Doc A: Bostonians Paying the Excise man

1. Doc A:Bostonians Paying the Excise man What is occurring in the foreground of this illustration? What is occurring in the background? Who is the bad guy? Who is the good guy? Which point of view (loyalist or patriot) do you believe this was from?

2. Doc B • “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, ….” • Declaration of Independence 1776

3. Doc C • “In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense: . . . • “. . . . This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home pursues their descendants still. . . . • . . . . Any submission to, or dependence on, Great Britain tends directly to involve this continent in European wars and quarrels, and set us at variance with nations who would otherwise seek our friendship, and against whom we have neither anger nor complaint. It is the true interest of America to steer clear of European contentions,… • Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for government to take under their care. But there is something absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. . . . it is evident that they belong to different systems. England to Europe: America to itself. . . .” • Thomas Paine, Common Sense 1776

4. Doc D • “…the taxation of the people by themselves, or by persons chosen by themselves to represent them, who can only know what taxes the people are able to bear, or the easiest method of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every tax laid on the people, is the only security against a burthensome taxation.” • Virginia Stamp Act Resolution(1766)

5. Doc E • Q. Do the Americans pay any considerable taxes among themselves? • A. Certainly many, and very heavy taxes. • Q. For what purposes are those taxes laid? • A. For the support of the civil and military establishments of the country, and to discharge the heavy debt contracted in the last [Seven Years'] war. . . . • Q. Are not the colonies, from their circumstances, very able to pay the stamp duty? • A. In my opinion there is not gold and silver enough in the colonies to pay the stamp duty for one year. • Q. Do you think it right that America should be protected by this country and pay no part of the expense? • A. That is not the case. The colonies raised, clothed, and paid, during the last war, near 25,000 men, and spent many millions. • Q. Do not you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty, if it was moderated? • A. No, never, unless compelled by force of arms. . . . • “Benjamin Franklin Testifies Against the Stamp Act (1766)

6. Doc F • “Upon the whole, the single question is, whether the parliament can legally impose duties (taxes) to be paid by the people of these colonies only, for the sole purpose of raising revenue…or, in other words, whether the parliament can legally take money out our pockets, without our consent.” • John Dickinson Dec. 10, 1767

7. Doc GBloody Massacre by Paul Revere (1770)

8. Doc H “To suppose, that by sending out a colony, the nation established an independent power…(that) shall not contribute to their own defense…involves such an accumulation of absurdity. “He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may therefore subject them to government.” • Samuel Johnson, The Patriot (1774)

9. Doc I • “The mob proceeded…upon the Custom House…and attacked (the guard)….Captain Preston…hearing the (guard) was in danger of being murdered, he detached a sergeant and twelve men to relieve him…This party… was immediately attacked, come (colonists) throwing bricks, stones, pieces of ice and snow-balls at them, whilst others advanced up to their bayonets, and endeavored to close with them, to use their bludgeons and clubs; calling out to (the soldiers) to fire if they dared. • …(O)ne of the soldiers, receiving a violent blow, instantly fired…and the mob…attacked with greater violence…. The soldiers at length perceiving their lives in danger and hearing the word fire all round them, three or four of them fired on after another, and again three more in the same hurry and confusion.” • Thomas Gage, commander in chief of all British North American Soldiers (1770)

10. Doc J • “Thirty of forty persons…gathered in King-Street, Capt. Preston, with a party of men with charged bayonets, came from the main guard to the commissioners house, the soldiers pushing their bayonets, crying, Make Way! They took place by the custom-house….The colonists…threw snow balls. On this, the captain commanded them to fire, and more snow balls coming, he again said, damn you, fire, be the consequences what it will! One soldier fired…(and) the soldiers continued the fire…till 7 or 8, or as some say 11 guns were discharged.” • Essex Gazette (1770)

11. Source: Edmund Burke, "Notes for Speech in Parliament, 3 February 1766". • Govern America [?I as you govern an English town which happens not to be represented in • Parliament [?I Are Gentlemen really serious when they propose this? Is there a single Trait of • Resemblance between those few Towns, and a great and growing people spread over a vast quarter of • the globe, separated from us by a mighty Ocean? • . . . The eternal Barriers of Nature forbid that the colonies should be blended or coalesce into the • Mass . . . of this Kingdom. We have nothing therefore for it, but to let them carry across the ocean • into the woods and deserts of America the images of the British constitution.

12. Source: Richard Henry Lee to Arthur Lee, 24 February, 1774. • The wicked violence of [the] Ministry is so clearly expressed, as to leave no doubt of their fatal • determination to ruin both Countries unless a powerful and timely check is interposed by the Body of • People. A very small corrupted Junto in New York excepted, all N. America is now most firmly • united and as firmly resolved to defend their liberties ad infiniturnagainst every power on Earth that • may attempt to take them away. The most effectual measures are everywhere taking to secure a • sacred observance of the Association - Manufactures go rapidly on and the means of repelling force • by force are universally adopting.

13. Source: Mather Byles, Cotton Mather's grandson, to Nathaniel Emmons, Arthur Wentworth Hamilton • Eaton, The Famous Mather Byles: The Noted Boston Tory Preacher, Poet and Wit, 1707-1 788. • They call me a brainless Tory; but tell me, my young friend, which is better, to be ruled by one tyrant • three thousand miles away, or by three thousand tyrants not a mile away. I tell you, my boy, there • was just as much humbug in politics seventy years ago as there is today.

14. Source: Declaration for the Causes of Taking up Arms, Continental Congress, 6 July 1775. • A Declaration by the Representative of the United Colonies of North America, now met in Congress • at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms. • . . . the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, • with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with • one mind resolved to die freemen, rather than live [like] slaves. • Lest this declaration should disquiet the minds of our friends and fellow-subjects in any part of the • Empire, we assure them that we mean not to dissolve that union which has so long and so happily • subsisted between us, and which we sincerely wish to see restored. . . We have not raised armies with • ambitious designs of separating from Great Britain, and establishing independent states.

15. “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come!! I repeat it, sir, let it come!!! . . . . It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! -- I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! “ Patrick Henry, Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death, America, Vol.3, Pg.118.

16. “Section IV. That the people of these colonies are not, and from their local circumstances cannot be, represented in the House of Commons in Great-Britain • Section V. That the only representatives of the people of these colonies, are persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures.” Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765

17. “They [Parliament] have undertaken to give and grant our money without our consent, though we have ever exercised an exclusive right to dispose of our own property; statutes have been passed for extending the jurisdiction of courts of Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving us of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial by jury, in cases affecting both life and property; for suspending the legislature of one of the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another; and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by charter, and secured by acts of its own legislature solemnly confirmed by the crown; for exempting the "murderers" of colonists from legal trial. . . .” Second Continental Congress, Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, July 6,1775.

18. George Grenville, former Prime Minister, and author of the Stamp • Act, speaks forth on Repeal, January 14, 1766. • "I cannot understand the difference between external and internal taxes. They are the same in effect, and only differ in name. That this kingdom has the sovereign, the supreme legislative power over America, is granted. It cannot be denied; and taxation is a part of that sovereign power. It is one branch of the legislation. It is, it has been exercised, over those who are not, who were never represented. . . . When I proposed to tax America, I asked the House, if any gentleman would object to the right; I repeatedly asked it, and no man would attempt to deny it. Protection and obedience are reciprocal.