Section CHAPTER 6

 In 1774, Parliament passed a series of laws to punish the Massachusetts colony and to clamp down on resistance in the colonies. The British called these the Coercive Acts.  The Colonist called them the Intolerable Acts  Closed the port of Boston until colonies paid for destroyed tea  Altered the Massachusetts charter to ban town meetings  Replaced the elected council with an appointed one  Increased the governor’s power over the colonists  Protected British officials accused of crimes in the colonies from being tried by colonies  Allowed British officers to house troops in private dwellings. THE INTOLERABLE ACTS

 In September 1774, delegates from all the colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia. This would be called the First Continental Congress.  Voted to ban all trade with Britain until the Intolerable Acts were repealed.  Train Troops Colonist SpiesBritish Spies Samuel AdamsGeneral Gage  Paul Revere and a second messenger, William Dawes were sent to spread the news about British troop movements.  One lantern meant troops traveled by land out of Boston  Two lantern meant troops traveled by water out of Boston MAJOR EVENTS THAT LED TO DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

 Lexington and Concord- was the first battle of the Revolutionary War  “SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD”  Now people had to choose what side they were on  Patriots  Loyalist Olive Branch Petition CHOOSE A SIDE

 Thomas Paine wrote the book called the Common Sense  He believed that all men, not just land owners, should have the right to vote. He also ridiculed the ideas that kings ruled by will of God.  Americans were beginning to understand that it was time to fight for independence.  On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a key resolution.  It called the colonies “ free and independent states” and declared “ all political connections between them and the State of Great Britain.. Totally dissolved”  Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.  Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson.  Jefferson wrote the Declaration DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

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