Building TensionsBuilding Tensions

England and the Colonies England and the Colonies from 1763 to April, 1775from 1763 to April, 1775

Aftermath of the French Aftermath of the French and Indian Warand Indian War

Intense and expensive war between British on Intense and expensive war between British on one side, French and Indian allies on the one side, French and Indian allies on the other.other.

Having won the 7 Years War, England must Having won the 7 Years War, England must organize empire, cut costs and pay back debt.organize empire, cut costs and pay back debt.

Since colonies benefited, they were expected Since colonies benefited, they were expected to pay their share of the coststo pay their share of the costs

one way to cut costs was to minimize the need one way to cut costs was to minimize the need for military protection from Native Americansfor military protection from Native Americans

Proclamation of 1763 - a line not to be Proclamation of 1763 - a line not to be crossedcrossed

upset colonists desiring to expand westupset colonists desiring to expand west

Proclamation line of 1763Proclamation line of 1763

other Acts unpopular as wellother Acts unpopular as well Navigation Acts limit colonial Navigation Acts limit colonial

merchants to trade with merchants to trade with England onlyEngland only

Stamp Act of 1765 Stamp Act of 1765 [ first [ first directdirect tax on colonies ]tax on colonies ]

colonists boycott British goods; colonists boycott British goods; riots and violent protestsriots and violent protests

9 colonies unite in response 9 colonies unite in response with Stamp Act Congress [first with Stamp Act Congress [first unified action against British unified action against British authority]authority]

Parliament repeals the Act, but Parliament repeals the Act, but . . . .

Passes the Declaratory Act the Passes the Declaratory Act the next daynext day

Tension mountsTension mounts

Sons of Liberty in all colonies Sons of Liberty in all colonies Townshend Acts 1767 - additional duty Townshend Acts 1767 - additional duty

on importson imports• amounts to “taxation without amounts to “taxation without

representation”representation”• protests and boycotts, againprotests and boycotts, again

leads to the “leads to the “LibertyLiberty Incident” in 1768 Incident” in 1768• Hancock suspected of smuggling [he was]Hancock suspected of smuggling [he was]• ship seized; colonists protestship seized; colonists protest

Heading toward a Heading toward a flashpointflashpoint

The Boston Massacre - March 1770The Boston Massacre - March 1770• mob outside Customs House baits guardsmob outside Customs House baits guards• shooting starts, 5 dead including Crispus shooting starts, 5 dead including Crispus

AttucksAttucks• Boston in an uproarBoston in an uproar• propaganda opportunitypropaganda opportunity• John Adams successfully defends the British John Adams successfully defends the British

soldierssoldiers• for some, this is an indication that England for some, this is an indication that England

will never give inwill never give in

What’s wrong with this What’s wrong with this picture?picture?

The The GaspeeGaspee Affair 1772 Affair 1772• English armed cutter Gaspee runs aground and English armed cutter Gaspee runs aground and

is attacked and burned by Rhode Island is attacked and burned by Rhode Island colonistscolonists

• colonists upset at the idea that any caught colonists upset at the idea that any caught would have to stand trial in Englandwould have to stand trial in England

• first planned attack by colonists and first shot first planned attack by colonists and first shot aimed at a British officer aimed at a British officer

Committees of CorrespondenceCommittees of Correspondence• quickest communication of the dayquickest communication of the day• all 13 colonies have them - colonies beginning all 13 colonies have them - colonies beginning

to act in unison against British ruleto act in unison against British rule• will constitute a “shadow” government on will constitute a “shadow” government on

which the First Continental Congress will be which the First Continental Congress will be based in 1774based in 1774

The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party Dec. 16, 1773Dec. 16, 1773

designed to help British East India Co. by selling designed to help British East India Co. by selling surplus tea direct to colonies at bargain price surplus tea direct to colonies at bargain price

reduced tax, but would amount to recognition of reduced tax, but would amount to recognition of Parliament’s right to tax the coloniesParliament’s right to tax the colonies

Tea refused in all colonies; in Boston the Sons of Liberty Tea refused in all colonies; in Boston the Sons of Liberty stage a raid, and pitch crates of tea into the harborstage a raid, and pitch crates of tea into the harbor

King George III says, “Enough!”King George III says, “Enough!” King and Parliament pass the Coercive Acts - King and Parliament pass the Coercive Acts -

known in the colonies as the Intolerable Acts in known in the colonies as the Intolerable Acts in May and June of 1774 - aimed at Boston and May and June of 1774 - aimed at Boston and Massachusetts ColonyMassachusetts Colony• Administration of Justice Act - crown officials to Administration of Justice Act - crown officials to

be tried in Englandbe tried in England• Mass. Gov’t Act - virtual elimination of self- Mass. Gov’t Act - virtual elimination of self-

gov’t ; imposition of martial law by new military gov’t ; imposition of martial law by new military governor Gen. Gage governor Gen. Gage

• Quartering Act - private homes now required to Quartering Act - private homes now required to put up soldiers [ applied to all colonies ]put up soldiers [ applied to all colonies ]

• Boston Port Act - port closed down until price of Boston Port Act - port closed down until price of tea paidtea paid

• conditions in Boston become horrific with lack of conditions in Boston become horrific with lack of supplies and spread of diseasesupplies and spread of disease

11stst Continental Congress convenes, Continental Congress convenes, Sept. 5, 1774Sept. 5, 1774

1st Continental 1st Continental CongressCongressSept. 5, 1774Sept. 5, 1774

North Carolina precedes this act with 1North Carolina precedes this act with 1stst Provincial Congress in Wilmington in Aug., 1774Provincial Congress in Wilmington in Aug., 1774

all colonies but Georgia meet in Philadelphia, all colonies but Georgia meet in Philadelphia, PAPA

Organization of colonies-wide boycott of Organization of colonies-wide boycott of imports. Boycott on exports to follow by Sept. imports. Boycott on exports to follow by Sept. 17751775

provision made for 2provision made for 2ndnd Congress the following Congress the following May if things did not improveMay if things did not improve

[ they won’t ][ they won’t ]

The Shot Heard ‘round the The Shot Heard ‘round the WorldWorld April 19, 1775 fighting begins at April 19, 1775 fighting begins at

Lexington and Concord, Mass.Lexington and Concord, Mass. Gen. Gage sets out from Boston to Gen. Gage sets out from Boston to

capture arms, Sam Adams and capture arms, Sam Adams and John Hancock in ConcordJohn Hancock in Concord

Paul Revere, William Dawes and Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott raise the alarmSamuel Prescott raise the alarm

Alerted by pre-Alerted by pre-arranged signal to arranged signal to ride and warn the ride and warn the Minutemen that the Minutemen that the “regulars are “regulars are coming!”coming!”

successful in that successful in that militia are ready at militia are ready at Lexington and Lexington and ConcordConcord

Revere warns Adams Revere warns Adams and Hancock in timeand Hancock in time

Fighting at Lexington Green and Fighting at Lexington Green and Concord BridgeConcord Bridge

Patriots confronted at Lexington Green - no Patriots confronted at Lexington Green - no one knows who fired firstone knows who fired first

Regulars push on to Concord and fight their Regulars push on to Concord and fight their way across the bridgeway across the bridge

arms and rebel leaders are gonearms and rebel leaders are gone Regulars are harassed all the way back to Regulars are harassed all the way back to

Boston, suffering heavy casualtiesBoston, suffering heavy casualties