Ch 2.4 Birth of a Nation

Colonial ResistanceColonial Resistance –Salutary neglect America got used to running themselvesAmerica got used to running themselves –Mercantilism Navigation ActsNavigation Acts –Laws which restricted trade for the colonies –Could only trade with England

–Tensions Proclamation of 1763Proclamation of 1763 –England-France fighting in N. America French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War –Prevented settling lands west of the Appalachians Steep new taxes to pay for the warSteep new taxes to pay for the war –Stamp Act of 1765 Tax on all documentsTax on all documents Newspapers, legal papers, playing cards, etc.Newspapers, legal papers, playing cards, etc. –Quartering Act Soldiers could stay in your homeSoldiers could stay in your home

–It gets worse Colonists boycott British goodsColonists boycott British goods Stamp Act Congress, Oct 1765Stamp Act Congress, Oct 1765 –Colonial reps met & wrote a letter to parliament Complained about Stamp ActComplained about Stamp Act Parliament did away with Stamp ActParliament did away with Stamp Act Declaratory Act of 1766Declaratory Act of 1766 –Passed same day as Stamp Act was repealed –Parliament had right to make laws & tax colonies Townshend Acts of 1767Townshend Acts of 1767 –Allowed search & seizure –Raised taxes to pay for judges & gov Make them more loyal to Brit causeMake them more loyal to Brit cause

–Colonists would harass British official Some were tarred & featheredSome were tarred & feathered Homes were burnedHomes were burned Lives threatenedLives threatened –British troops sent into Boston Mar 1770 Boston MassacreMar 1770 Boston Massacre 5 colonists were killed5 colonists were killed –New Taxes Taxation w/o representationTaxation w/o representation 1773 Tea Act1773 Tea Act –Made Brit tea much cheaper than American –Boston Tea Party Colonists dressed as Natives dumped cases of tea into harborColonists dressed as Natives dumped cases of tea into harbor Led to Coercive Acts…colonists called them the Intolerable ActsLed to Coercive Acts…colonists called them the Intolerable Acts

–Coercive (Intolerable) Acts Trials could be moved to other colonies, or even to EnglandTrials could be moved to other colonies, or even to England Town meetings were banned unless a royal gov attendedTown meetings were banned unless a royal gov attended Port of Boston closed until price of tea paidPort of Boston closed until price of tea paid Soldiers could take up in your homeSoldiers could take up in your home

Move toward IndependenceMove toward Independence –1 st Continental Congress Sent demands to King George IIISent demands to King George III –Wanted rights restored –Extended boycott –Vowed to meet again the next year if demands were not met –George responded with force Soldiers and colonists mixed it up in Lexington & Concord MASoldiers and colonists mixed it up in Lexington & Concord MA SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLDSHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD

–2 nd Continental Congress May 1775 Philadelphia PAMay 1775 Philadelphia PA Spent many months debating course of actionSpent many months debating course of action –Many feared losing badly vs. British Army –Many still felt as loyal Brits –Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense Pamphlet that argued it was only common sense to break away from the “brute”Pamphlet that argued it was only common sense to break away from the “brute” –By 1776, more than half of reps called for independence Committee appointed to write documentCommittee appointed to write document –Thomas Jefferson main writer

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence –Argued Brit gov’t didn’t look after colonists interests –Listed the abuses of George III Called him a tyrantCalled him a tyrant Unfit to be ruler of free peopleUnfit to be ruler of free people –Outlined the beliefs gov’t is to protect the peoplegov’t is to protect the people gov’t based on consent of the peoplegov’t based on consent of the people only has powers the people give itonly has powers the people give it people have right to change itpeople have right to change it