissuesareathand,butitwillbeup
to you delegates to determine the future of the American
colonies;theverycoloniesyouloveandrepresent.
Before continuing, a few introductions are in order. My
nameisHamidSadrandIwillbeyourcrisisdirector.IwasborninIran, and I am presently a second year science student at
Marianopolis. In addition to Model UN, I teach snowboarding
duringthewinterandImalifeguardduringthesummer.Working
bymy side are your knowledgeable, andhelpful assistant crisis
director,AbhinavGupta,andchair,DanielStysis.BeingaSelwyn
House graduate and now a second year Marianopolis student,
AbhinavhasbeenparticipatinginMUNconferencesfornumerous
years. His physique, presence and attitudemake him someone
youcannotmissbothinandoutofcommittee.DanielStysisisa
Marianopolisalumnus,nowstudyingatMcGillUniversitymajoringinHonorsPoliticalSciencewhiledoing2minorsinEconomicsand
Psychology. Daniels dedication and passion when it comes to
MUNmakehimanexceptionaladditiontotheteamandweare
gratefulthathehasreturnedtoMarianopolisonceagaintolenda
handinthisonceinalifetimeexperience.
>> Cont. page 2
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AllthreeofushaveeitherlearntthebeautyofModelUNorfurtherdevelopedthatalreadyexisting
enthusiasmatMarianopolis,andwehopethatitwillbenodifferentforyouatthisyearsMariMUN
conference.WhetherafirsttimeMUNeroranexperienceddelegate,youareinforaninteresting
adventure.Irecommendthatalldelegatesreadthebackgroundguideinitsentirety,asitgiveyoua
basicunderstandingoftheissueandthefocusofthiscommittee.However,donotleavethebackgroundguideasyouronlysourceofinformation:again,thisdocumentwillonlycoverthebasics
oftheSecondContinentalCongress.Furtherresearchwillalsoallowyoutounderstandhowtheissues
athandaffectyourcharacterinauniqueway.Andfinally,donotforgetthatthisisacrisiscommittee
andthatthingsdonotnecessarilyhavetofollowthepathofhistory.Italldependsonyou.
IhopeyouguysareasecstaticforMariMUN2011asIam!Goodluckwithyourpreparation,andIhope
toseeyouallinFebruary!
Yourstruly,
Seyed Hamid Sadr Ghayeni
CrisisDirector
WHAT DO I NEED TO PREPARE BEFORE MARIMUN ?
>Youwillhavetowritea position paperthatmustbesentto
[email protected] February 20th
atthelatest.
Thistextshouldbeabasicdescriptionofyourcharacterspointofview
ontheissueofwhetherindependencefromBritainisthebestsolutionto
helpthe13colonies.Keepinmindthatyouarenotonlyacharacter,but
alsoarepresentativeofacolony.
Thelengthofthetextisuptoyou:youcanwriteaparagraphorapage,
dependingonhowmuchyoufeelyouneedtoexplain.
>Researchingyourpositionpaperwillhelpyouunderstandyourcharacterandyourcolonysperspective.Theresearchdoesnothavetobeextremelyin
depthortimeconsuming;onceyoufeellikeyouhaveagoodunderstandingof
whoyouwillberepresentingandyouhavewrittenyourpositionpaper,youare
ready.
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Aletterfrom
JohnHancockColonial Delegates,
Ever since our forefathers departed for the New World, it seems that our birthright as
Englishmen has been lost. The fruits of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 have established a
constitutionalmonarchyinEngland,yetthesesameprivilegeshavenotspilledoverintotheBritish
colonies,economicallyandmilitarilydependentandpoliticallysubordinatetothemothercountry.1
WeremainunrepresentedintheBritishHouseofCommonsandsubjecttothemonarch'sprerogative
throughimperialofficers.
However, over a centuryand ahalf,a mixofissues ofpracticality, commercial conflict of
interest, puritan mentality, and the philosophical contributions of the Enlightenment built up
internal pressure for greater colonial selfgovernment. The child, in the imperial parentchild
relationship, isapproachingmaturityafteryears of rebellious teenageyears. Protestsand riots a
which were limited to the destruction of private property or tarring and feathering of customs
officers2intermittentlyeruptedinthecoloniesinresponsetoharshimperialpolicies.Forinstance,
unjustprosecutionofimperialofficers,forcefulmilitaryrecruitment,andarepressiveantismuggling
measureswereseldompassivelyacceptedbythecolonialdemos.3Tothedetrimentofadistantand
misunderstanding British authority, colonial legislatures having been gaining legitimacy and
demandingconstitutional recognition.
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DEFINITIONS
Glorious Revolution:TheoverthrowofKingJamesII,theendofmonarchicalabsolutismin
England,theestablishmentofparliamentarydemocracy,theintroductionofthefirsteverBillof
Rights,andthepoliticalalienationofRomanCatholics,distrustedbytrueProtestants.
Constitutional Monarchy:TheMonarchspowerisconstrainedbyaConstitution,anelectedand
representativelegislature,andstrictlyceremonialroles.
Puritan mentality:PureChristian(protestant),incontrasttotheCatholics
Enlightenment:anintellectualmovementofthe18thcentury,whichstressestheprimacyof
humanreasoninlegitimacyandauthority.
Colonial legislatures:ourlocalelectedassembliesrivalingthelegitimacyofParliamentinLondon.
Constitutional Recognition:ahopedforendtoourcoloniallegislaturessubordinationtotheKing
andthedistantParliament.
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TheendoftheSeven Years WarwiththeTreaty of Parisin1763marksthecatalyzingdentin
thedivergenceoftheimperialandourcolonialmentalities.Ononehand,Britainbecameimperially
conscious.AsBritainemergedtriumphant,itacquiredasenseofmission,andtheBritishParliament
usurped the renewed assertiveness, as evident in the Declaratory Act of 1766.4 With a depleted
treasuryandnew administrativeunitsacross the threeoceans, revenuewas necessary. Itwasonlyselfevidentthatthesecuredcolonies,ofyetgreaterstrategicimportance,wouldshareinthecostof
theimperialdebt.5Ontheotherhand,theoldercoloniesoftheeasternseaboardsawanopportunity
for less dependence. With the expulsion of the French from Canada and the inner possessions
betweentheAppalachiansandtheMississippiandtheSpanishfromFlorida,theoldercolonieswere
nolongerdependentonthemothercountryfordefenseand,despitetheroyallyguaranteedIndian
reservewestoftheAppalachians,westwardexpansionbecameapossibility.6Aroundthesametime,
theseaboardcolonieswerehittinga recession.7AsaresultoftheSugarActandtheCurrencyActof
1764, trade deficit with the mothercountry was growing; it became increasingly harder to
compensateforitthroughtheprofitable,yetillegal,tradewiththeenemy'scolonies. 8Inshort,the
victoryof1763reinforcedtheoppositionoftheinterestsofthecoloniesandthemothercountry.
Ina contextofdivergentselfperceptions and interest, it isunsurprising that imperialpolicy failed.
Insteadofreestablishingthecolonials'rightandprivilegesasEnglishmenandentrenchingthecolonial
systemintheconstitution,theunrepresentativeParliamenttriedactafteracttosecurerevenuefrom
the colonies. TheStamp Act of 1765, theTownshends Act of 1768, theTea Act of 1773, and the
Coercive Actsof1774outlinenotonlytheuncompromisingassertivenessanduncreative9policyofthe
British Parliament to unilaterally introduce taxes and customs duties, but equally the
institutionalizationofthecolonialopposition.
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DEFINITIONS
Seven Years War (1756 1763):globalcolonialwarbetweenBritain,France,andSpainwhich
SpainandFranceoutofContinentalNorthAmerica.
Treaty of Paris (1763):concessionofFrenchandSpanishNorthAmericanpossessiontoBritainasa
resultofBritishtriumph.
Declaratory Act of 1766:Parliament'sauthorityisthesameinAmericaasinBritainandasserts
Parliament'sauthoritytomakebindinglawsontheAmericancolonies.
Trade deficit:payingmoreforimportsthanreceivingforexport,losingcurrency.
Stamp Act of 1765:adirecttaximposedbytheParliamentspecificallyonthecoloniesofBritish
America.Theactrequiredthatmanyprintedmaterialsinthecoloniesbeproducedonstamped
paperproducedinLondonandcarryinganapprovedimperialrevenuestamp.Townshends Act of 1768:aseriesoflawsintroducingtaxesinthecoloniesinordertopayforthe
salariesofimperialofficers(judgesandgovernors)astoseparatethemfromtheiraccountabilityto
colonialassemblies.TheseleadtothebraveresistanceofthepeopleofBoston,themilitary
occupationofBostonin1768andtheBostonMassacreof1770.
Tea Act of 1773:alawguaranteeingthemonopolyoftheEastIndiaCompanyoverteatradeinall
Britishcolonies.
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WiththeStampAct,theassociationoftheSons of LibertyandCorrespondenceCommittees
were born in order to coordinate transcolonial resistance and intimidation of customs officers;
however,afterthepromptrepealoftheAct,theassociationdisbanded. 10Later,inresponsetothe
TownshendsAct,thenonimportationagreementnecessitatedmoreorganizationasstoreshadtobe
inspectedandcitizensshamedintoparticipatingintheboycottoflistedgoods. 9FollowingtheTea
Act,colonialresistancematerializedintodirectaction,andtheBostonTeaParty,whichrepresenteda
losswith15,000totheEastIndiaCompany,11ensued.Thisdestructionoflargeamountsofproperty
resultedinastrictandharshreprisalbytheParliament,corruptedbythelobbyingeffortsoftheEast
India Company and ignorant of us, its abandoned North American subjects. The Coercive Acts
broughton theinstitutionalculminationofourefforts.It isinresponsetothesetyrannicalmeasuresthattwelvesistercoloniesconvenedintheFirst Continental Congressin1774yearofourLord,and
theinstitutionofourContinentalawarenesswasborn.
UnitedinadeterminationtoshowacombinedauthoritytoGreatBritain,twelvecoloniesmet
inCarpenter'sHallinPhiladelphiatodiscusssolutionstoanescalatingcrisiswithourmothercountry.
InlightoftherecentnatureoftheseeventsintheFirstContinentalCongress,youmustbeversedin
the divisions, interests, debate, and accomplishments achieved therein. First of all, the moderate
approach, thePlan of the Union proposed by Joseph GallowayofPennsylvania, was discarded.12
Second,theDeclaration of Resolves,asummaryofabuses,grievances,andprinciples,wasaddressed
totheinhabitantsofthe twelve coloniesthemselves,theinhabitantsoftheProvince of Quebec,thepeople of the GreatBritain, and,most importantly, asa petition tohisMajesty KingGeorge III.13
Third, a haltof tradewithBritain,anAssociation of nonimportation, nonconsumption, andnon
exportation,wasagreedbyacompactofcoloniesandbeganonDecember1,1774yearofourLord.14
Finally,thedelegatesprovidedforaSecondContinentalCongresstomeetonMay10th,1775yearof
ourLord,andsentletterstootherpotentiallylikemindedcoloniesinNorthAmerica.
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Sons of Liberty:thefirsteverorganizedresponsetotheParliamentsoppressiveStampAct.
First Continental Congress (1774):aconventionof12coloniescoordinatingtheirresistancetotheCoerciveActs.
Plan of the Union:moderateplanforresistance,rejectedintheFirstContinentalCongress.
Declaration of Resolves:outlinedcolonialobjectionstothe
IntolerableActs,listedacolonialbillofrights,organizedaboycott
ofBritishgood,andprovidedadetailedlistofgrievances,
publishedasaddressestothepeopleofGreatBritain,thenew
colonyofQuebec,theAmericancolonies,and,asapetition,tohis
MajestyKingGeorgeIII.
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ItistothisSecond Continental Congresswhichyouareherebyhonorablyinvitedtoattend.
Therearegreatcontroversialmattersathand.First,aresponsetothefirst petitionisonitswayback
fromBritain,andourallegiancestothemothercountry,itsgovernmentalinstitution,andthekingare
uncertain.Second,asofApril191775yearofourLord,violentclashesat Lexington and Concordriskescalating into more open hostilities, especially as improvised militia armies are rising across
MassachusettswiththeintentionofresistingGeneral Gage'sinconspicuousmaneuvers.Forinstance,
popularrumorhasitthatEthanAllenandtheGreenMountainBoysareheadingtowardtheBritish
heldFortTiconderoga.Third,asoftheLord Dunmore's Warof1774yearofourLord,theagreements
separatingtheseaboardcoloniesandtheIndianreservesintheinteriorhavebeenbreakingdown.15
The Iroquois, the Delawares, the Shawnees, and theCherokees are yet undecidedwhether their
interestsbestliewiththecoloniesorEngland;nevertheless,colonialexpansion,landspeculation,and
influxoffrontiersmenareofgreatconcerntothesepeoples.Four,thecoloniesarematuringsocieties,
buttheyarelackinginmilitarytraining,supplies,andnavalpower;couldthediplomaticartofcolonial
leadersplayoffEuropean rivalries totheiradvantage?Finally,howfararethecolonieswillingtotake
theirstrugglewiththeirmothercountry?Isindependentstatehoodfeasibleorwillitconstitutesuchaviolationofnature'slawsthatthecolonieswilldescendintoanapocalypticnightmarethatwillforever
crushthestruggleforequalrightsoflife,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness?Howarewetoregain
ourlostrightsandprivilegesascitizensconstitutionallyprotectedagainsttyranny?
Lookingforwardtoconstructiveandinformeddeliberations,
PresidentoftheSecondContinentalCongress
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References:
1.Greene,P.Jack.Peripheries and the Center: Constitutional Development in the
Extended Polities of the British Empire and the United States, 1607 1788. Athens,Georgia:The
UniversityofGeorgiaPress,1986.Print.
2.Maier,Pauline.From Resistance To Revolution: Colonial Radicals and theDevelopment of American Opposition to Britain, 1756 1776..NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1972.
Print.
3.Maier,Pauline.From Resistance To Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the
Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1756 1776..NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1972.
Print.
4.Osgood,Herbert.TheAmericanRevolution.Causes and Consequences of the
American Revolution.Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.6577.
5.Gipson,H.Lawrence.TheAmericanRevolutionasanAftermathoftheGreatWar
fortheEmpire,17541763.Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.Esmond
Wright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.87102.6.Gipson,H.Lawrence.TheAmericanRevolutionasanAftermathoftheGreatWar
fortheEmpire,17541763.Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.Esmond
Wright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.87102.
7.Hacker,M.Louis.TheFirstAmericanRevolution.Causes and Consequences of the
American Revolution.Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.
114142.
8.Hacker,M.Louis.TheFirstAmericanRevolution.Causes and Consequences of the
American Revolution.Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.
114142.
9.Andrews,M.Charles.TheAmericanRevolution:AnInterpretation.Causes and
Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.7787.
10.Maier,Pauline.From Resistance To Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the
Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1756 1776..NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1972.
Print.
11.Schlesinger,M.Arthur.TheAmericanRevolutionReconsidered.Causes and
Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.
1966.103114.
12.Schlesinger,M.Arthur.TheAmericanRevolutionReconsidered.Causes and
Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.
1966.103114.13.Kindig,Thomas.Revolutionary War Timeline.IndependenceHallAssociation.July
4th,1995.Web.Dec.29th2010.
14.Kindig,Thomas.Revolutionary War Timeline.IndependenceHallAssociation.July
4th,1995.Web.Dec.29th2010.
15.Washburn,E.Wilcomb.Indians and the American Revolution.
Americanrevolution.org.Web.Dec.29th2010.
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DEFINITIONS
East India Company:EnglishJointstockcompany
Act of Quebec of 1774:actoftheParliamentofGreatBritainwhichexpandedtheterritoryofthe
ProvinceofQuebectoincludeterritorycovetedbythethirteencolonies
Magazine:locationwhereweaponryandammunitionarestored
Regular troops:anationspermanentarmedforces,whichremainunderarmsevenintimesof
peace
Militia:militaryforcecomposedofcivilians
GreenMountainBoys:militiafromNewHampshireandNewYork,leadbyEthanAllenasofthe
176os
Minutemen:militiathatcouldbedeployedrapidly;oneofthemosthighlytrainedandimportantforcesinthecoloniessquabbleswithGreatBritain
AlettertoJohnHancockfrom
PaulRevereMr. Hancock,As you read this, I am in Boston watching and warning the actions of the Regular troops. I have learned
much about them and their positions and I wanted to share this information with the colonial delegates. I
know that you will be present at the meeting at the Pennsylvania State House; therefore I have sent you
this message by safe courier in the hopes that it will be of some help to you and your fellow delegates.
Colonial Delegates,
InresponsetothedestructionoftheEast India CompanysteainBoston Harborfollowingthe
TeaActof1773,ParliamentpassedtheIntolerableActsandtheQuebecAct.Thelatterexpandsthe
territoryoftheProvince of Quebectoincludesomeofour territories.Infact,theGrand Ohio
Companyownedsomeoftheaforementionedlands.iWithindecisionamongstIndians,Idonotknow
iftheyareplanningfurtherexpansion.
OnthesamenoteswiththebehaviorofBostonianscontinuingthisway,rumorhaditiithat
GeneralThomasGagehadorderstoraidthemagazineatCharlestownandreturnitspowderto
Castle WilliamonCastle Island.iiiRumorsalsohaditthatRegular troopsweremobilizingtobe
preparedforactionthefollowingmorning.iv
HoweverallpartiesincludingGage,Brattle,andPhipshaddeniedsuchrumorsinBostonpapers;moreRegulartroopsarrivedinBoston.vMilitias,principally
Green Mountain Boys,formedspecializedgroupsofMinutemenandarrivedinBostonaswell.
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TheRegulartroopswereconcentratingaroundLexington and Concord,andcolonialmilitias
metthemthere.MoremagazinesIamhappytoreportthatwehavegiventheRegulartroopsheavy
losses.EthanAllendid,infact,leadtheremainingGreenMountainBoystoFort Ticonderoga.viIhave
notseenorheardofanyRegulartroopsdepartingforFortTiconderogasofar,howeverIknowthatitishighlyvaluablestrategically.viiIdonotknowifthereareanymoremagazinesthere,butIdoknow
thatLordDunmoreraidedanothermagazineintheColony of Virginia.viii
WiththeaidofsourcesatParliament,Iwasfortunatelyabletodeliverthemessageofthe
influxofRegulartroopstoMr.AdamsandMr.Hancock,andthankfully,theysafelyfledbeforeconflict
began.ixAdditionally,IreceivedfurtherinformationthatRegulartroopswereorderedtoarrestboth
Mr.AdamsandMr.Hancock.x
Thus,IbelievethattheRegularsaresendingmoretroops,andthecolonialdelegatesshould
notbelieveParliamentiftheystateotherwise.Also,Iwarnallcolonialdelegatestobecarefulafter
whatMr.AdamsandourcompanywentthroughtoescapeBoston.
With you through the night,
P.S. I included a map I collected to help you plan around the aforementioned events.
Fort Ticonderoga:18thcenturyFrenchfortunder
Americancontrol,inthestrategicallyimportantregion
whereLakeGeorgemeetsLakeChamplain>
Lord Dunmore:GovernorofVirginiawhodeclared
warontheShawneeandMingoIndiannations
Virginia:wealthiestofthethirteencolonies
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References:
iProcter,James,Alfred.The Ohio Company: Its Inner History.Pittsburgh:UniversityofPittsburgh
Press,1959.iiRichmond,RobertP.(1971).Powder Alarm 1774.Princeton:Auerbach.iiiIbid.ivIbid.vFischer,DavidHackett(1994).Paul Revere's Ride.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress.viSmith,JustinHarvey(1907).Our Struggle for the Fourteenth Colony: Canada, and the American
Revolution, Volume 1.NewYork:G.P.Putnam'sSons.viiRandall,WillardSterne(1990).Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor.NewYork:WilliamMorrow.viiiSelby,JohnE;Higginbotham,Don(2007).The Revolution in Virginia, 17751783.Williamsburg,VA:
ColonialWilliamsburg.ixTourtellot,ArthurB(1959).Lexington and Concord.NewYork:Norton.xIbid.
CourtesyoftheLibraryofCongress.
BOSTON
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Whathappenedatthe
1stContinentalCongress
CARPENTERS HALL, OCTOBER 26, 1774.
Briefrecordofeventsofthefirstmeetingofcolonialdelegatesincongress
DelegatesagreetoMr. Franklins proposaltomeetafterParliamentclosedthePortofBostoninresponsetothedestructionoftheEastIndiaCompanysteainBostonHarbor
Georgiadidnotsendanydelegatesbecausetheydidnotwanttoworsentheirconflict withRegular soldiersontheirborders
ThedelegatesfromPennsylvaniaandNewYorkargueforattemptingtoseekresolution withParliament
Alldelegatesagreeuponmorerightsforcolonies Delegatesargueaboutwhetherornotthisshouldbebywayoftheprinciple of Parity
repeateddialogueincludingtaxation without representation orbysevering tieswithboth
ParliamentandCongressinfearoflosinganydegreesoffreedomcoloniescurrentlypossessed
DelegatefromPennsylvaniaJoseph Gallowayproposeshis plan of UnionthatwouldestablishanAmericanParliamentthatwouldworkwiththeBritishParliament.Additionally,each
parliamentwouldhaveveto powerovereachothersproposals
GallowaysplanofUnionisnotreceivedwithanydegreeofconsensus Paul Revereenterswithnumerous statements from Massachusettspolitical figuresthatcall
formoreconfrontationalactionupontheirtreatmentbyParliament
Thesestatementsfurtherdividethedelegatesintheirpositions Congressbeginstoleantowardthesestatements,becomingknownastheSuffolk Resolves
i
CongressadoptsVirginiandelegatesproposalforContinental Association,establishingnon
importation,nonexportation,andnonconsumptionpolicies
Policiesshallbeenactedbycommitteesofpoliticalfiguresineachareaofthecoloniespresent Theywouldbeenactedbypublishingallinformationaboutmerchantswhodonotfollowthe
policiesandmarkingthemasenemies,removinganycontrabandin se,andpersuadebuyersto
becomesavers
CongressdraftsastatementofAmericancoloniesgrievancesaddressedtoKing George IIIinordertoemphasizethatAmerican colonies remain loyal to the King, however do not do so
to Parliamentifthesegrievancesarenotaddressed
Thedocumentisdraftedandradicalelementsareleftunedited(including,mostimportantly,trade control shifting to American colonies),andbecomesknownastheDeclaration of
Rights of Grievances
CongressmovestoresumethesessioninthefollowingSpringupontheresponsetotheaforementioneddocument.
Sources:Kindig,ThomasE."FirstContinentalCongress." Ushistory.org.IndependenceHallAssociation,04July1995.Web.
15Jan.2011..;"FirstContinentalCongress." United States
History.OnlineHighways.Web.15Jan.2011..
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Whatyouwillbediscussingatthe
2ndContinental
CongressThe Problem
InhabitantsoftheBritishcolonieshavebeenmistreatedbytheirmothercountry,Britain,forgenerations.
TheNorthAmericancoloniesfeelthattheyaremerelyasourceofincomefortheEnglish;theyarenotrepresentedinParliamentanddonotfeelthattheirnaturalrightsashumanbeingsarebeingrespected.Forexampletheyaretreatedunjustlybyimperialofficersandareforcedto
enrollinamilitarythatmanydonotbelievehastheirinterestinmind.
NorthAmericancolonistshavebeenmovedtoexpresstheirfrustrationwithEngland.Unfortunately,doinganyradicalactiononthepartofthecoloniesisdifficultbecausetheyare
economicallyandmilitarilydependantonBritain.
Nevertheless,theyhavebeguntospeakupanddemandthattheirvoicesbeheardbythedistantgovernmentofEngland.
Forthis,theAmericancolonieshavebeenlabeledasrebelsbyhismajesty,theKingGeorgeIIIhimself.
TheAmericanshavebeguntofeelthatthisisafightnotjustforrepresentationingovernment,butforfreedom.However,insuchafight,bloodshedwillbeinevitable.
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Discussion points
ApetitionhasbeensenttoEnglandandtheresponseisonitswaybacktoAmerica. Withalltheturmoilinthethirteencoloniesrelationshipwiththeirmothercountry,alotoftalk
anddiscussionofindependencehasarisen;mostofthisoccursbehindcloseddoorsoutoffear
oftreasonfromloyaliststotheCrown.
Manyofthecoloniesbelievethatdiplomaticmeans,asopposedtofullfledgedwarfare,providesagreaterchanceofsuccessinachievingindependenceifindependenceisthe
solutionatall.Theyunderstandthattheyhavebarelyenoughmoneytofundtheirarmy;one
mustconsiderthehighcostsofhousing,food,arms,andtraining.Delegatesmustnottake
lightlythethreatofthemightyEnglisharmy.Diplomaticnegotiationswillmostlikelyendin
fewercasualties,butwilltheprivilegesofcitizenshipeverbegrantedtothemiftheywishto
stayunderthewingofthemothercountry?
Whatsmore,manybelievethatafriendlyrelationshipwithEnglandcouldproveitselfadvantageousinthefuture,sinceEnglandisoneoftheworldsmostpowerfulnations.
Atthemoment,thereisalreadybloodbeingsplatteredatLexington,andsomethingshouldbedonetobothminimizethecasualtiesandtohelpthefellowcolonists.
Furthermore,theIndianAmericancommunityisneitherontheBritishorAmericansideofthisdebate.Ifthingsweretoturnintowidespreadbattle,IndianAmericansupportwouldbeof
greatusetotheAmericansiftheyfoughtsidebysidethemandofgreatdisadvantageifthe
Englishweretogaintheirtrustandfriendship.
Finally,iffurtherviolenceweretooccur,couldEuropeanrivalsofEnglandbeusedagainstthemothercountry?
Photo credits for this background guide:
MapofBostonArea:LibraryofCongress
ThePatriot:http://images.hollywood.com/site/ledger_patriot.jpg
JoinorDieposter:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xHxPbqohqSc/Se9DgKdDzdI/AAAAAAAAB34/9raFUyuc4mI/s400/join+or+die+news
antique+com.jpg
FortTiconderoga:http://www.berggreen.org/travel/blog_pictures/fort_ticonderoga_1.jpg
ContinentalArmy:https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0524/5b05e48555b49/5b05e48e8977c.jpg
DeclarationofIndependencebyJohnTrumbull:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Declaration_independence.jpg/600px
Declaration_independence.jpg