section 2-1 guide to reading when great britain attempted to exert tighter control over the american...
TRANSCRIPT
Guide to Reading
When Great Britain attempted to exert tighter control over the American colonies, the colonists, who were used to running their own affairs, resisted and eventually declared independence.
• mercantilism
Main Idea
Key Terms
• boycott • repeal • delegate
• independence
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Cause and Effect As you read, complete a chart like the one on page 33 of your textbook, and explain how the colonists responded to British actions.
• How did the British government try to tighten control over its American colonies?
Reading Strategy
Read to Learn
• How did American colonists resist and reject the British crackdown?
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Guide to Reading (cont.)
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Charles Thomson
Colonial Resistance and Rebellion • The British government began to tighten
its grip on the American colonies.
• George III adopted a policy of mercantilism, the theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys.
• Britain wanted to buy American raw materials at low prices and sell colonists British products at high prices.
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(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
Colonial Resistance and Rebellion (cont.)
• Britain won land in North America from France in the French and Indian War.
• To pay off war debts and cover the costs of ruling the new lands, Britain taxed the colonists.
• Colonists resented the taxes.
• They had no representatives in Parliament–“No taxation without representation.”
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(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
• In protest, many colonists decided to boycott, or refuse to buy, British goods.
• As a result, Parliament agreed to repeal, or cancel, the Stamp Tax and other taxes.
• However, Parliament soon replaced them with new taxes.
• Parliament’s Declaratory Act stated that it had the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies.
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Colonial Resistance and Rebellion (cont.)
(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
• The Townshend Acts taxed needed goods imported to the colonies.
• The colonists again boycotted.
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Colonial Resistance and Rebellion (cont.)
(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
• The Tea Act allowed the British East India Company to bypass colonial merchants and sell tea directly to shopkeepers at low prices.
• In response, colonists blocked all the company’s ships from colonial ports, except in Boston.
• There colonists dressed as Native Americans dumped the British tea into Boston Harbor–the Boston Tea Party.
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Colonial Resistance and Rebellion (cont.)
(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
• Parliament responded with the Coercive Acts, which restricted colonists’ rights.
Colonial Resistance and Rebellion (cont.)
(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
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What name did the colonists give to the Coercive Acts, and why?
The colonists called the Coercive Acts the “Intolerable Acts” because these laws restricted the colonists’ rights, including the right to trial by jury. The laws also allowed British soldiers to search, and even move into, colonists’ homes.
Colonial Resistance and Rebellion (cont.)
(pages 33–35)(pages 33–35)
Movement Toward Independence • The colonies sent delegates, or
representatives, to a meeting in Philadelphia known as the First Continental Congress.
• They demanded that King George III restore their rights. The king responded with force.
• The Revolutionary War began with battles at Lexington and Concord.
• Colonists started to question their loyalty to Britain.
• They began talking about independence, or self-reliance and freedom from outside control.
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(pages 35–36)(pages 35–36)
Movement Toward Independence (cont.)
• At the Second Continental Congress, some delegates wanted independence.
• Others still felt loyal to Britain.
• Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense swayed public opinion toward independence.
• Finally, the Second Continental Congress agreed.
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(pages 35–36)(pages 35–36)
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Why did some members of the Second Continental Congress oppose independence?
Some believed the colonists could never win a war against Great Britain. Others were still loyal to their home country.
Movement Toward Independence (cont.)
(pages 35–36)(pages 35–36)
The Declaration of Independence • The Declaration of Independence, written
mostly by Thomas Jefferson, explained why the United States should be a free nation.
• It argued that the British government did not look after the interests of the colonists. It listed many abuses by the king.
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(pages 36–38)(pages 36–38)
The Declaration of Independence (cont.)
• The Declaration said that the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the people.
• Government is based on consent of the people.
• If it disregards their rights or their will, the people are entitled to change or overthrow it.
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(pages 36–38)(pages 36–38)
• These ideas were influenced by philosopher John Locke.
• He saw government as a contract between the people and the rulers.
• The people agree to give up some freedoms and abide by government decisions.
• In return, the government promises to protect them and their liberty.
• If it misuses its power, the people should rebel.
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The Declaration of Independence (cont.)
(pages 36–38)(pages 36–38)
• The Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776.
• True freedom arrived when Britain officially recognized the United States at the war’s end.
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The Declaration of Independence (cont.)
(pages 36–38)(pages 36–38)
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What are some ideas that the authors of the Declaration of Independence adopted from the writing of John Locke?
The Declaration included Locke’s ideas that government is based on the consent of the people, the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the people, and if it does not fulfill this purpose, the people have a right to overthrow it. The Declaration also included Locke’s idea that all people should equally enjoy the rights of life, liberty, and property.
The Declaration of Independence (cont.)
(pages 36–38)(pages 36–38)
Checking for Understanding
__ 1. to cancel a law
__ 2. the refusal to purchase certain goods
__ 3. self-reliance and freedom from outside control
__ 4. a representative to a meeting
A. boycott
B. repeal
C. delegate
D. independence
Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left.
A
D
B
C
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Checking for Understanding (cont.)
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Explain Why did Great Britain raise taxes on the American colonists after 1763? What effect did this have on the colonists?
The taxes were to pay debts from war with France and to cover the costs of governing territory. The colonists refused to buy British goods in response to the new taxes.
Checking for Understanding (cont.)
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Identify What British legislation prompted colonists to hold the First Continental Congress?
The Intolerable Acts prompted colonists to hold the First Continental Congress.
Critical Thinking
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Making Inferences Assume the role of a British government official in 1774, and write a press release explaining why the Coercive Acts were necessary.
Possible answer: The British government wanted to be able to control the colonists and force them to abide by its laws.
Analyzing Visuals
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Interpret Reexamine the political cartoon on page 38 of your textbook. What do the labels or initials represent?
The labels represent the colonies.
CloseDo you think the American colonists did all they could to prevent war with Great Britain?