Chapter 2 Section 2 Notes

1. Chapter 2 Section 2 Notes • Colonial Resistance and Rebellion • In 1760 the British developed a policy called mercantilism. • Britain needed more money to pay off a war debt it had b/c of the French and Indian War • THE STAMP ACT • In 1765, colonists were required to pay a tax on all newspapers and legal documents

2. Chapter 2 Section 2 notes • Colonists boycott British goods and G.B. repeals Stamp Act • Declaratory Act of 1766 stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies “in all cases”

3. Chapter 2 Section 2 notes • The Townsend Acts • Passed by Parliament in 1767 • New taxes on goods imported into the colonies such as glass, paper, tea, and lead • These were items the colonists needed because they couldn’t produce them • This angered the colonists and they boycotted again.

4. Chapter 2 Section 2 Notes • THE TEA ACT • Passed by Parliament in 1773 • Let the British East India Tea Company ship the tea to the colonies cheaper then the colonist could produce it! • Colonists blocked all East India ships from colonial ports except at the Boston Port • In 1773 a group of colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of British Tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the taxes • This was called the “Boston Tea Party”

5. THE INTOLERABLE ACTS • Passed by Great Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party. • The Intolerable Acts restricted the colonists’ rights • Ex…. Trial by jury, allowed British soldiers to search homes

6. Movement Towards Independence -Colonists banned together to fight the Intolerable Acts • -In 1774, 12 of the colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to discuss their concerns • -This meeting in Philadelphia became known as the 1st Continental Congress

7. The First Continental Congress • Lasted 7 weeks • Delegates sent a document to Britain demanding their rights restored • King George responded by force • Two battles between British and Colonial soldiers took place in Mass, at Lexington and Concord. • These were the 1st battles of the Revolutionary War • People began to talk about independence from Britain

8. 2nd Continental Congress • In May 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia • Thomas Paine, an American Colonist, inspired others by publishing a pamphlet • He called it Common Sense Paine called for complete independence from Britain • He said it was simply common sense to stop following Britain and the 2nd Continental Congress agreed.

9. The Declaration of Independence • The congress appointed a committee to write a document that would officially announce the independence of the U.S • Thomas Jefferson did most of the work The document argued that the British did not look after the interests of the colonies

10. D Of I continued • A. Democratic Ideals • Pg. 37 • An Uncertain Future • ·       The 2nd Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence • ·       On July 4, 1776 the colonies were independent • True freedom would not come true until Great Britain officially recognized the U.S. as free