Ch. 4 The War For Independence Ch. 4.1 The Stirrings of Rebellion What issues were growing between the colonists and Great Britain?

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Section Objectives 1. Summarize the colonial resistance to British taxation. 2. Trace the mounting tension in Massachusetts. 3. Summarize the battles of Lexington and Concord.

1. The Colonies Organize to Resist Britain Britain is using the colonies to pay off the French and Indian war debt. A. The Stamp Act Stamp Act- A 1765 law in which Parliament established the first direct taxation of goods and services within the British colonies in North America. B. Stamp Act Protests In response to the Stamp Act colonists created the Sons of Liberty. Samuel Adams- One of the founders of the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty harassed stamp agents forcing them to resign. Act repealed, first time the colonies were working as one.

C. The Townshend Acts Townshend Acts- A series of laws enacted by Parliament in 1767, establishing indirect taxes on goods imported from Britain by the British colonies in North America. Colonists reacted with rage protesting “taxation without representation” John Hancock (local merchant) is accused of smuggling in wine by British customs agents. 2,000 British soldiers were stationed in Boston after riots were triggered against customs agents.

British policies anger the colonists http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#colonists-protest-british-policies

2. Tension Mounts in Massachusetts British soldiers create tension in Boston. A. The Boston Massacre Competition of jobs between colonists and poorly paid British soldiers led to the Boston Massacre. Boston Massacre- A clash between British soldiers and Boston colonists in 1770, in which five of the colonists were killed. A plan was put in place to bring Americans to England for trial. committees of correspondence- A group set up by colonists to exchange information about British threats to their liberties. Significant because it linked the leaders of nearly all the colonies.

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B. The Boston Tea Party C. The Intolerable Acts Tea Act proposed to sell tea directly to the colonists without a tax and cut colonial merchants out. Boston Tea Party- Dumping of 18,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor by colonists in 1773 to protest the Tea Act. C. The Intolerable Acts King George III- British King that pressed Parliament to act after the Boston Tea Party. Intolerable Acts- A series of laws passed by Parliament in 1774 to punish Mass colonists for the Boston Tea Party. Shut down Boston Harbor, Quartering Act, and put Boston under martial law.

Martial law- Rule imposed by military forces. In response to the intolerable acts the colonists created the First Continental Congress in 1774, which met in Philadelphia. Drew up a declaration of colonial rights.

3. Fighting Erupts at Lexington and Concord Minutemen- Civilian soldiers that began to stockpile firearms. A. To Concord, by the Lexington Road General Gage (British General) received word that the colonists had a large amount of weapons and ammunition outside Boston. Gage ordered his men to march to Concord and seize and destroy all weapons. B. “The Regulars are Coming” Paul Revere was ordered to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming. Significant because the British lost the element of surprise. Revere was captured by the British, but was released so they could travel faster.

C. “A Glorious Day for America” British soldiers and Minutemen squared of at Lexington. Minutemen were ordered to lay down their weapons, when they didn’t a shot was fired and the American Revolution began. (Battle of Lexington) British marched to Concord and found nothing, they went to march back to Boston but were met by 3,000-4,000 Minutemen. British soldiers fell by the dozen and they retreated back to Boston. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#first-revolutionary-battle-at-lexington--concord