Independence: separation from Britain

 Merchants who lived around the city of Boston. They were angry about British taxes on goods.  Lawyers : they fought in court against British laws. They believed that the colonist should have more say in making laws  Farmers and people who worked crafts, printing, shipbuilding and making clothes

The Patriot speech The Patriot congress speechThe Patriot congress speech (cut short but ok)

 Hoped that GB would start to treat the Colonies more fairly. When that didn’t he sided with the Patriots  Dressed in plain suits  People liked him.. Funny, wise… he could stay calm when others were angry  Tried to persuade the British government to stop making laws that colonists thought were unfair  He favored independence: unfair laws and believed the colonist had the ability to govern themselves.

 Massachusetts writer and poet  Ideas were discussed in her home  Loved reading, writing and discussing politics  Argued in favor of independence  Thought Brittish laws and taxes were unfair  Thought colonies would be better off with their own government  Believed women should have same choices as men for education and take an active role in politics  Wrote to help encourage many people in Massachusetts to become Patriots

 Called for colonist to fight for their INDEPENDENCE!!  Politician: Harvard University  Walked and talked politics so much that he never learned how to ride a horse  His enemies called him a troublemaker  Organized Sons of Liberty: a secret group of Patriots that encouraged colonist to disobey laws like the Stamp Act  He led the Sons to Boston Tea Party to protest  Set up meetings : Committees of Correspondence  Worked day and night to fight for independence

 Rich landowners: They feared that Patriot mobs might take their property  Governors: appointed to their jobs by King George lll. They liked their government and felt it was their duty to make sure that British laws were obeyed in the colonies  Religious leaders: They believed that the king’s power came from God. They were members of the Church of England, Great Britain’s Official church … They told their followers, “You have a duty to be loyal to the church and to the king!”

 Royal Governor of Massachusetts 1771  Always sided with British  Most hated man in colonies  Thin, serious and never smiled  Successful but didn’t wear fancy clothes  Enforced the Stamp Act  Mob broke into his house from then on he was a bitter enemy of the patriots  Believed the colonist could not govern themselves without a king  Thought King George was wise and experienced  He did not believe colonist should share the same freedoms that British people had overseas

 British religious leader  He was a priest and well liked  Said to be intelligent and charming  Comfortable talking in front of large groups  Never afraid to speak his mind  Expected everyone to obey his teachings  Argued the LOYALISTS’ cause  Preached that the king’s power came from God  Christians had a special duty: to obey British Laws  Did not believe common people were capable of ruling  Warned that independence would be dangerous  His sermons made Patriots angry. He began keeping loaded pistols nearby when he gave his sermons.

 Was elected to British Parliament at age 29!  Was a fierce leader  Appointed governor of VA by King George lll  Wealthy and fancy dresser  Great Britain started the colonies and had every right to tax.  War would hurt the economy and make many colonists poor  Colonist had a duty to obey British laws  TRAITOR: if you didn’t fight for the King  He promised to free any slaves owned by Patriots if they fought against the Patriots  Because of him, many that were neutral began to think they should fight for independence from GB