On the Road to Revolution

1. Colonial Resistance On the Road to Revolution

2. Raising Revenue • After repealing the Stamp Act, Parliament had to raise revenue • Finance Minister Charles Townshend proposes multi-part plan • Townshend Acts • Suspend New York assembly until New Yorkers agreed to house troops • Placed duties on various imported goods • Townshend believed that these taxes on goods would anger the colonists less than a direct tax like the Stamp Act

3. Enforcement of the Acts • Writs of assistance were used to search homes and businesses for smuggled goods • Samuel Adams’ Sons of Liberty urged colonists to resist British goods • Protests were assembled to emphasize displeasure in the colonies • British soldiers were sent to colonial cities to enforce British law & protect customs officials • Standing armies in the colonies became the norm

4. Boston Massacre & its Fallout • Protest turned into a mob riot outside customs house on Kings St. in Boston • 5 people die after shots fired by soldiers • The Sons of Liberty call them martyrs for freedom • Including Crispus Attucks • Colonists use the event as propaganda to gain support from other colonies against the British • Soldiers did receive a fair trial and were acquitted

5. Colonial Dissent Over Tea • Tea was popular but was smuggled • Parliament pass Tea Act • Colonists disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests of tea in Boston Harbor • The colonists intent was to destroy British property in an effort to show Britain how strongly they opposed taxation without representation

6. Intolerable Actions • British government sought to punish the colonists for Boston Tea Party • British called the Coercive Acts • Colonists call them Intolerable Acts • Laws not received well in colonies • Closed port of Boston until pay for the tea • Banned committees of correspondence • Allowed Brits to house troops wherever needed • British officials accused of crimes in the colonies would stand trial in Britain • Parliament appointed a military General as Governor of Mass. to enforce the acts

7. Response to “Intolerable” Acts “The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, & New Englanders are no more…I am not a Virginian, but an American.” • All colonies except Georgia meet as the 1st Continental Congress • Massachusetts • John Adams • Virginia • Patrick Henry • Outspoken defenders of colonial rights (quoted above) • George Washington • Debate & reject a plan to compromise & reconcile with Great Britain

8. Decisions of the Congress • Draft petition of grievances to repeal all laws since 1763 • Laws violated “natural rights” • Vote to boycott British goods & ban all trade with Britain until Intolerable Acts are repealed • Prepared decision to form militias in the area • Parliament considers the colonists in Spring 1775 • King rejects reconciliation & vote to send more troops to the colonies

9. Colonists Use Committee of Correspondence April 18, 1775 – 700 troops sent to Boston Used riders to send messages from town to town Wentworth Cheswell Troops goal was to capture colonial leaders (John Hancock & Sam Adams) & supplies @ Concord, MA Boston used the committee & get word of Boston invasion beforehand

10. The Midnight Riders • Boston Committee of Correspondence sent riders to warn colonists of British invasion • Paul Revere • William Dawes

11. Lexington & Concord • British tried to seize colonists’ arms & ammunition • Minutemen boasted they could be ready @ a moment’s notice • The colonial militia drove the British back to Boston • Fighting signaled the start of the American Revolution