Presentation Transcript

1. The Stirrings of Rebellion

2. Setting the Scene The British were in debt from the French and Indian War 10,000 British troops stationed in the colonies Troops were meant to protect, but the colonists viewed them as an occupying force
3. The Stamp Act (1765) Required special paper to be used for legal documents, newspapers, licenses, pamphlets, etc. Violators were tried in English Naval courts More likely to be convicted than in colonial courts
4. Reaction to Stamp Act Colonial legislatures stated that Parliament couldn’t tax them because they had no representatives there Widespread boycott led to the Stamp Act being repealed in 1766 Declaratory Act: Parliament had full right to make laws “to bind the colonies and people of America… in all cases whatsoever.”
5. Sons of Liberty Founded by Boston merchants, laborers, and artisans Harassed and protested stamp agents, governors, and customs officials Members included Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, others
6. Buildup to the Boston Massacre The governor of Massachusetts calls for more troops in Boston to help restore the peace The Townshend Acts (June 1767) Taxed any goods imported from Britain Created to help fund the protection and administration of the colonies The colonists were very upset and responded with boycotts of British goods
7. The Boston Massacre Dockworkers and British soldiers fight over jobs A crowd gathers, shouting and throwing things at the soldiers British soldier is startled and fires his weapon
8. Massacre cont’d Other soldiers fire into the angry crowd In total, 5 colonists left dead In response, the British soldiers in Boston were removed and stationed in a harbor fort and the soldiers who fired the 5 deadly shots were tried, convicted of murder, and discharged from the army Would you have convicted the soldiers, or were they defending themselves?
9. Colonial Reactions Incident was blown out of proportion, but effectively enraged colonists Due to technology and the dispersed population, most news spread by newspapers, committees of correspondence, and Paul Revere’s engraving Public opinion begins to favor the patriots
10. Boston Tea Party (1773) Reaction to a new tea tax Sons of Liberty dressed as Indians and threw tea into the Boston Harbor
11. The Intolerable Acts Was actually 3 individual acts: Boston Harbor shut down due to colonists’ refusal to pay for damaged tea Quartering Act: allowed British to house troops in vacant homes and other buildings General Thomas Gage appointed as governor of Massachusetts; Massachusetts placed under martial law
12. First Continental Congress Convened in September of 1774 The 56 Delegates… Drew up a Declaration of Colonial Rights Defended colonies rights to govern their own affairs Supported protests in Massachusetts Stated that if the British used force, the colonies should fight back Decided to meet again in May of 1775 if their demands were not met