Colonial Resistance & Rebellion Chapter 2 Section 1

Resistance begins  King George III tries to lower the British debt (from war) by taxing the colonists  To crack down on smuggling Parliament passed the Sugar Act Cut duties on molasses, put duties on other products, tried smugglers in different courts  Merchants & trades cry foul; Parliament has no right to tax Colonists didn’t elect the reps.

Boycotts  In 1765 the Stamp Act was passed; tax on documents & printed items (wills, newspapers, playing cards) All colonists effected  Colonists unite in Sons of Liberty to protest tax  Merchants agree to boycott British goods until act is repealed Works, tax repealed 1766

More taxes  Parliament continues to pass taxes  Townshend Acts in 1767; taxes imported goods Lead, glass, paint & paper. Also tax on tea  Samuel Adams & Sons of Liberty lead another boycott

Violence in Boston  1770 a mob of colonists taunt British troops outside customs office.  British fire on mob, 5 colonists killed; incident labeled as Boston Massacre  Townshend Acts prove too expensive to enforce & are repealed (except tea)

Rebellion & reaction  Colonies begin to communicate w/ one another, form a network of leaders  To save British East India Co. the Tea Act was passed; cut out middle man Instead of being happy about cheap tea, the colonists revolt  Dressed as Native Americans, a group of Bostonians dumped 18,000 lbs. of tea into the harbor- the Boston Tea Party

The Intolerable Acts  King George furious about rebellion, passed the Intolerable Acts Shut down Boston harbor Quartering Act allowed British soldiers to house themselves in private homes Placed Boston under martial law  Response to the acts was the 1 st Continental Congress Wrote a declaration of colonial rights

“The British are coming”  Colonists begin to step up military preparations; minutemen begin stockpiling weapons British General Gage finds out, orders troops to seize illegal weapons  Paul Revere & others ride out to warn of the British coming

The fighting begins  “Redcoats” stop in Lexington where they encountered 70 minutemen lined up to fight A shot is fired and the war begins  Enter Concord, don’t find weapons  Begin marching back, encounter 3,000- 4,000 mm; begin firing & dozens of British soldiers die The line had been drawn; now enemies

Leaders emerge  Colonial leaders call the 2 nd Continental Congress Debate within leaders; some want independence, others reconciliation Agree to make militia the Continental Army & George Washington is commander

Bunker Hill  British advanced against mm on Breed’s Hill; 2,400 British soldiers charge Colonists fire and mow down troops; 450 colonists, +1,000 British are killed Deadliest battle of the war (misnamed)  Most of the 2 nd Congress are still loyal to the King; send Olive Branch Petition, urging peace King rejects petition, urges blockade

Democratic Ideas  John Locke- philosopher of the Enlightenment Pushes idea of natural rights to life, liberty & property People have “agreement” with govt. – obey if govt. protects rights  Magna Carta brings due process, trial by jury, speedy trial  Pull pieces from many sources

Spreading the message  Thomas Paine writes Common Sense; attacking King George & monarchy  Discusses the benefits of freedom in America Better social & economic opportunity, free trade and freedom from tyranny  Sold almost ½ million copies

Declaring Independence  Summer 1776, Continental congress decide that to form own govt.  Thomas Jefferson elected to write a Declaration of Independence  Jefferson uses Locke, declaring rights to “Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness” these are unalienable rights All men are created equal July 4, 1776 colonies all agree & declare freedom from Britain

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