Steps Toward Revolution

Slide 1 : The Road to Revolution: (1770-1776)

Slide 2 : Was the American Revolution Inevitable??

Slide 3 : Br. Gvt. measures to prevent smuggling: James Otis’ case Protection of a citizen’s private property must be held in higher regard than a parliamentary statute. 1761  writs of assistance He lost  parliamentary law and custom had equalweight. Rethinking Their Empire

Slide 4 : Real Whigs Q-> What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies?? Absolute? OR Limited? Q-> How could the colonies give or withhold consent for parliamentary legislation when they did not have representation in that body?? Theories of Representation

The Proclamation of 1763 : The Proclamation of 1763 Lands west of the peaks of the Appalachians were reserved as Indian hunting grounds. No Am. settlement west of the line Br. tried to provide a temporary solution to the conflict between settlers and Indians. Colonists saw this as a way to “hem them in” and keep them under Br. control. Colonials infuriated Many veterans had fought in the war and felt betrayed        Land speculators believed Americans should have access to lands Colonists generally ignored the Proclamation

The American colonies prior to the American Revolution : The American colonies prior to the American Revolution A.    In 18th century, large percentage of American colonists were proud to belong to British empire.             1.    Newer studies suggest that by 1763 the American colonies had achieved tremendous integration within the empire; did not forget their "Britishness"             2.    On average, Americans had the highest standard of living in the world.                     a.    Drop in price of British goods meant American consumers had many choices.                     b.    Landownership opportunities far better than in Europe.

"Salutary neglect" (beginning about 1713) : "Salutary neglect" (beginning about 1713) 1.    Between 1713 and 1763 American colonials saw reduced gov't intervention in colonial affairs.                     a.     Whig prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, believed leaving the                           colonies alone to run their own affairs with little interference would produce more wealth and commerce, and cause less friction.                     b.    Britain would provide peace, protection, commerce, ensure law and                            send more immigrants to America to increase numbers of customers.                     c.    Britain was focused on major wars in Europe.                     d.    Colonies left to raise, equip & train own militia for protection                            against Indians.                     e.    In effect, colonies left alone; had to develop self-reliance; effective                            organization             3.    Development of self-government                    a.    13 separate colonial governments emerged; often undermined the                           authority of Parliament.                    b.    Local gov't was much more responsive to local needs                    c.    Americans became used to regulating their own affairs without                          significant interference.                    d.    American manufacturing increased despite British policies to protect                           British manufacturers (Navigation Laws)                          -- Cost of American goods increased making merchants wealthy.             4. Smuggling became rampant as British policy became lax in 18th century.

The Mercantilist System : The Mercantilist System A.    Mercantilism: Colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country             1.    Colonies should add to empire's wealth, prosperity, and self-sufficiency.             2.    Colonies' benefit to Great Britain                    a.    Ensure British naval supremacy by providing ships, ships' stores, sailors and trade.                    b.    Provide raw materials: tobacco, indigo, lumber, fish, etc. c. Provide a large consumer market for British goods.                    d.    Keep gold & silver in the empire through economic self-sufficiency.                           -- Britain would not need purchase good from foreign countries.

Navigation Laws : Navigation Laws 1.    Purpose: enforce the mercantilist system             2.    Motive: First enacted in 1651; aimed at rival Dutch shippers who were                    active in the American trade.             3.    Basic provisions of Navigation Laws passed in 17th and 18th centuries:                    a.    Restricted commerce to and from the colonies to English or American                           vessels.                    b.    Certain "enumerated" articles like tobacco couldn’t be shipped to                           any other foreign market except England, despite higher prices                           in other markets.                    c.    All European goods going to America had to go through England first.                    d.   Certain restrictions on colonial manufactures for export: British did not                          want manufacturing competition with the Colonies.                          -- Forbade exportation of woolen cloth produced in America.                          -- Beaver hats prohibited from exportation                          --Encouraged colonists to produce pig and bar iron, but not build any new steel furnaces, slitting mills, or plating forges.

Positives and Negatives of Mercantilism : Positives and Negatives of Mercantilism Positive results of British Mercantilism         1. Until 1763, Navigation Laws did not adversely impact the colonial economy.         2. Colonials had rights of Englishmen and opportunities for self-government         3. Colonies had British military protection free of charge         4. Colonies greatly profited from manufacturing and trading.     D. Negative impact of mercantilism         1.    Colonial manufacturing was hindered by British policies.         2.    Southern colonies suffered as export prices dropped due to "enumeration."                -- Virginia especially affected; poor economic conditions resulted in unrest 3.    New England resented favorable British policies toward Southern colonies (who produced tobacco, sugar and rice).

Writs of Assistance : Writs of Assistance a. Search warrants by British customs officers harassed colonial shipping.                 b. Aimed to reduce colonial smuggling (e.g. illegal triangular trade.)                 c. 1761, James Otis, a young Boston lawyer, demanded Parliament repeal the acts.                     i.    Parliament refused but Otis’ efforts gained press throughout the colonies.                     ii.    Later, Otis wrote famous words "no taxation without representation."

King George III : King George III a.    Extremely stubborn and surrounded himself with successive governments of inexperienced, inward-looking, narrow-minded men.                     -- Five different prime ministers during the 1st 10 years of his reign.             b.    Sought to exercise increased control over the colonies.             c.    50 years of Whig power was about to give way to a conservative government dominated by the king beginning in 1762. 1

Violent protests : Violent protests Violent protests by western colonists toward eastern authority continued.             1. Paxton Boys (1764): Philadelphia Scots Irish dissenters revolted against Quaker leniency regarding gov’t Indian policy:                 -- 20 peaceful Indians killed, followed by a march on Philadelphia demanding better representation, protection against Indians on the frontier, and funds for internal improvements.

Three great crises in the colonies led to the American Revolution : Three great crises in the colonies led to the American Revolution Stamp Act,Townshend Acts, & Tea Act     A. The Stamp Act of 1765 -- Perhaps the single most important event leading to the American Revolution         1. Purpose: Raise revenues to support the new military force in the colonies         2. Provisions:             a. Official stamps on paper would serve as proof of payment.             b. Tax applied to published materials and legal documents e.g., pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, bills of lading, marriage certificates, death certificates, mortgages, insurance policies, liquor licenses, & playing cards.             c. Both Sugar Act and Stamp Act provided for trying offenders in admiralty courts where juries were not allowed                 -- Burden of proof on defendants; were assumed guilty unless proved innocent.

Grenville’s' view : Grenville’s' view a. Stamp Act was reasonable and just             b. Only required colonials to pay their fair share for colonial defense             c. Stamp Act in Britain had been much heavier and in effect for 2 generations.

Virginia Resolves : Virginia Resolves (led by Patrick Henry)             a.    VA leaders believed Stamp Act attacked colonial's rights as Englishmen             b.    5 of Henry’s 7 resolutions adopted by the House of Burgesses including non-importation.             c.    Claimed that Virginia could only be taxed by Virginians.                     -- "No taxation w/o representation"             d.    Assemblies of 8 other colonies passed resolutions similar to Virginia’s.         5. Colonist views distinguished between "legislation" and "taxation"             a. Legislation, "external taxes," the right of Parliament regarding the empire; e.g. customs duties (tariffs)            b. Taxation, "internal taxes," exclusive right of local representative gov't.                 -- British taxation was robbery; attacking sacred rights of property             c. Grenville’s response: colonies had "virtual representation" in Parliament                 -- All British subjects were represented, even those who did not vote for members in Parliament.             d.    Colonists dismissed "virtual representation"                    i. "No taxation w/o representation"                     ii. Did not really want "direct representation" (actual representation)                         -- Would mean increased taxes (as in Britain)                         -- Increased responsibilities to the crown                         -- Colonial reps. would be heavily outnumbered in Parliament

Sugar Act : Sugar Act April 1764: reduced the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon, while Grenville took measures that the duty be strictly enforced. Listed more foreign goods to be taxed including sugar, certain wines, coffee, pimiento, cambric and printed calico, and further, regulated the export of lumber and iron. The enforced tax on molasses caused the almost immediate decline in the rum industry in the colonies

Sugar Act : Sugar Act British thought that the colonists should be taxed for the cost of the empire at a rate comparable to levels of taxation for those at home. Colonists believed that the British had no right to tax them without any representation in Parliament (Magna Carta) Boston holds some mildly successful boycotts.

Currency Act : Currency Act There was no standard value common to all of the colonies. Most had their own paper money Sept. 1, 1764: prohibited the issue of any new bills and the reissue of existing currency. Parliament favored a "hard currency" system based on the pound sterling, Parliament simply abolished colonial bills.

Currency Act : Currency Act Required colonists to pay British merchants in gold and silver, rather than inflated colonial paper currency Designed to protect Br. Economic interests Mercantilism had created a chronic trade deficit for the colonies Colonial resources were drained and this almost ruined colonial trade Hatred of the British government.

Stamp Act – Why??? : Stamp Act – Why??? Great Britain was faced with a massive national debt following the Seven Years War. That debt had grown from £72,289,673 in 1755 to £129,586,789 in 1764. English citizens in Britain were taxed at a rate that created a serious threat of revolt.

Stamp Act : Stamp Act March 22, 1765: new tax imposed on all American colonists requiring them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. The money collected by the Stamp Act was to be used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains 10,000 troops were to be stationed on the American frontier for this purpose.

Stamp Act : Stamp Act

Tax Stamps : Tax Stamps

Stamp Act -- Reactions : Stamp Act -- Reactions The actual cost of the Stamp Act was relatively small. What made the law so offensive was the standard it seemed to set. Direct Tax – first of its kind In the past, taxes and duties on colonial trade had always been viewed as measures to regulate commerce, not to raise money. The Stamp Act was viewed as a direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. If this new tax were allowed to pass without resistance, the colonists reasoned, the door would be open for far more troublesome taxation in the future.

Stamp Act -- Reactions : Stamp Act -- Reactions The Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves. Americans possessed the same rights as the English, especially the right to be taxed only by their own representatives Virginians should pay no taxes except those voted by the Virginia House of Burgesses Anyone supporting the right of Parliament to tax Virginians should be considered an enemy of the colony.

More Reactions : More Reactions Resistance to the act was demonstrated through debates in the colonial legislatures, written documents (including legislative resolves, prints, and songs), and mob/crowd actions such as tarring and feathering tax collectors.

Stamp Act Congress : Stamp Act Congress Convened in New York City on October 7 with nine colonies in attendance The delegates approved a 14-point Declaration of Rights and Grievances, formulated largely by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania. Delegates argued that colonial taxation could only be carried on by their own assemblies.

Stamp Act Congress (1765) : Stamp Act Congress (1765) -- brought together 27 delegates from 9             colonies             a.    Massachusetts invited colonies who adopted Virginia Resolves to meet.             b.    Drew up a statement of their rights and grievances and demanded that the king and Parliament rescind the Stamp Act.             c.    Largely ignored in England; of little consequence in the colonies             d.    Significance: Brought together reps from different & rival colonies and set a precedent for future resistance to British rule.                  -- Helped break down sectional suspicions within the colonies.             e.    Non-importation agreements against British goods.                     -- England economy suffered from non-importation but non-importation was not decisive in reversing Parliament’s decision

Stamp Act repealed in 1766 : Stamp Act repealed in 1766 a. Lord Rockingham (The new English Prime Minister) saw the Stamp Act as a possible cause of civil crisis and and encouraged British merchants to write Parliament to rescind the tax.             b. Parliament passed the Declaratory Act at the same time                 i. Purpose was partly to save face                 ii. Claimed that Parliament had the right to tax colonies in the future.             c. Sugar Act tax lowered significantly

Slide 31 : Tar and Feathering

Slide 32 :

Ben Franklin’s Testimony : Ben Franklin’s Testimony I never heard any objection to the right of laying duties to regulatecommerce; but a right to lay internal taxes was never supposed to be inParliament, as we are not represented there. . . .

Declaratory Act : Declaratory Act Stamp Act repealed March 18, 1766 ***Passed the Declaratory Act the same day Asserted Britain's exclusive right to legislate on and tax its colonies. Declared colonial legislation null & void Stated that the king and Parliament had the right and power to make laws that were binding on the colonies "in all cases whatsoever," even though American colonists were unrepresented in Parliament.

Declaratory Act : Declaratory Act “all resolutions, votes, orders, and proceedings, in any of the said colonies or plantations, whereby the power and authority of the parliament of Great Britain, to make laws and statutes as aforesaid, is denied, or drawn into question, are, and are hereby declared to be, utterly null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever.”

British Rationale : British Rationale They backed down and repealed a particularly hated tax… BUT…they retained the principle of British supremacy over the colonies.

Colonial Reactions : Colonial Reactions Colonists overlooked the ominous implications of the Declaratory Act They celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act, but it was a temporary victory Stamp Act Congress—set the stage for future cooperation when more serious disputes arose between the colonies and England.

Slide 38 : 1767  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. Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770

Charles Townshend : Charles Townshend Charles Townshend took control of Parliament and sought to punishthe colonies for the Stamp Act uprising.

Townshend Duties : Townshend Duties June 29, 1767: the English parliament cut the British land tax. To balance the budget, Charles Townshend promised that he would tax the Americans to make up the difference. He intended to raise £40,000 a year for the administration of the colonies. Townshend passed a series of acts laying import duties at American ports on paper, lead, glass, oil, paint, and tea shipped from England. Money that was collected was used to pay the salaries of British colonial officials.

Slide 41 : 1. John Dickinson  1768 * Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania. 2. 1768  2nd non-importation movement: * “Daughters of Liberty” * spinning bees 3. Riots against customs agents: * John Hancock’s ship, the Liberty. * 4000 British troops sent to Boston. Colonial Response to the Townshend Duties

Colonial Reactions : Colonial Reactions Reaction assumed revolutionary proportions in Boston, in the summer of 1768, when British customs officials impounded a sloop owned by John Hancock, for violations of the trade regulations. Crowds mobbed the customs office, forcing the officials to retire to a British Warship in the Harbor. Troops from England and Nova Scotia marched in to occupy Boston on October 1, 1768. Bostonians offered no armed resistance. Colonists changed their tactics and established non-importation agreements that quickly spread throughout the colonies.

Non-Importation Agreement : Non-Importation Agreement “We, the subscribers, in order to relieve the trade under those discouragements, to promote industry, frugality, and economy, and to discourage luxury, and every kind of extravagance, do promise and engage to and with each other as follows: . . . We will not send for or import from Great Britain, either upon our own account, or upon commission, any kind of goods or merchandize from Great Britain.”

Sons of Liberty : Sons of Liberty Led by Samuel Adams violently enforced nonimportation agreements against violators; (tarring & feathering was one painful tactic).            a. Houses of pro-British officials were vandalized, theft occurred, and the warehouse where stamps were stored was destroyed.             b. All stamp act agents were forced to resign; no one risked selling stamps.

Slide 45 : "patriots!" For the first time, many colonists began calling people who joined the non-importation movement,

Townshend Act : Townshend Act English merchants, suffering from the "Non-importation Agreements," petitioned Parliament to repeal the taxes 1769: All import duties were repealed except for the tax on tea.

Regulator Movement (1771) : Regulator Movement (1771) a. Eastern farmers in N. Carolina frustrated with British tax policies, inadequate representation of western farmers in the colonial assembly, and legislation favoring wealthy planters in the east.                 b. Fighting lasted for three years.

Slide 48 : The Boston Massacre (March 5,1770)

Boston "Massacre", 1770 : Boston "Massacre", 1770 a. (Peaceful) Arrival of troops in Boston aroused American resistance                 -- Colonials fearful of standing armies; believed Britain sought to suppress                     colonial liberties.             b. March 5, 1770 British soldiers (having been provoked) fired on a crowd                 i. Eleven civilians killed or wounded                 ii. Crispus Attucks, a mulatto merchant seaman, the "first to die in the                     revolution," and alleged leader of the unruly mob.                 iii. Word of the "massacre" spread throughout the colonies (esp. by Sons of                     Liberty)                 iv. Colonial propaganda grossly exaggerated the event.

Townshend Acts repealed : Townshend Acts repealed a. Lord North, bowing to pressure, got Parliament to repeal the act in 1770.                 i. Nonimportation agreements were pinching British manufacturers                 ii. Three-pence tax on tea remained to demonstrate Parliament's right to tax.                     -- Taxed tea still cost less than smuggled tea.             b. Half the troops in Boston removed.             c. Until 1773, relations improved after Townshend Acts were repealed.

Gaspee Incident (1771) : Gaspee Incident (1771) One of only a few incidents between 1770-1773 to cause conflict             a.    British warship "Gaspee" ran aground near in RI, pursuing smugglers.                    -- Ship was notorious for extorting smaller vessels and allowing men to steal cattle and cut fruit trees on local farms for firewood.             b. Sons of Liberty members, dressed as Indians, took crew off the ship and set it on fire; the commander was wounded             c. "Gaspee" Commission was created by Lord Hillsborough to seek retribution but could not find the guilty parties; would have sent them to England for trial.

Slide 52 : The Gaspee Incident (1772) Providence, RI coast

Slide 53 : Committees of Correspondence Purpose  warn neighboring colonies about incidents with Br.  broaden the resistance movement. Some colonial discontent continued as British redoubled efforts to enforce the Navigation Laws.             b. Samuel Adams used propaganda to whip up colonial resentment             c. Adams organized local committees of correspondence in Mass., Nov.1772.             d. Chief function was to spread propaganda and info. by interchanging letters in order to keep opposition to British policy alive.             e. In particular, letters from the British gov't incl. those of Gov. Hutchinson showed that Britain was acting on Hutchinson's advice and wishes.             f. Intercolonial committees of correspondence emerged             g. Intercolonial groups evolved directly into the first American congresses.

Slide 54 : Tea Act (1773) 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!) North expected the cols. to eagerly choose the cheaper tea.

Tea Act : Tea Act As a result of the tea tax, the colonies refused to buy British tea. Instead, they smuggled tea in from Holland. This left the British East India Company with warehouses full of unsold tea, and the company was in danger of going out of business.

Tea Act : Tea Act May 1773: allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists, bypassing the colonial wholesale merchants. This allowed the company to sell their tea cheaper than the colonial merchants who were selling smuggled tea from Holland. Revived the colonial issue of taxation without representation. The colonies once again demanded that the British government remove the tax on tea. Dockworkers began refusing to unload the tea from ships.

Boston Tea Party : Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773: a group of men calling themselves the "Sons of Liberty" went to the Boston Harbor dressed as Mohawk Indians and boarded 3 British ships, dumping 45 tons of tea worth £9,659 into Boston Harbor. The destruction was a protest against taxation without representation in Parliament.

Slide 58 : Boston Tea Party (1773)

Tea Act : Tea Act In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British closed the port of Boston and passed the “intolerable Acts.”

Slide 60 : The Coercive or IntolerableActs (1774) Lord North The Prime Minister who lost America 1. Port Bill 2. Government Act 4. Administration of Justice Act 3. New Quartering Act

Quartering Act : Quartering Act provided that Britain would house its soldiers in America first in barracks and public houses If its soldiers outnumbered the housing available, they would quarter them "in inns, livery stables, ale houses, victualling houses, and the houses of sellers of wine [...] and houses of persons selling of rum, brandy, strong water, cyder, or metheglin", and if numbers required in "uninhabited houses, outhouses, barns, or other buildings", required any inhabitants (or in their absence, public officials) to provide them with food and alcohol, and fire, candles, vinegar, salt, bedding, and utensils for the soldiers "without paying any thing for the same"

Massachusetts Gov’t Act : Massachusetts Gov’t Act This Act essentially destroyed local government in MA May 1774: The act did away with elections for the councilors and assistants in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, making the positions appointive, the appointments to be made by "his Majesty's commission, under the great seal of Great Britain", the positions to be held "during the pleasure of his Majesty".

MA Gov’t Act : MA Gov’t Act It also provided that his Majesty's governor would appoint "all judges of the inferior courts of common pleas, commissioners, the attorney general, provosts, marshals, justices of the peace, and other officers to the council or courts of justice belong", and "every vacancy of the offices of chief justice and judges of the superior court of the said province, from and after July 1, 1774".

MA Gov’t Act : MA Gov’t Act It also provided that the meetings of freeholders and inhabitants (which were the effective local government of the Colony), except for an annual meeting to choose select men in March or May, and meetings filling selectmen's positions that might become vacant, would henceforth require the permission of the governor in writing, with no matter to be discussed that had not the governor's approval.

Admin. of Justice Act : Admin. of Justice Act abolished the local administration of justice, provided that the Governor of MA could direct that any inquisition, indictment or appeal be tried in Great Britain or in another British Colony. provided for coercing any witnesses to appear at such a trial required bail for any person accused of a "capital crime in the execution of their duty".

Boston Port Act : Boston Port Act Outlawed the use of the Port of Boston for "landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise" until such time as restitution was made to the King’s treasury (for customs duty lost) and to the East India Company for damages suffered.

Slide 67 :

Slide 68 : The Quebec Act (1774)

Quebec Act : Quebec Act Coincidentally accompanied "Intolerable Acts"; not intended             to punish the colonies             a. French in Canada were guaranteed right to practice Catholicism.        b. Quebec territory was extended down to the Ohio river, next to NY & PA        c. French allowed to keep old customs and institutions which did not include a representative assembly or trial by jury in civil cases. protections granted to the Indian territories, and the Catholic settlers in Ohio. These were viewed as attempts to halt expansion into the west, and strengthening of a church many opposed.        d. The act was actually an enlightened extension of British freedoms.         e. Colonial reaction:                 -- Viewed act as insidious attempt to create a new French Canadian and Indian threa in the Ohio Valley region.                 -- Anti-Catholic sentiment arose; seen as an attack on Protestantism

Quebec Act : Quebec Act The acts promoted sympathy for the revolutionaries and encouraged revolutionaries from the otherwise diverse colonies to band together. However, the Quebec Act had the opposite effect among French Catholics in the Province of Quebec --encouraging pragmatic inaction or support for the Crown by some.

Slide 71 : 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.

1st Continental Congress : 1st Continental Congress Sept. 5, 1774: reps of 12 colonies met in Philadelphia in response to the Coercive Acts did not advocate independence; it sought rather to right the wrongs that had been inflicted on the colonies and hoped that a unified voice would gain them a hearing in London.

First Continental Congress : First Continental Congress 1st Step: endorse several resolutions known as the Suffolk Resolves.                 i. Denounced "Intolerable" Acts                 ii. Urged colonies to organize militia for defensive purposes                 iii. Called on colonies to suspend all trade with rest of British empire                 iv. Urged citizens not to pay taxes.             e. Rejection of Galloway Plan                 i. Joseph Galloway called for a colonial union required to approve all parliamentary laws affecting the colonies (like Franklin’s Albany Plan).                 ii. Most members far too conservative to endorse such a radical view             f. Main purpose: Petition for redress of grievances (Declaration and Resolves)                 i. Gave colonists the legal right to assemble in order to seek redress.                 ii. "Bill of Rights": established structure for the Declaration of Independence                    (Preamble, list of grievances and mutual pledge)             g. The Association: most significant action of the Congress                 -- Called for a complete boycott of British goods: nonimportation,                     nonexportation, and  nonconsumption.             h. Yet, Congress restated allegiance to the King                 -- No real desire to independent; merely wanted grievances redressed.             i. King and Parliament did not respond to Declaration and Resolves.                 -- Would have recognized Congresses right as a legislative body.

1st Continental Congress : 1st Continental Congress Encouraged the development of an American Parliament Continental Association, or simply, the Association, which established a total boycott by means of non-importation, non-exportation and non-consumption accords. These agreements were to be enforced by a group of committees in each community, which would publish the names of merchants defying the boycott, confiscate contraband, and encourage public frugality.

Slide 75 : The British Are Coming . . . Paul Revere & William Dawes make their midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers.

Slide 76 : The Shot Heard ’Round the World! Lexington & Concord – April 18,1775

Lexington and Concord, 1775 : Lexington and Concord, 1775 -- "The Shot Heard around the World"            a. Parliament ordered General Gage, new Gov. of Massachusetts, to arrest                leaders of the rebellion and prepare for military action.                 -- Gage sought to prevent bloodshed by disarming the local militia.             b. April 1775, 700 British redcoats sent secretly to nearby Lexington &                 Concord to seize gunpowder and arrest Sam Adams & John Hancock.                 -- Paul Revere and William Dawes warned the militia (Minutemen).

Lexington & Concord : Lexington & Concord The British feared the possibility of a successful colonial revolt These battles occurred as a result of British efforts to capture colonial leaders and their war supplies

Lexington & Concord : Lexington & Concord On the night of April 18th, 1775, approximately 700 British soldiers gathered on Boston Common to prepare for a raid on American military supplies stored in nearby Concord. Informed of the British troop movement, Paul Revere and William Dawes, Boston residents, set out to warn their fellow colonists.

Battle of Lexington and Concord : Battle of Lexington and Concord Began when Minutemen refused to                 disperse on the Lexington Green and shots were fired.                 i. 8 Americans killed, 10 wounded. Who fired the first shot?                 ii. Redcoats continued on to Concord. 6 miles away.             d. Concord -- British forced to retreat by American reinforcements                 i. Militia picked-off British soldiers as they retreated to Boston                 ii. By day’s end, 273 British casualties; 95 Americans casualties             e. Minutemen encamped outside the city and lay siege to Boston.

Old North Church : Old North Church

Old North Church : Old North Church

Old North Bridge : Old North Bridge

Historical Marker Commemorating the Battle of Concord : Historical Marker Commemorating the Battle of Concord

Concord Minuteman Statue : Concord Minuteman Statue

Reenactment at Minuteman National Park, Concord : Reenactment at Minuteman National Park, Concord

Concord : Concord

Words of Capt. Parker at Lexington : Words of Capt. Parker at Lexington

Lexington : Lexington

Minuteman Statue, Battle Green Square, Lexington : Minuteman Statue, Battle Green Square, Lexington

The Battle Green, Lexington : The Battle Green, Lexington

Lexington & Concord : Lexington & Concord By the end of the day on April 19, 1775, the Minute Men had surrounded Boston and laid siege to the port city. July 2, 1775, George Washington, a planter from distant Virginia, took charge of this army. Eight months later, British troops evacuated Boston. In Massachusetts the fighting was over, but the War for Independence had only begun.

Lexington and Concord : Lexington and Concord 1st two battles of the war Prompted Thomas Paine to write “Common Sense”

Slide 94 : The Second Continental Congress(1775) Olive Branch Petition

British Strengths : British Strengths 1. Population favored Britain: 7.5 million to 2.5 for the colonies.         2. Superior monetary advantage and best navy in the world         3. 20,000 slaves in Carolinas and Georgia joined British (only 5K for rebels)             a. British promised slaves freedom if they fought on their side             b. Many fled with the British after the war and left the country         4. Many Indians also sided with Britain and attacked Americans along the frontier             -- British represented last hope for keeping land-hungry colonists out.         5. Britain possessed a 50,000 man professional army             -- King George hired an additional 30,000 German "Hessians" as mercenaries. 6. British also enlisted about 50,000 loyalists

British Weaknesses : British Weaknesses 1.    Enormous distance from England to the Colonies                 -- Communication was inefficient to meet the need for immediate action.         2.    America too large a region for Britain’s army to effectively occupy; population was too dispersed         3.    British generals in America were poor leaders                a.    Many British soldiers did not want to kill Americans, whom they saw as their countrymen.                b.    Provisions for the army were poor         4.    Americans had only to tie in order to win; British had to win outright.         5.    France was waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge         6.    London gov't was ineffective; King George & Lord North inadequate                -- Whig factions in Parliament cheered American victories at the outset

American Strengths : American Strengths 1. Outstanding leadership e.g., George Washington; Benjamin Franklin (diplomat)         2. Economic aid from France at the outset; later military aid was decisive.         3. Defensive military tactics worked to their advantage         4. Agriculturally self-sustaining         5. Colonials were competent marksmen; better than the redcoats         6. Moral advantage from belief in a just cause

American Weaknesses : American Weaknesses 1. Badly organized for the war and lacked unity from the beginning.             a. Continental Congress was weak and ineffective             b. Fought almost the entire war without a constitution         2. Jealousy among colonies             a. Regarded themselves as sovereign                     -- Resisted Congress' to exercise its weak power             b. Quarrels over the appointment of military leaders         3. Economic difficulties             a. Little metal money                 i. Paper money printed to the point that it was worthless                 ii. Individual colonies had to later print paper money             b. Soldiers deserted due to economic difficulties of their families             c. Debtors paid their debts with seriously depreciated money.         4. Military challenges             a. Military supplies were inadequate esp. firearms and gunpowder             b. Militiamen highly unreliable         5. Morale in the Revolutionary army undermined by greedy American profiteers             a. Sold goods to British for payment in gold             b. Speculators forced prices sky-high             c. Boston merchants made profits of 50-200% while soldiers were dying.         6. Only a select minority of Americans truly committed themselves to the cause.