Download - The Coming of Independence
The Coming of Independence
Britain’s Policies The colonies were controlled through the
Privy Council and Board of Trade For practical purposes, they had enjoyed
large amounts of self government A sort of federal system emerged George III was more aggressive towards
the colonies• Through taxes• “Taxation without representation”
Colonial cooperation was not a new feature
George III
Early Attempts at Unity New England
Confederation• Hatched in 1643• Massachusetts Bay,
Plymouth, New Haven, Connecticut
• Primary function was protection from Native Americans
• Disbanded in 1684
William Penn’s Plan• More of an idea than
an actual plan• Proposed in 1696• Wanted cooperation
in: Trade Defense Criminal Proceedings
• Nothing ever came of this “plan”
William Penn
The Albany Plan Had been a large problem with French and
Native American Attacks At a meeting in 1754 Ben Franklin proposed
a revolutionary idea Wanted a “congress” of delegates from each
of the colonies The congress would have the power to:
• Raise an army and navy• Make war/peace with Native Americans• Power of the purse
The King rejected the idea
Ben Franklin
The Stamp Act (and Congress) The Stamp Act of 1765
angered the colonists (Why?)
Colonists from nine colonies sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress
They prepared the Declaration of Rights and Grievances
Stamp Act was repealed by Parliament
The Boston Massacre Colonists had been
protesting and boycotting English goods
A crowd gathered in Boston on March 5, 1770
British troops fired on the growing mob
Five were killed
Continued Protests Committees of
Correspondence Formed in 1772 by
Sam Adams Allowed colonists
(Patriots) to meet and compare notes
Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773 Was a response to
the Tea Act Dumped 300+
crates of tea into the harbor
Intolerable Acts Parliament passed a series of acts in
retaliation for the Boston Tea Party (Spring of 1774)• Boston Port Act • Massachusetts Government Act• Administration of Justice Act• Quartering Act• Quebec Act
This sparks the First Continental Congress to meet
First Continental Congress The political heavyweights of the day
are going to meet in Philly on September 5, 1774
They meet for nearly two months Sent more grievances to George III Wanted to boycott English goods until
all of the taxes and regulations were lifted
Eventually, all legislatures will support this first congress
First Continental Congress
The Shot Heard Round The World Nothing had changes
for the colonists On April 19th, 1775, the
Revolutionary War starts
Britain and the “Minutemen” meet at Lexington
The first shot is likely accidental but it starts something that will likely occur
The Second Continental Congress Formed on May 10, 1775 and will serve as the
government until March 1, 1781 Each of the colonies sent representatives Was called a “den of traitors” by the English
government It did the following things:
• Raised an army (lickety split)• Borrowed money• Established a monetary system• Bought war supplies• Negotiated with foreign entities
It was unicameral in nature and equal in representation
The Second Continental Congress
Declaration of Independence Richard Henry Lee was the first to propose
a total break with Britain A committee was formed to draft the
resolution• Franklin, Sherman, Adams, Livingston, Jefferson• Jefferson’s fingerprints are all over the final product
They agree to the split with England on July 2nd
On July 4th, they formally adopted the Declaration of Independence
“We Hold These Truths to be Self Evident…”