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Stamp Act was repealed by Parliament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…”