Chapter 5 Questions/Notes
What did Patrick Henry say that summed up the meaning of the gathering?
"The districts between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Englanders, and New Yorkers are no more... I am not a Virginian, but an American."
Shot Heard Around the World (video)
-Colonials dump $1 million worth of tea as a sign of rebellion. -British close the Harbor in response; hundreds of colonists lost their jobs. -September 5, 1774 56 delegates join together to form the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. -Delegates believed that all colonies are one. -Spring of 1775- colonists are training to use guns. -The colonial army was full of all people who joined together for one cause. -April 19, 1775- hundreds of red coats make their way to Lexington and Concorde 20 miles away to retrieve all weapons that the colonists have. -Paul Revere hears of the British traveling to Lexington and Concorde, and spreads the news. -Colonials face off with the British; 60 colonists v. 100 British. -British fire up to 4 times as much as the colonists. -1/3 of the British were killed or wounded.
Bunker Hill
-General Gage asked London for 20,000 more troops; he only received 2,000 -Rebels decided to make a fort on Bunker Hill to prepare for British attack -William Prescott led the rebels -The rebels fortified on Breeds Hill, not Bunker Hill -By 3:00 p.m. the British had landed and were ready to fight -The 1st and 2d attacks failed by the British -William Prescott finally ordered his men to retreat after they had run out of musket balls -Over 40% of the British that fought had died -In total over 1,000 men were killed or wounded
What were 5 things that the Second Continental Congress accomplished?
-Governing colonies -Authorized printing of money -Created the Continental Congress -Established committees to communicate with Native Americans -Sent a petition to the British
What happened at Lexington and Concord?
-In the center of Lexington, the Redcoats reached the 70 minutemen who were alerted by Revere and Dawes. A shot was fired, and both sides let loose with an exchange of bullets. The British troops destroyed the militia's remaining supplies, and continued on to Concord, where minutemen were waiting for them. Militiamen were tipped off, so they hid the guns in Concord. As the British went from Concord to Boston, the militia met up and fired at them all the way back to Boston.
Who were some important people at the Second Continental Congress? Why were they important?
-John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington. They were important because they all had influential, political, and knowledgeable backgrounds.
Why did the American colonies disagree to new British laws?
-The Americans disagreed with the British laws because they were passed without their consent. They thought it violated their rights as Englishmen to be taxed like this. Even when the taxes were lowered, the colonists were still made because of the principle.
What did the Townshend Acts do? Were they repealed?
-The Townshend Acts were passed after the Stamp Act crisis. In these acts, British leaders tried to avoid some of the problems the Stamp Act caused. The new taxes applied only to imported goods, with the tax being paid at the port of entry. Some taxed goods were glass, tea, paper, and lead. The colonists were furious about these acts, for they believed that only their representatives could tax them. The colonists responded by bringing back the boycott that worked for the Stamp Act, and it was even more widespread this time. The Townshend Acts were repealed.
Britain's new policy
1. Placed the colonies under strict political and economical control. 2. Compelled the colonies to demonstrate respect for and obey English law. 3. Made colonies bear their part of the cost of maintaining the British empire.
What are the 4 sections of the Declaration of Independence?
1. The preamble 2. List of rights that the colonists believed they should have 3. Grievances or complaints against Britain 4. Proclaims the existence of the new nation
TIMELINE OF EVENTS:
1762: The social Contract 1763: Treaty of Paris 1763: Proclamation of 1763 1764: Parliament passes sugar act 1765: Stamp Act Protests 1767: Townshend Acts tax colonial imports 1767: Parliament authorizes Writ of Assistance in response to smuggling in the colonies 1770: Boston Massacre 1773: Parliament Passes tea act (Repeals all taxes except the one on tea) 1773: Boston Tea Party 9-1774: First continental Congress meets 1774: Parliament passes intolerable acts 6-17-1775: Battles fought at Lexington and Concord January, 1776: Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense 1776: Declaration of Independence signed
What happened at the Battle of Lexington and Concorde?
60 colonists faced off against the British at Bunker Hill. 8 minute men then lied dead.
What issues did the First Statement of the grievances address?
A repeal of 13 Acts.
What was the American War for Independence?
Actual fighting and war between the colonists and the British government.
What was the point of the Sons of Liberty?
After the Stamp Act was passed, colonist were very angry about the new taxes placed on them for the second time. A young member of the Virginia house of burgesses, Patrick Henry, helped persuade the Virginia house of burgesses to take charge and address this issue with the British. The house passed a resolution stating "The only and sole exclusive right and power to lay taxes". This meant that only the leaders of the colonies were able to tax their colonist and that Britain shouldn't even try to mess with their system of government. A group called the Sons of Liberty (help organized by Samuel Adams) took the streets to protest and boycott the goods gave by the British. Throughout the summer of 1765, members would go in the streets and burn rag figures of hated British men to show the hate of these people. They also destroyed buildings of officials in the colonies that would do anything about the taxing issue.
What did the Stamp Act tax?
All printed materials such as newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards.
What was the American Revolution?
Arguments and meetings/rebellions between the colonists and the British government.
Why would Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson be invited as delegates to the Second Continental Congress?
Benjamin Franklin: 1 of the most accomplished and respected men in the colonies, he secured the repeal of the Stamp Act John Hancock: He led many patriot groups Thomas Jefferson: Has a long reputation as a brilliant thinker and writer.
How did the Vice Administrative Courts contradict British law?
British law states that the accused are innocent until proven guilty,
In the picture, where is Captain Preston, the British Commander? What is he doing?
Captain Preston is standing behind the soldiers. He appears to be telling the soldiers to fire.
What did the Coercive Acts do?
Closed Boston Harbor, banned most town meetings, and forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers.
What was the result of the French and Indian War?
Colonies gained self confidence and military experience, and this gave the British a reason and a determination to change their policies.
Why did Parliament authorize the Writs of Assistance in 1767?
Colonists were smuggling goods to avoid taxes.
What could custom officers do under the Writs of Assistance?
Customs officers had the right to enter and search any location for smuggled goods.
What were the Dorchester Heights? Who did they help and how?
Dorchester Heights was a location in the northeastern United States. It was where General Washington brought heavy weapons to bombard Boston to pull of one of the greatest bluffs in all wars. He warned the British to retreat or he and his troops will fire, but they had neither the Ammo nor the gunpowder to fire these weapons. The scared British retreaded, unaware of the truth of the Americans.
What are some of the famous names that attended the first Continental Congress meeting?
George Washington, John Adams, and Patrick Henry.
How did the How did the Townshend Act differ from the Stamp Act?
Instead of taxing all goods inside of the colonies, it taxed all imported goods.
Why would the Stamp Act upset the colonists more than any other tax?
It taxed practically all printed materials that the colonists used on a daily basis.
Why did the first Continental Congress meet in September 1774?
It wanted to establish a political body.
What was the Boston Tea Party and why was it considered a significant event?
It was when colonial men dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston River to protest against taxation. It is significant because it signifies defiance in the colonies.
What was James Otis' argument against the measures?
James Otis argued that "No part of English colonies can be taxed without their consent... Every part has a right to be represented." James defended the colonial rights. (No taxation without representation)
Why was Thomas Jefferson chosen to write the Declaration of Independence?
Jefferson was selected to write the historical document; He drew on the ideas of thinkers such as English philosophers, and had a great understanding of writing a document such as the Declaration of Independence.
What powers did officers have under the Sugar Act?
Officers were allowed to seize goods from smugglers without going to court.
What was one of the central issues of the Second Continental Congress? What did Richard Henry Lee propose? What were the responses to Lee's proposal?
One central issue was: should colonies declare themselves an independent nation, or should they stay under British rule? Richard Henry Lee proposed, "That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states... and that all political connections between them and the state of Great Britain is, ought to be, totally dissolved." Some delegates still thought that the colonies were not ready to form a separate nation. Others argued that war had already begun, and a large portion of the American population wanted to separate from Great Britain.
How did the British respond to the Boston Tea Party?
One of the most important bills imposed by Parliament at the time of the Boston Tea Party was a bill that prohibited ships from being loaded and unloaded in Boston's harbors. This made it difficult for merchants as well as ships and greatly affected the local economy and the way business was done in Boston at the time. The entire Massachusetts colony was affected by the new regulations on elected officials. The crown was responsible for electing government officials, which made the Massachusetts government charters essentially defunct and left the people at the mercy of the British. British officials were protected by the British government at the time of the Tea Party, but Parliament put a new bill into law after the event. This bill would allow any royal officials who were within the colonies at the time to transfer their court cases to royal court in England where they would be treated with more respect and kindness.
What other issues did the delegates vote on?
Other issues voted on were boycotting British goods.
What was Paul Revere's role on the night of April 18, 1775?
Paul Revere warned Sam Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming.
What did the Quebec Acts do?
Set up a permanent government for Quebec, and granted religious freedom to French Catholics.
Why did Boston colonists and British soldiers clash, resulting in the Boston Massacre?
Some colonists were throwing snowballs, sticks, clam shells, and clubs. One of the soldiers slipped and accidentally (Although this is not known for sure) fired his gun. In confusion the other soldiers began to shoot at the colonists and resulted in 5 dead colonists and 6 injured.
Who are the aggressors in the engraving below?
The British are the aggressors.
What were the Daughters of Liberty?
The Daughters of Liberty were a successful Colonial American group, established in the year 1765, that consisted of women who displayed their loyalty by participating in boycotts of British goods following the passage of the Townshend Acts.
What did the Declaratory Acts state? Why would the Declaratory Act be passe on the same day that the Stamp Act was repealed?
The Declaratory Act stated that the Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the British colonies under all cases. It was passed on the same day so that there would be no delay on collecting taxes for the government.
What happened at the first Continental Congress?
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. Representatives came from all the American colonies except for Georgia to protest some recent laws that had been passed by the British, such as the Administration of Justice Act and the Boston Port Bill, which closed off the Port of Boston. The colonists referred to these laws as the "Intolerable Acts." With Patrick Randolph of Virginia acting as president of the First Continental Congress, the colonists made several significant proposals to the British government.
What was the British response to the Boston Tea Party?
The King passed the Coercive Acts, which closed the Boston Harbor until the Massachusetts colony paid back for the ruined tea. This Act stopped the arrival of food and supplies.
What was the Olive Branch petition? What was King George's response to the petition?
The Olive Branch petition assured the King of the colonies desire for peace. King George refused to receive the petition.
What happened at the Second Continental Congress?
The Second Continental Congress first met on May 10, 1775. After that, the delegates continued to meet in different sessions until March of 1781, when the Articles of the Confederation were ratified. The first meeting was at the State House in Philadelphia, which would later be called Independence Hall, but they also had sessions in other locations including Baltimore, Maryland and York, Pennsylvania. Unlike the First Continental Congress, this time the colony of Georgia would join and all thirteen colonies were represented. Much had happened in the previous months since the end of the First Continental Congress including the start of the Revolutionary War with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The congress had some serious business to take care of immediately including forming an army to fight the British. The Second Continental Congress was led by John Hancock. Other new members included Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. This congress acted much more like a government sending ambassadors to foreign countries, printing its own money, getting loans, and raising an army.
What did the Sugar Act do? Was it repealed?
The Sugar Act was passed in 1764 to lower taxes on products. Grenville wanted to lower taxes on molasses so colonist would stop smuggling goods into the colonies. This act also let officers seize goods from smugglers. This let officers take goods that were smuggled instead of taking the guilty person to court. The sugar act was not liked by the colonist because they believed their rights as englishmen were being violated. The Writ of Assistance was created so that officers can come look in private homes for smuggled goods. This act was passed because of the large amount of smuggled goods in the colonies. This act was not repealed.
What did the Tea Act do? What was the cause of it?
The Tea act was passed in 1773 to tax colonist to buy any other tea other than the one from the East India Company because of the ruining of the company. It allowed colonist to buy tea without having the pay taxes, but only of the East India company. A large meeting was held in Boston to try to stop all of the taxes being placed on the colonist and america. The result of this meeting was to dress up as indians that worked at the port at night and throw tea overboard. The colonist met at midnight at the Boston harbor and started their mission. 342 chests of tea were thrown overboard a ship in the harbor to get back at the British. This event is known as the Boston Tea Party and resulted in the Intolerable Acts.
What were the coercive (intolerable) and Quebec Acts? Explain what the point of them was.
The coercive (intolerable) acts were very harsh laws intended to punish the people of Massachusetts for their resistance. King George passed these laws when he heard news of the Boston Tea Party, realizing that Britain was losing control of the colonies. These laws prevented the arrival of food and other supplies that normally came by ship. They also took away certain rights of the colonists and permitted royal officers to be tried in other colonies or in Britain when accused of crimes. They also forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their own homes. The Quebec Act further angered the colonists. This act set up a permanent government for Quebec and granted religious freedom to French Catholics.
How did the lowered tax on molasses under the Sugar Act upset the colonists?
The colonists felt that their rights as Englishmen were being violated.
Why would the Tea Act of 1773 upset the colonists?
The colonists were upset because it decreased the profit of smuggled goods.
What does the preamble of the Constitution mean?
The preamble of the Constitution states a description of traditional English political rights.
Describe the crowd, its size, composition, and location. What does the crowd seem to be thinking?
There are about twice as many people in the crowd than there are soldiers. And they're in town square/marketplace. The crowd appears to be all colonists. The crowd is worried, running away. There appears to be a few men shot and bleeding on the ground. (nighttime)
What were some of the actions taken by the Sons of Liberty? Are these acts considered terrorism or patriotism?
They committed many acts of violence such as smashing windows, burning documents, and destroying homes. This is an act of terrorism because it harmed people and property. It may also be considered patriotism because they fought for their rights for independence.
What was the first Continental Congress' rationale for the First Statements?
They declared that these Acts violated the Colonial Acts?
What did the Second Continental Congress say about independence?
They said that independence was a long way off.
Why was Thomas Paine important to the independence movement?
Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' informed the colonists on why they should separate from Great Britain. It also inspired thousands of Americans.
What was the Continental Army doing in March 1776?
Washington led his army to fight. He positioned the army in a semi-circle around Boston, and he gave the order for its cannons to bombard the British forces. On March 17th, Washington led his troops into Boston, the British troops sailed away to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
What happened at Bunker hill?
While the British technically won the battle, they lost so many important officials that it will be extremely difficult for them to recover. It was a Pyrrhic victory for the British
Who was the leader of the British side? What about the American side?
William Howe led the British in the War, while William Prescott led the Americans.
