US History I Honors Unit 2 -- Leadup to the Revolution

Internal / External Law

Is the taxation/law coming from inside or outside the colonies?

Indirect / Direct Law

Are the taxes/law paid by the merchants (Navigation Acts) or the colonists upfront?

Revenue / Not for Revenue Law

Is this tax created for revenue or not?

Boston Massacre

A deadly, highly propagandized riot that happened on March 5th, 1770 in Boston

Sugar Act

• This act placed a tariff on sugar, coffee, wine, and other luxury goods.

• It was a provision to enforce other trade laws

  • Indirect, External, Revenue Tax

1764

External, Indirect, Revenue

The Sugar Act was

[Internal / External], [Indirect / Direct], and its purpose was to raise _____.

Stamp Act

• This act required the affixing of stamps to any official document or paper

• The money collected from the stamps would go to the treasury for “expenses in the colonies”

  • Direct, Internal, Revenue Tax

1765

Internal, Direct, Revenue

The Stamp Act was

[Internal / External], [Indirect / Direct], and its purpose was to raise _____.

Virtual Representation

A representative in Parliament that wasn’t actually elected by the colonists

Actual Representation

A representative in Parliament that was directly elected by the colonists

Admiralty Courts

Violators of the Sugar Act were tried in these courts.

Braintree Instructions

This overly dramatic document was written by John Adams, imploring a representative in Parliament to oppose the Stamp Act.

Colonists’ proposed resolutions to the Stamp Act

• Only colonial assemblies could tax the colonies (actual representation)

• No goods accepted from England into the colonies until the tax was repealed

Homespun Economy

A new economy due to the rejection of manufactured goods coming in from Britain. Instead of purchasing goods from the ships, colonists made their own goods, especially clothing. Although being of significantly worse quality, this was seen as a source of pride of opposing the Stamp Act.

Extralegal Bodies

Groups outside of normal legal channels (Loyal Nine, Sons of Liberty)

The Loyal Nine

A group of upper / middle class men working together with the working class to protest the Stamp Act.

Sons of Liberty

Groups of people across the colonies opposing British policies (Stamp Act) and often harassing British officials.

Isaac Barre

Stood up for the colonies in Parliament during the Stamp Act

Declaratory Act

Passed the same day as the Repeal of the Stamp Act, this act states that England has absolute control over all of the colonies’ matters, including taxation.

Quartering Act

Colonists had to provide means of living to the British troops

Townshend Acts

To help pay the expenses involved in governing the American colonies, Parliament passed these Acts, which initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.

Writs of Assistance

Search Warrants were issued for any place that was suspected to have prohibited goods

New York Restraining Act

New York protested the Quartering Act due to the majority of British troops being stationed in New York, so Britain took away their assembly/legislature

Colonial Reaction to the Townshend Acts

• Boycott of British Goods (organized by the Sons of Liberty

• Pressure merchants to not buy British Goods

• Publishing names of violators in the newspapers

• The Daughters of Liberty made quality goods amid the homespun economy

• People rejected luxury goods and stopped serving tea

Britain Reorganized the Board of Trade

• New Board of Customs Commissioners => Boston Harbor

• Due to there being so many violators, 3 new courts of admiralty were opened in Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston

Taverns

Places where people could go for information and news before there were newspapers

Massachusetts General Court Circular Letter

• This letter was sent to all colonial assemblies and written by Sam Adams and James Otis.

• It opposed taxation w/out representation and urged the colonists to unite against Britain

• Unlike the informal committees of correspondence, this letter was a formal legal document which couldn't be ignored by England

• In response, the crown sent a similar letter to the governors

Gaspee Incident

After a British captain known to catch any ship within his reach and destroy it ran his ship aground, colonists burned it.

The ensuing trials proved unsuccessful in efforts to locate and punish the perpetrators

Tea Act

An act that was made to save the British East India Company from bankruptcy.

It made tea significantly cheaper in the colonies due to the removal of expensive middlemen in England

1773

Boston Tea Party

On December 16th, 1773, 50-60 men dressed as Native Americans dumped all the 342 chests of tea off the ships and into the sea.

Boston Port Bill

A Bill that results in an economical blow for Boston, as it closes its harbor until the tea is paid for

Intolerable Acts

Also known as the Coercive Acts, these acts were passed by Britain to punish colonists for property destruction after the Boston Tea Party.

These Acts included the Boston Port Bill, the Administration of Justice Act, the Extension of Quartering Act, and the Massachusetts Governing Act

Administration of Justice Act

A capital case could be transferred outside MA by the governor.

Extension of Quartering Act

This act allowed housing of troops in private homes (Martial Law)

Massachusetts Governing Act

This act revoked the MA charter: the town meeting / general court could not be called without the governor.

• Sheriffs, judges, legislature chosen by King or Governor

• This empowered the governor and decreased the power of the town meeting

Quebec Act

Although this act was unrelated to the colonies, the colonists thought that Britain had thought up an ulterior motive to it.

1774

Suffolk Resolves

These declared the following:

• The coercive acts are unconstitutional

• MA is a free state until the acts are repealed

• Suggests that taxes be sent to the MA government rather than England

• Boycott all british goods

• Appoints militia officers and reorganize the army

• Warn the British General in charge of troops that he is to be arrested if he tries to arrest anyone

• Subjects no longer owed loyalty to a king that violates their rights

Galloway Plan of Union

Although never adopted, this plan suggested a separate American parliament would work with the British one to govern the colonies. Each would have the power to veto the other. Not adopted.

First Continental Congress

This was a formal meeting of all the colonies (except Georgia) to discuss how to deal with Britain’s oppressive policies.

• Demanded repeal of all oppressive legislation passed by Britain

• They did not yet advocate for independence

• No taxation without Representation

• The Continental Association: Boycott of all British goods, violators tarred and feathered

• Arm the colonies

• Declaration of Rights and Grievances: A summary of the continental congress meeting and a promise to meet again soon if a year passed or if something would happen.

• Approved a series of resolutions and recommended that the colonists begin military preparations to prepare for a possible attack

• Formed a “Continental Association” to enforce agreements

Middlesex Alarm

Paul revere had an intelligence network → system of alarm communication

“One if by land, two if by sea” → lanterns hung

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

A summary of the first continental congress meeting which claimed that American colonists were equal to all other British citizens, protested taxation without representation, and stated that, without colonial representation in Parliament, Parliament could not tax colonists.

Isaac Davis

Along with Barrett, this man led the Acton troops to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. They were the only regiment that had bayonets for all.

Siege of Boston

After chasing the British away from Lexington and Concord, colonists surrounded them in Boston and did not permit them to leave

Ticonderoga

This fort was surprised and defeated by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, leaving them with 80 cannons that had the power to completely change the Siege of Boston

Second Continental Congress

Colonists wanted to apologize to the King because Massachusetts was so radical

• They organized and prepared for an English war threat

• John Adams suggests a continental army (NE + PA, MD, VA riflemen)

  • George Washington was appointed the leader

  • He fought Britain before

  • Was Virginian (this broadened the conflict and they banded together)

  • He served without salary

• They approached Canada to work together. Canada however feared colonial advancement

  • Colonists sent an expedition and attacked Montreal (Benedict Arnold)

  • It was meant to be a diversion from Boston, but it failed

• To finance the war, they issued $2 mln in paper certificates and negotiated with foreign countries as well as borrowed domestically.

• They opened diplomatic channels => Acting like an independent country

• They authorized a navy

1775

George Washington

This Virginian was appointed the leader of the Continental army suggested by John Adams

Boston

The attack on Montreal was meant to be a diversion from this city

Diplomatic Channels

The colonies opened these, which is something an independent country usually does

Bunker Hill

This was the first planned major battle

• Continental troops moved to this hill —> they had cannons which were a threat to the British fleet

  • The colonists lost, however they withstood a naval and ground assault and the British suffered devastating casualties

Grooved Barrel

Colonial rifles had this feature at the Battle of Bunker Hill, allowing them to shoot straight and accurate

Brown Bess

The British only had this rifle, which had a smooth barrel and scattered shots fired

Olive Branch Petition

This petition was written by John Dickenson as a last resort for peace. George III refuses to even receive it

Declaration of Cause and Necessity of Taking up Arms

Congress was unfaithful in the Olive Branch Petition, and issues this document which militarizes the colonies

Winter of Decision

During this time, three groups of people emerged

• Patriots (ready for independence)

• Loyalists (Tories supported England)

• Undecideds (thought independence was too radical)

The undecideds gravitated towards independence

King George hires Hessian Mercenaries from Germany

King George gives an inflammatory speech to Parliament

Patriots

During the Winter of Decision, these people were ready for independence

Loyalists

Also known as Tories, these people supported England during the Winter of Decision

Undecideds

During the Winter of decision, these people were against England but thought independence too radical. Eventually they sided with the Patriots

Hessian Mercenaries

A military force hired by King George to keep the Colonies in order during the Winter of Decision

American Prohibitory Act

This act waged economic warfare on the colonies

• Prohibits all British trade with the colonies

• All colonial ships were marked as enemy ships

Letter of Marque

Colonial ships could seize any ship they pleased (targeted at British)

Henry Knox

This person brings cannons from fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge (Roxbury Heights). He then fires into the city and port, forcing the British to evacuate Boston.

Open Port Decree

This decree announced that any country (except Britain) could utilize Boston Harbor for trade

Common Sense

Written by Thomas Paine, the publication of this pamphlet was the most impactful event in the Winter of Decision. It annihilated emotional ties between Britain and the Colonies.

• Supported separation of church and state and frequently attacked Christian ministers, so it was in part too radical

• Significant timing: same day as KG speech

• Distinction between civil rights (granted by the government) and natural rights (rights people were born with

• Challenges hereditary rule

• Says KGII is responsible for the trouble in the colonies

Pamphlet

The most popular form of Political media

This was small, portable, shareable, and cheap, creating a lasting impact

Richard H Lee

This person wrote the Resolution towards independence

Thomas Jefferson

This person wrote the declaration of independence

2

The number of committees created to deal with independence. One wrote the declaration, another wrote the articles of government

Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer

Written by John Dickinson, this document

• Claims loyalty to the King, but wants change in the colonies and Britain

• Affirms British law, but challenges their use

• No taxation for revenue without actual representation

Patrick Henry

This person was an American politician, planter and orator who declared to the Second Virginia Convention: "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

Declaration of Independence

-Presented justification for rebellion & independence

-Stated that if the government fails to protect natural rights, the people have the right to dissolve the government

-Listed all of the KING'S ABUSES (directed at king, NOT Parliament)

-Paine's influence was very evident

-Finished off by stating that everything was at stake

External, Indirect, Judges

The Townshend acts were [Internal/External], [Indirect/Direct], and were meant to pay the salaries of ______.

James Otis, Sam Adams

These two people wrote the MA Court General Circular Letter

Circular Letter to Governors

In response to the Massachusetts General Court Circular Letter, in February 1768

• They order Massachusetts to retract the letter

• They threaten to dissolve the Massachusetts General Court (a perfectly valid threat, as this was done previously with the New York General Court)

• They moved 2 regiments of troops to Boston from the frontier

  • The Boston population was already suffering of an economic depression