Boston Tea Party (1773)

Taxation in the Colonies 8 Government of Great Britain in the 1700s 8 KING: George III 8 PRIME MINISTER: Lord North 8 PARLIAMENT: House of Lords and House of Commons

New British Policies 8 After the Boston Massacre, the repeal of the Townshend Acts led to a period of calm. 8 Although there was still a small duty on tea, the tax didn’t bother many, and most could always drink Dutch tea that had been smuggled in 8 Tea Act (1773) 8 Allowed British East India Company to ship tea to colonies without paying taxes that colonial merchants had to pay. Allowed company to sell tea very cheaply and threatened to drive colonial merchants out of business

New British Policies 8 The Tea Act was Lord North’s attempt to rescue the British East India Company (large trading company that controlled all trade between Britain and Asia) 8 For years, it had been a moneymaker for Britain, but the American boycott of British tea hurt the company financially. It was in danger of going broke unless it could sell the 17 million pounds that was sitting in London’s warehouses 8 It lowered the cost of British tea so that it was even cheaper than smuggled in Dutch tea. 8 It also gave the British East India Company a monopoly, or complete control, over tea sales in the colonies. From now on, the only merchants who could sell the bargain-priced tea were chosen by the company

New British Policies 8 When the British East India Company’s tea ships sailed into the ports, angry protestors kept them from unloading their cargo. 8 Many tea ships returned to England with the tea still on them 8 In Boston, however, the governor ordered the British navy to block the exit from Boston harbor until the tea was unloaded 8 Dec 16, 1773—BTP 8 90,000 pounds of tea were dumped by the Sons of Liberty

New British Policies 8 Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (Punishment for BTP) 8 Ended town meetings 8 Closed Boston harbor 8 Put Massachusetts under military rule (stronger Quartering Act) 8 Soldiers accused of murder would be tried in England (not the colonies)

Colonists Unite to Aid Massachusetts 8 Merchants in other cities showed their support by closing their shops 8 Many sent food and money to Bostonians 8 Virginia—”An attack made on one of our sister colonies, is an attack made on all British America” 8 VA also called for a Congress, or meeting, of delegates from all the colonies. Purpose would be to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts with Great Britain

First Continental Congress (1774)

First Continental Congress 8 WHERE DID IT MEET? 8 Philadelphia 8 WHEN DID IT MEET? 8 September WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE? 8 Wanted to establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British control

First Continental Congress 8 WHO WAS INVOLVED? 8 56 men from all colonies except Georgia. 8 John and Sam Adams; George Washington; John Jay 8 Patrick Henry: “I am not a Virginian, but an American”

First Continental Congress 8 WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED? 8 Drafted a statement of grievances 8 Declared that laws violated their rights 8 Called for boycott of British goods 8 Decided to form militias 8 Does this mean war?

First Continental Congress 8 DECLARATION of RESOLVES 8 Life, Liberty and property as important rights 8 Consent of the governed 8 Representative government 8 No taxation without representation 8 The right to assembly and petition the government without complaints

Preparing For Battle 8 King George III— “NE colonies are in a state of rebellion” 8 Gen. Gage had orders to take away weapons of Massachusetts militia and arrest the leaders 8 He began his march to Concord to seize artillery

The Regulars Are Coming... Paul Revere, William Dawes & Samuel Prescott make their midnight ride on April 18, 1775 to warn the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers.

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere 8 Never shouted that “The British Are Coming” 8 Revere did NOT ride alone 8 William Dawes and Samuel Prescott 8 Revere did not even complete the ride 8 Given sole credit by Longfellow because his name rhymes with “hear” 8 “Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere”

The Shot Heard ’ Round the World ! Lexington & Concord – April 18,1775

First Shots Fired 8 At dawn, Gage and his men reach Lexington 8 First shots were fired—at which point, 8 minutemen lay dead 8 Gage then headed toward Concord 8 Supplies had already been moved 8 Minutemen were ready 8 Gage lost 73 men (w/200 wounded) 8 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “The Concord Hymn” (Shot Heard Round the World)

REVOLUTION 8 R adicals, with protests and boycotts, made clear their demands for independence 8E8E 8V8V 8O8O 8L8L 8 U nder the guidance of Sam Adams, the Sons of Liberty dress as Indians and participate in the Boston Tea Party 8T8T 8I8I 8O8O 8N8N

REVOLUTION 8 The following terms need to be used: 8 Proclamation of No taxation without representation 8 Stamp Act 8 Boycott 8 Boston Massacre 8 Sam Adams 8 John Adams 8 Tea Act 8 Boston Tea Party 8 First Continental Congress 8 British East India Company 8 John Hancock 8 Paul Revere 8 Committee of Correspondence 8 Night Riders 8 Albany Plan of Union 8 Intolerable/Coercive Acts 8 French and Indian War