Dominion Christian High School The Road to Revolution: (1770-1776) Mr. Marston Dominion Christian High School Marietta, GA

The Boston Massacre (March 5,1770)

Repeal of Townshend Acts Outcry from Boston Massacre was so great that British troops were withdrawn from Boston for period of time All Townshend Taxes suspended except Tax on tea Committees of Correspondence groups that linked the colonial legislatures together and monitored British activities: First started by Sam Adams in Boston after Gaspee affair

Committees of Correspondence Purpose  warn neighboring colonies about incidents with British.  broaden the resistance movement. One Massachusetts Loyalist said (they were) “the foulest, subtlest, and most venomous serpent ever issued from the egg of sedition.”

attack on a customs official tar and feathering

Another tar and feathering from the colonial period

Discontent on Frontier 1. Paxton Boys: a group of Pennsylvania frontiersmen attacked Conestoga Indians and threatened Moravian Indians: lack of protection from Pontiac’s rebellion. 2. South Carolina: “Regulators,” backcountry organizers who administered frontier justice against horse thieves, cattle rustlers and Indians. Refused to pay taxes until they received effective government 3.North Carolina: against the government appointees from the east. (Civil War)

Discontent on Frontier Diversity of Opinion in colonies Unsettled frontier also proved to British that colonies were unstable

The Gaspee Incident (1772) Providence, RI coast

Gaspee: anti-smuggling ship Gaspee ran aground Locals boarded the ship and burned it to the ground Result: Governor Hutchinson said his salary would come from customs revenue and so would the judges of the Supreme Court. Outcome: power of the purse no longer with Massachusetts colonial legislature, but with British crown.

Tea Act (1773) British East India Co: Ran into spell of bad business Monopoly on British tea imports to colonies Many members of Parliament held shares. Permitted the Co. to sell tea directly to cols. without colonial middlemen (cheaper tea!) North expected the colonies to eagerly choose the cheaper tea.

Boston Tea Party British tea was cheaper than imported smuggled Dutch Tea Colonies saw the Tea Act as forced monopoly: They weren’t price sensitive New York and Philadelphia forced British Tea ships to return to London. Charleston: tea offloaded and later sold to finance the revolution Boston: test of will between Governor Hutchinson and Sam Adams

Boston Tea Party Hutchinson had 2 sons who stood to profit from the tea: refused to back down After 20 days in port (December 16, 1773) Sons of Liberty threw 90,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor First destructive, open action against the British British responded with Coercive Acts

Boston Tea Party (1773)

The Coercive or Intolerable Acts (1774) 1. Port Bill: closed Boston until city paid for Tea 2. Government Act: colony’s council and law enforcement officers were appointed, not elected. 3. New Quartering Act: in private homes, if necessary Lord North 4. Administration of Justice Act: British would now be tried in England