The Intolerable Acts (1774) to the Battles of Lexington and

Concord (April, 1775)

Reaction to the Tea Party: Lord North

• Frederick North,

Lord North

• British Prime Minister, 1770 - 1782

The Intolerable Acts

The Intolerable Acts

• The Boston Port Act (March 31, 1774) • The Massachusetts Government Act (May 20,

1774) • Administration of Justice Act (May 20, 1774)• The Quartering Act (June 2, 1774)

Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke

• MP from 1765• Sympathetic to the

Americans• Supported free trade,

criticised capital punishment

• Critical of French Revolution

• Strong influence on Conservative politics

Committees of Correspondence

Committees of Correspondence

• Boston Committee of Correspondence established in 1772 by Samuel Adams

• Increase communication; sustain morale and energy; co-ordinate action

• Inspired other committees through Massachusetts and the other colonies

Circular Letter

• Boston Committee of Correspondence; May 13, 1774

The First Continental Congress, September 5, 1774

The First Continental Congress, September 5, 1774

- Delegates appointed by each colonial legislature- absolute ban on importation of British goods- Threat to cease exporting goods to Britain if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed - Petitioned King George - Agreed to convene a Second Continental Congress in May, 1775

Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, October 14,

1774

Instructions to petition the King

Petition to the King, October 26, 1774

Provisional Act Fails, February 1, 1775

Provisional Act Fails, February 1, 1775

• Chatham (William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

• Pitt the Elder• PM: 1766 – 1768• Dominated House of

Commons• Whig• Champion of Empire

1774/5: Shadow government develops in Massachusetts

Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775