French and Indian War

1763 Proclamation of 1763

Committees of Correspondence Purpose  warn neighboring colonies about incidents with Br.  broaden the resistance movement.

Committees of Correspondence Purpose  warn neighboring colonies about incidents with Br.  broaden the resistance movement.

Tar and Feathering

Townshend Acts 1767  William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, Secretary of the Exchequer.  Shift from paying taxes for Br. war debts & quartering of troops  paying col. govt. salaries.  He diverted revenue collection from internal to external trade.  Tax these imports  paper, paint, lead, glass, tea.  Increase custom officials at American ports  established a Board of Customs in Boston.

Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer My dear Countrymen, I am a Farmer, settled, after a variety of fortunes, near the banks of the river Delaware, in the province of Pennsylvania. I received a liberal education, and have been engaged in the busy scenes of life; but am now convinced, that a man may be as happy without bustle, as with it. My farm is small; my servants are few, and good; I have a little money at interest; I wish for no more; my employment in my own affairs is easy; and with a contented grateful mind, undisturbed by worldly hopes or fears, relating to myself, I am completing the number of days allotted to me by divine goodness. My dear Countrymen, There is another late act of parliament, which appears to me to be unconstitutional, and as destructive to the liberty of these colonies, as that mentioned in my last letter; that is, the act for granting the duties on paper, glass, etc. My dear Countrymen, I rejoice to find that my two former letters to you have been generally received with so much favor by such of you, whose sentiments I have had an opportunity of knowing. Could you look into my heart you would instantly perceive a zealous attachment to your interests, and a lively resentment of every insult and injury offered to you, to be the motives that have engaged me to address you. I am no further concerned in anything affecting America, than any one of you; and when liberty leaves it, I can quit it much more conveniently than most of you: But while Divine Providence, that gave me existence in a land of freedom, permits my head to think, my lips to speak, and my hand to move, I shall so highly and gratefully value the blessing received as to take care that my silence and inactivity shall not give my implied assent to any act, degrading my brethren and myself from the birthright, wherewith heaven itself “hath made us free.”

Non - Consumption Agreement 8 Boycott all British-made goods 8 Encouraged home manufacture Non - Importation Agreement

The Boston Massacre ( March 5,1770 )

The Gaspee Incident (1772) Providence, RI coast

Tea Act (1773) 8 British East India Co.:  Monopoly on Br. tea imports.  Many members of Parl. held shares.  Permitted the Co. to sell tea directly to cols. without col. middlemen (cheaper tea!) 8 North expected the cols. to eagerly choose the cheaper tea.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

The Coercive or Intolerable Acts (1774) Lord North 1. Port Bill 2. Government Act 4. Administration of Justice Act 3. New Quartering Act

The Quebec Act (1774)

First Continental Congress (1774) 55 delegates from 12 colonies Agenda  How to respond to the Coercive Acts & the Quebec Act? 1 vote per colony represented.

The British Are Coming... Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers.

The Shot Heard ’ Round the World ! Lexington & Concord – April 18,1775

The Second Continental Congress (1775) Olive Branch Petition

Thomas Paine : Common Sense

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Declaration of Independence

Independence Hall

New National Symbols