Independence

British Colonial Policies “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” Benjamin Franklin is said to have spoken these words on July 4, 1776, as he and the other members of the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. Those who heard him may have chuckled, but they also may have felt a shiver, for Franklin’s humor carried a deadly serious message. In this section, you will follow the events that led to the momentous decision to break with Great Britain. You will also consider the new State governments that were established with the coming of independence.

British Colonial Policies British colonial rule before 1760 was not burdensome. The British flag flew over peaceful harbors, like this one in Newport, Rhode Island, with no protests from the colonists.

British Colonial Policies During the latter 1700s, the British began to implement new policies in its North American colonies. Who benefited from these British policies? What did the colonists get out of these acts?

How did it work? England made a law and it was placed on ship and sent to the United States Royal governors were responsible for making sure the law was followed How could the colonists influence the way the law was enforced?

Growing Colonial Unity A decision to revolt was not one to be taken lightly—or alone. The colonies would need to learn to work together if they wanted to succeed. Indeed, long before the 1770s, several attempts had been made to promote cooperation among the colonies. The colonists had paid taxes for years to the British Crown without having a say in the new laws being passed. Parliament did not allow the colonists to send representatives to them to argue their case against the new taxes.

Growing Colonial Unity Members of a New England Confederation militia return home after responding to a false alarm of a Native American attack.

The First Continental Congress In the spring of 1774, Parliament passed yet another set of laws, this time to punish the colonists for the troubles in Boston and elsewhere. These new laws, denounced in America as the Intolerable Acts, prompted widespread calls for a meeting of the colonies. What does it mean if the acts were “intolerable”? England was the most powerful empire in the world at this time. The colonists were less than one hundred thousand people living in a relatively undeveloped nation. Why was a boycott preferable to a war?

The First Continental Congress Members of the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and debated for almost two months before finalizing a Declaration of Rights, which was sent on to England.

The Second Continental Congress During the fall and winter of 1774–1775, the British government continued to refuse to compromise, let alone reverse, its colonial policies. It reacted to the Declaration of Rights as it had to other expressions of colonial discontent—with even stricter and more repressive measures.

The Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress met just weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord. One of their first tasks was to appoint George Washington as commander in chief of the new army.

The Second Continental Congress This chart shows just a few of the key delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Analyze ChartsWhat qualifications did these men have to suit them to the task of leading the colonies?

The Declaration of Independence Congressional delegates thought the move for independence should be unanimous, so they delayed the final vote until 12 colonial delegations favored it. New York abstained.

The First State Constitutions In January 1776, New Hampshire adopted a constitution to replace its royal charter. Less than three months later, South Carolina followed suit. Then, on May 10, nearly two months before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the Congress urged each of the colonies to adopt “such governments as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents.” Why get rid of the Royal Charters?

The First State Constitutions The Massachusetts constitution, written by John Adams (above) and ratified on June 15, 1780, was a model for the U.S. Constitution, which wasn’t completed until September 17, 1787.

The First State Constitutions The initial State constitutions had several features in common with America's founding documents. Analyze Charts What features were most common?