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Ch. 7 – 2 notes. 1773 –the Br. East India Tea Co. given exclusive trading rights to colonies; cheaper than smuggled tea colonists upset at principle—not price BEITC ships sent back in all cities except Boston
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1773 –the Br. East India Tea Co. given exclusive trading rights to colonies; cheaper than smuggled tea • colonists upset at principle—not price • BEITC ships sent back in all cities except Boston • Dec. 16, 1773 – Sons of Lib. dumped 342 chests of BEITC tea into Boston Harbor – reactions varied
An irate Parliament passed a series of Intolerable Acts including • Boston Port Act – closed Boston harbor until tea paid for • Br. troops would be tried in England • Quebec Act – French subjects in Quebec given land South to Ohio River
This summoned the 1st Continental Congress to meet in Phila. in 1774 • 55 delegates from 12 colonies met to discuss grievances; not a ‘congress’ • Created The Association – complete boycott on Br. goods • April 1775 -- shots fired at Lexington, Mass. “shot heard around the world”
British strengths – wealth (Hessians), navy, freedom to blacks, large standing army • Br. Weaknesses – no hate, Whig opposition, 2nd rate generals, distance, no urban center • Colonial Strengths – great generals, defensive fighting, just cause, foreign help, self-sustaining • Col. Weaknesses – low weapons, poorly trained troops, little food, merchant profiteers, poor equipment
Marquis de Lafayette – Fr. general fought Br. • To pay for war, the Cont. Congress printed money – led to massive inflation • Baron von Steubon – drilled colonial troops • Blacks fought on both sides (Br. promised freedom) • American profiteers sold supplies to Br. • Only small # of colonists devoted to independence cause