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Name: ____________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Five/Part One – The Fight for North America
I. The Struggle for North America Begins
A. Conflict Between Britain and France:
By the middle of the 1700’s, two European nations had designs to control all of North America – Great Britain and France. Great Britain
controlled the Atlantic Coastline from present-day Maine to Georgia and claimed land as far west as the Ohio River Valley. France controlled all of
present-day Eastern Canada, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River Valley, and the Ohio River Valley.
Spain controlled all of South and Central America as well as Mexico, most of the West Indies, and Florida. Spain was much more concerned
with its gold and silver operations in Central and South America than it was in the territories north of Mexico. As a result, the real struggle to control
North America was between France and Britain. Spain would remain a spectator as its northern neighbors prepared for war.
By 1760, France and Great Britain (ancient enemies in Europe) had already fought three minor wars in North America. Britain hoped to
spread its North American Colonies to the west, but France claimed the lands to the west of the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain was prepared
to accept French claims to Canada and Louisiana, it was not willing to accept French claims over The Ohio River Valley and its valuable fur trading
resources and fertile land.
France was determined to hold onto the valley – it linked New France (Canada) with the Mississippi River and Louisiana. The loss of the
Ohio River Valley would split New France and Louisiana and allow the English to spread to the west. (1) France began to create a string of forts
through the valley to stop British movement into the region.
EFFECTS:
Both Britain and France would not accept each other’s claim over the Ohio River Valley and both nations felt that the valley was vital
(very important) to its future. Leaders in France and Britain felt that the valley was so valuable that they began to plan to take the valley – even if it
meant war. Tension grew in North America and several groups found themselves in the middle – French Colonists, British Colonists, and Native
Americans.
B. Choosing Sides:
Choosing sides was easy for the French and British Colonists in North America – they would side with their parent countries. The decision
was far more difficult for Native Americans. Already forced to accept the loss of their lands to the Europeans, the Natives now had to face the
possibility of being involved in a war being fought over their lands by other nations! Many Native Americans, if given a choice, would have avoided
choosing a side that would involve them in a full European war.
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The coming war, however, would be fought where they lived. Most of the tribes near the French and English Colonies decided that it was
safer to ally with a European nation than it would be to remain neutral (unattached to any side). (2) Still, the decision worried all of the tribes. One
chief best described Native worries when he told a British merchant “You and the French are like two edges of a pair of shears. And we are the cloth
which is to be cut to pieces between them.” The Natives knew that they would suffer, no matter the outcome of the war.
France had much better relations with the Natives than Great Britain. French settlers were fur trappers and traders who did not destroy Native
hunting grounds or take lands from Natives to farm. The French Government encouraged friendly relations and usually treated Natives with a sense
of fairness and respect that other Europeans seldom attempted or equaled. As a result, the majority of the Native tribes in North America allied with
the French, including the powerful Algonquin and Huron tribes (enemies of the Iroquois). (3)
Britain, on the other hand, did not enjoy good relations with most Native tribes. British settlers moved onto Native lands without permission,
destroyed Native hunting grounds, set very high trading prices, and fought Natives whenever they tried to resist the spread of the British Colonies.
The British considered Natives to be “savage” and “inferior” – usually refusing to marry into tribes or adopt Native customs. Only the Iroquois and a
few smaller tribes agreed to ally with the British. (3)
The Iroquois lived very near British territory, had better trading relations with the British than most tribes, and considered themselves to be
“relatives.” One of the few British settlers to marry a Native woman was William Johnson. Johnson had married the sister of the Mohawk chief
named “Joseph Brant” by the British. In addition, the Iroquois understood that an alliance with the British was necessary to survive against the
alliance of France, the Algonquin’s, and the Huron’s (their ancient Native enemies).
EFFECTS:
With alliances formed, each side entered into an uneasy peace. Scouts and spies from both nations, with the help of Native guides,
carefully watched the movement of troops and construction of forts in the Ohio Valley. France began to increase the number of soldiers and military
supplies sent to America. Britain also increased its number of soldiers and reserves of supplies, but at a slower pace. The French and British in America
also watched developments in Europe, which were heading towards war. The situation in North America grew so tense that only a minor incident was
bound to start a war.
C. Major Washington Starts a War:
Uneasiness between Britain and France continued to grow over the Ohio Valley, which both nations claimed. In 1753, the Governor of
Virginia ordered Major George Washington (Virginia Militia) to deliver a letter to the commander of the French forces in the Ohio Valley. The letter
demanded that the French withdraw from the valley – a demand that the French rejected strongly. The following year (1754), Washington was given
command over a small force of 150 men and was directed to build a fort at the joining of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers to protect
Virginia’s claims over the Ohio Valley.
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Washington discovered that the French had beaten him to the spot and set up a fort of their own. He decided to drive the French away from
the spot – something that was definitely not written into his orders! He attacked a small party of French soldiers and Natives a short way from the
fort. During the attack, Natives in his own force killed a French diplomat (representative of the French Government) – a clear act of war in the
1700’s. (4)
A larger force of French and Natives then attacked and surrounded Washington, and forced him to surrender. Although he and his men were
released, Washington was made to sign a statement (in French, which he could not read) that he was guilty of killing the diplomat. In fact,
Washington had tried to stop the killing of the diplomat, but was unable to control the Natives in his force.
EFFECTS:
Washington’s aggressive actions during 1754 gave France the excuse that it needed to start a war with Great Britain. The war was known
as the “French and Indian War” in the New World. In America, it would eventually be fought to gain control over North America – neither side would
settle for less. Elsewhere, British and French forces (along with their allies) would fight for control over territories around the world. (5) In Europe, the
war was known as the “Seven Years War” and involved many European allies. Battles between Britain, France, and their allies were fought in the
Caribbean, Africa, and India. In many ways, the French and Indian War was the first “world war.”
Major George Washington
as a Virginia Militia Officer
Replica of the location where Washington was forced to surrender
“Fort Necessity”
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Chief Joseph Brant of the Iroquois Mohawk Tribe
Also called Thayendaegea or “Cornplanter”
in the Iroquois Language
William Johnson
Brother-in-Law to Chief
Joseph Brant
Sir William Johnson as a
General during the French and
Indian War
Review Questions
1.
Why was France determined to hold onto the Ohio River Valley and what would the loss of the valley mean for France?
2.
What made the Native tribes living near the French and English Colonies ally themselves with the Europeans?
3.
Who allied with France and Britain before the beginning of the French and Indian War?
4.
What made Washington’s attack on a small French and Indian war party an “act of war?”
5.
What made the French and Indian War a “world” or global war?
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Name: _____________________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Five/Part Two – The French and Indian War
II. The French and Indian War
A. British and French Strengths and Weaknesses:
Despite the fact that both nations had been preparing for war, the beginning of the fighting in North America caught Britain and France off
guard. The two nations considered the war in America to be something of a “sideshow” and were more concerned with the fighting that was taking
place in Europe. Events in America, however, forced them to change their minds. By 1757, Britain and France understood that the fighting in
America would have far-reaching consequences.
France understood that it was in a difficult position in North America. While it was true that France could count on help from dozens of
Native tribes and nations, its force of professional soldiers was still small. French officers were good leaders and they understood how to fight in the
deep woods and rough terrain (land) of North America. French leaders were also willing to listen to the advice of their Native allies and had a strong
central government that could easily control and coordinate armies and supplies.
The commanding officers in the French Army, however, knew that they had too much land to defend with the small military forces available.
In addition, the French Army could not call on settlers for help – there were too few of them. Finally, the French Navy could not be counted on to
deliver supplies and more soldiers to America. The British Navy was able to block many French attempts to send supplies to the Americas over the
Atlantic Ocean. As a result, the French had to fight with the limited resources on hand in their colonies.
Britain, although strong, also faced troubles in North America. Many of the officers assigned to British Army units in America were older
(and very stubborn) officers or they were men who had been sent to America as punishment for poor performance in Europe. Regular British Army
forces were small and often tied down with guarding critical forts. In addition, Britain had very few Native allies other than the Iroquois in New
York.
A further difficulty was the problem that Britain faced with the Colonial Governments – there were 13 of them and it was difficult or even
impossible to get them all to act together. Still, Britain understood that it had less land to defend, had far more citizens to call on for help (if the
Colonists cooperated), and could always count on the British Navy for supplies and additional soldiers.
EFFECTS: France was prepared to fight a quick and decisive war against the British 13 Colonies. Time, however, was the enemy of the French. With
the British Navy cutting off the flow of supplies to North America, France had to win a quick victory or it would be slowly overwhelmed by the build-up
of British strength. (1) Britain was forced to fight a defensive war until more supplies and men could arrive from Europe and the 13 Colonies could be
convinced to provide more men and supplies to fight the war. Time, however, was on Britain’s side. With each passing month, the British grew stronger
as the French grew weaker.
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French, British, and Spanish Territories in North America – 1750
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B. The 13 Colonies Fail to Unite:
The advantages that Britain had in its favor at the beginning of the war were not used to good effect. A gathering of representatives from all
13 Colonies met at Albany, New York to discuss how to unite the 13 Colonies against the French and Indian threat. Another goal of the meeting was
to convince all of the Iroquois tribes to join with the British (by 1754, only the Mohawk had formally agreed to help the British). All of the
representatives from the 13 Colonies knew that working together was critical to their survival.
Benjamin Franklin, acting as a representative from Pennsylvania, proposed the Albany Plan of Union. Under the plan, a single
government would be created. That government would be run by a “Grand Council” of representatives from all of the colonies and would be allowed
to make laws, raise taxes, and control all military forces throughout the colonies. (2) The delegates at Albany approved the plan and a copy was sent
to each colonial assembly for approval. Not a single colony approved the plan as no colony was willing to surrender any power to a central
government. (3)
EFFECT:
The 13 Colonies entered the war as 13 separate nations. Without a united and central government, it was impossible to control troop
movements, raise enough men to concentrate for an attack or prevent an invasion, or move enough supplies to troops in need. The lack of a central
government also meant that Great Britain and its military would have to deal with 13 separate governments to coordinate the defense of the Colonies.
For all effective purposes, the 13 Colonies were limited to defending their own borders with whatever troops and supplies that could be raised within
their own borders.
C. The Early War (1754-1757):
The first years of the French and Indian War were grim for the British and their American Colonists. In 1755, British General Edward
“Bulldog” Braddock attempted to push the French out of the Ohio Valley with a mixed force of British “regulars”, Colonial Militia, and Natives.
Braddock was a typical European general who was used to fighting in the open fields of Europe and he was unfamiliar with how war was fought in
America.
Although George Washington and his Native scouts warned Braddock that he was moving into an ambush in the middle of a forest,
Braddock pushed forward. When the force neared the site of Washington’s defeat a year earlier, the French and Natives hit the British in a surprise
attack. During the bitter daylong fighting that followed, Braddock showed great courage and had five horses shot from under him, but he was
eventually killed.
Washington took command of the force and directed the soldiers to fight their way back out – preventing a massacre. Washington was
always in the middle of the fighting – inspiring troops with examples of personal courage under fire. When the force managed to reach safety,
Washington discovered that his uniform coat was “full of holes” and that 50% of the force that had set out was killed, wounded, or captured. He later
claimed that he had heard bullets fly by his head and “found something charming in the sound.”
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The following two years were even worse for the British. Every British attack was defeated and turned back. Nearly every French attack was
a victory. French forces attacked and captured Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario (in New York), leaving Albany open to attack from the west. In 1757,
an attack by a very large French and Native army under one of France’s best generals (Montcalm) resulted in the destruction of Fort Henry on the
south end of Lake George (north of Albany). When the garrison of the fort surrendered, Montcalm agreed to let the survivors, women and children
included, go back to Albany on the promise that they would not fight against him again.
Montcalm’s Native allies, however, were furious. They had been promised the weapons and supplies left in the fort as a reward for their help
in the fight. With Montcalm’s promise, these weapons and supplies were being carried away by the departing British. Without Montcalm’s
knowledge, his Native allies ambushed the British soldiers and citizens who had left the fort under a French guarding force. By the time that
Montcalm could regain control, several hundred British soldiers and civilians had been killed or wounded.
EFFECTS:
The defeats and setbacks of the first three years of the war terrified the British and the people of the 13 Colonies. Members of the British
Government debated on how to turn the war around. The answer was unexpected – the defeat at Fort William Henry. The destruction of the fort and
slaughter of its survivors infuriated the British. Within the British Government, the decision was made to send Britain’s best generals, thousands of
soldiers, and huge amounts of supplies to the 13 Colonies. (4) Britain was determined to win the war and take control of North America at any cost.
D. Britain Gains the Advantage from 1757 to 1763:
The French victories from 1754 to 1757 (especially the destruction of Fort William Henry and the slaughter of its garrison) forced the British
Government and the 13 Colonies to take drastic actions to reverse the trend of the war. Britain’s Prime Minister (a position that shared power with
the king and that was similar to our President) decided that the war in North America needed to be finished immediately.
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As a result, Prime Minister William Pitt sent some of Britain’s best generals, thousands of soldiers, tons of supplies, and several squadrons of
the British Navy to America. In addition, all of the Iroquois Nations (angry over French invasions of their lands) joined the British and Colonial
cause in full force.
The British and Colonials went on the offensive and the war turned in Britain’s favor. The British Navy was used to make quick strikes at
critical French forts and cities while British and Colonial soldiers attacked French forts in Canada and the Ohio Valley. By 1758, the British had
captured the fort guarding the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, cutting off New France from any supplies and reinforcements from Europe. The
capture of this fort also left New France open to invasion. Within two years, the French City of Quebec and the Capital at Montreal fell to combined
operations of the British Army and Navy as they pushed down the St. Lawrence River.
EFFECTS:
France was forced to admit defeat and sign a peace treaty in 1763 – The Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, France surrendered all of its
lands in North America. Spain, which had allied with France late in the war, was forced to surrender Florida to the British. Britain gained control over
all of North America from Northern Canada to Florida and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River. France was left with a few sugar-growing islands
in the Caribbean.
Britain, for all effective purposes, controlled North America. (5) In addition, the fighting in Europe and India had gone well for Great Britain.
The war made India a British colony, and this gave Britain an entire subcontinent rich in gems, cotton, and tea. For Britain, the end of the French and
Indian War was the beginning of a steady rise that would last until World War One and make Great Britain the largest empire in the history of the
world. The French and Indian War also had one other effect – Britain began to take a much greater interest in directly controlling the 13 Colonies.
French general Montcalm
Commander of all French
Forces in America
British general James Wolfe
Commander of the British force
that attacked and captured Quebec
The Death of Wolfe at Quebec
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General region of North America where most of the
Fighting took place
North America in 1763 – at the conclusion of the war
Review Questions
1.
Why did France have to fight quick and decisive war?
2.
What was the Albany Plan of Union (what would it have done)?
3.
Why did the Albany Plan of Union Fail?
4.
How did the British Government react to the defeat at Fort William Henry?
5.
What did Britain gain control over at the end of the French and Indian War?
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(Notes)
Name: ______________________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Five/Part Three – The Troubles Begin
I. The Troubles Begin
A. Effects of the French and Indian War:
The French and Indian War had been long and difficult for Britain and its colonies. Nine years of fighting left thousands of soldiers and
civilians dead. Britain had been forced to spend enormous amounts of money to pay and train soldiers, build ships, and buy the supplies needed for
war. For Britain, the fighting took place in Europe, Africa, and India in addition to the fighting in North America. At war’s end, the British Treasury
was nearly empty and Britain could not pass any additional taxes – the people of Great Britain were already being taxed to their limit.
While it was true that Britain had won the war and had become a powerful empire, it was an empire facing severe financial problems.
Members of Parliament and the King (George III) were also well aware that the war had begun in North America and that the 13 Colonies had
needed a great amount of British manpower and resources to survive the war. Within the British Government, there was a renewed interest in
governing the 13 Colonies directly and British officials fully expected the 13 Colonies to help pay for a war that they had “started.”
Colonists in North America were grateful for Britain’s help during the French and Indian War. Throughout the 13 Colonies, people
celebrated the victory over the French and their Indian allies. Feelings of intense pride in being part of the British Empire were common and most
families drank a toast to the king at dinner each evening. The British flag could be seen in every town and city in the Colonies.
When Benjamin Franklin visited London after the war, a Member of Parliament asked him whether he thought that the 13 Colonies might
someday rebel against Britain. Franklin responded without hesitation – saying that the 13 Colonies loved Britain and the King too much and that if
the 13 Colonies could not unite to defend themselves, then how could they ever be expected to unite against their parent nation? Franklin then
paused for a moment and said that only the most unjust rule could force the Colonies to unite and rebel against Britain.
EFFECTS:
The French and Indian War changed the relationship between Great Britain and the 13 Colonies. Britain had allowed the 13 Colonies to
govern themselves for over 100 years. The end of the war marked an end to this policy. Britain intended to closely govern its North American Colonies
and also intended to make them help pay for the war. Although Colonists were still happy to be a part of the British Empire, there was a growing sense
of unease about Britain’s intentions after the war.
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B. The Proclamation of 1763:
Many Native tribes in the Ohio Valley united during the last year of the French and Indian War under a Native leader named Pontiac.
The arrival of British settlers in large numbers and the loss of their lands troubled the Natives of the Valley. In addition, the new British official
placed in charge of governing the region increased prices on trade goods that the Natives bought from the British. Under Pontiac, the Natives were
determined to drive the British from the valley before it was too late to stop their spread.
The Native alliance struck at nearly every British fort and settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. Caught by surprise, the British
were largely driven out of the valley and lost nearly every fort by the late spring months of 1763. The British, however, struck back quickly and
turned the tables – recapturing their forts and lost settlements. They also pressured the French (who had already signed a peace treaty ending the
war) to put an end to the Native attacks. A disappointed Pontiac listened to his old French allies out of loyalty and stopped the attacks, even though
he knew there would never be a better chance to stop the British.
Pontiac’s War convinced British officials that they could not protect settlers who had moved west of the Appalachian Mountains or prevent
wars with Natives in this region. In 1763, the British Government passed the Proclamation of 1763. Under the new law, all settlement west of the
Appalachian Mountains was forbidden. Any settlers already living west of the mountains were ordered to return to the east. In addition, Britain sent
10,000 soldiers to America to enforce the new law, but many of the soldiers remained in the cities and never left to guard the frontier.
EFFECTS:
The Proclamation of 1763 had unexpected effects for Great Britain. The law was very unpopular, especially with Colonists from New
York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (including George Washington) who had claimed land in the valley. Settlers who were forced to abandon their farms
in the valley were also extremely unhappy with the law. (1) Some believed that Britain planned to ignore Colonial land claims and would give the land to
nobles in England.
Finally, Colonists in the cities were angered by the arrival of thousands of soldiers – turning cities such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia
into what one Colonist complained as “armed camps.” Many Colonists, such as the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone, ignored the law and led settlers
west of the mountains in defiance of British rule.
C. Failed Taxes for the 13 Colonies:
British Prime Minister George Grenville also believed that it was time that the 13 Colonies should pay taxes to help pay for the war.
Grenville was a firm believer in Mercantilism – the policy which said that a colony only existed to increase the wealth of a parent country. Besides,
thought Grenville, the 13 Colonies surely would not object to paying a small tax designed to help pay for the war that they had started?
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In 1764, Grenville convinced Parliament to pass the Sugar Act – a tax that replaced a very high tax on molasses that was driving colonial rum
makers and merchants out of business. The new law also made it much easier to place merchants who smuggled goods on trial (many had been
smuggling goods into the 13 Colonies without paying taxes). The new tax only affected a small number of merchants in New England and many
New Englanders continued to get around the tax by smuggling sugar into the Colonies.
Before 1765, the Molasses Tax (1763) and Sugar Tax (1764) only affected a small number of colonists – merchants and traders in New
England. More than anything else, Britain was concerned with putting an end to smuggling or the illegal practice of bringing goods into and out of a
Colonies without paying taxes. The taxes on molasses and sugar greatly concerned Colonists involved in the rum business, but had little effect on the
Colonies in general.
D. The Stamp Act of 1765 Angers the 13 Colonies:
Prime Minister Grenville also convinced Parliament to pass a new tax that was commonly used in European nations – a “stamp” tax.
Designed to raise money for Great Britain, the 1765 Stamp Act taxed items such as legal documents (wills, diplomas, and marriage licenses)
newspapers, almanacs, playing cards, and dice. When a person bought any of these items, he or she had to pay a tax by purchasing an official stamp
that had to be placed on the newly bought items. Unlike the taxes on molasses and sugar, this tax would have to be paid by everyone in the 13
Colonies.
The reaction in the 13 Colonies went beyond anything that Great Britain could have imagined. Colonists were outraged by the tax and violent
protests erupted in nearly every major city in the 13 Colonies. British Government property was attacked and destroyed; tax collectors were hit with
rocks, assaulted, and even tarred and feathered. Riots broke out in several cities and Colonial newspapers protested against the tax nearly every day.
EFFECTS:
The Stamp Act of 1765 created anger in the 13 Colonies for several reasons. First, the tax touched nearly everyone and Colonists resented
paying taxes (2) – especially a tax on such common items as marriage licenses. Secondly, the tax had been passed by Parliament and the 13 Colonies had
no representatives in Parliament. (2) As British citizens, Colonists believed that they had a legal right to be represented and that they did not have to pay
any tax that was created without the approval of Colonial representatives. Within a short time, the cry “no taxation without representation” could be
heard throughout the 13 Colonies.
The tax especially offended Colonial merchants, lawyers, and traders. (2) Men in these jobs would be forced to pay the tax again and again to
complete the paperwork that the British Government demanded of them. When Britain angered these individuals, it angered some of the wealthiest and
most powerful men in the 13 Colonies. Many of these men were already bitter over the “glass ceiling” in British society. All feared that their livelihood
and profits would be reduced by the tax.
The Stamp Act did something that had never happened before – angered the 13 Colonies to the point that they united with each other. (3) In
October of 1765, nine Colonies sent representatives to a “Stamp Act Congress” in New York City. The Congress created an official petition (formal
document) in which they claimed that Parliament had no right to tax the 13 Colonies without representation and that the 13 Colonies refused to recognize
the Stamp Act. The Congress also agreed to encourage the 13 Colonies to start a boycott against British goods.
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E. The Colonists Discover an Effective Weapon:
The idea of using a boycott to protest against the Stamp Act caught on quickly in the 13 Colonies. A boycott is an organized effort to refuse
to buy certain goods and services until a tax or policy is canceled. (4) In this case, many Colonists agreed to refuse to buy British goods and services
until the Stamp Act was cancelled. The boycott had a deadly effect on British merchants and businesses. Trade fell off by 14% and British
merchants pressured Parliament to cancel the Stamp Act before it drove them out of business.
In 1766, Parliament gave in to the pressure of British merchants and repealed, or cancelled the Stamp Act. Parliament then immediately
passed a new law known as the Declaratory Act. The new act did what its name suggested – it “declared” that Great Britain’s Parliament had the
right to pass any tax with or without Colonial approval.
EFFECTS:
The 13 Colonies celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act and ignored the passing of the Declaratory Act. Colonists had learned a very
valuable lesson – they could force Great Britain to back down if they acted together to harm British profits. (5) Colonists would turn to the
use of boycotts again throughout the 1760’s and 1770’s to protest against British taxes and policies.
Within Great Britain, Government officials were shocked and puzzled by the Colonial reaction to the Stamp Act. Parliament could not
understand why the Colonists would object to a tax that was so common in Europe. In addition, Colonists paid only one pound (the British form of
money) for every thirteen pounds of taxes that people in Britain paid. The repeal of the Stamp Act hardened Britain’s attitude towards the 13 Colonies
and made Britain more determined than ever to control and tax the 13 Colonies. The King and Parliament feared that if things got out of hand in
America, other British Colonies might begin to fight British rule.
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Proclamation of 1763 Line
The line was drawn along the western
edge of the 13 Colonies.
Prime Minister George Grenville
Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1763-1765
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A young King George III
King of Great Britain from 1820-1860
Images of British Stamps used in the 13 Colonies
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A Colonial cartoon protesting against the Stamp Act claiming that it would be the death of newspapers
and free speech
A cartoon making fun of the repeal of the Stamp Act – showing weeping
members of Parliament and Prime Minister Grenville at the funeral of the
act
Review Questions
1.
What made the Proclamation of 1763 unpopular (two reasons)?
2.
Why did people in the 13 Colonies hate the Stamp Act of 1765 (three reasons)?
3.
What did the Stamp Act do that “had never been done before?”
4.
What is a boycott?
5.
What “very valuable lesson” did the Colonists learn in defeating the Stamp Act?
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Name: ____________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Five/Part Four – Colonists Protest Taxes
IV. Colonists Protest Taxes
A. Colonial Leaders Slowly Step Forward:
The Stamp Act had an unexpected effect that would come to trouble Great Britain as time passed. The protests in the Colonies led to the
rise of Colonial leaders that would fight against British taxes and policies. The greatest number of these new leaders came from Massachusetts,
where Colonists were much more independent and outspoken. In addition, Massachusetts had a very heavy concentration or merchants, traders,
lawyers, and businessmen who were affected by British taxes.
The most notable of the Anti-British leaders was a failed tax collector and beer brewer from Boston named Sam Adams. When the Stamp
Act created so much trouble in the 13 Colonies, Adams was prepared to act. He formed a protest group known as the Sons of Liberty (which also
later included the Daughters of Liberty).
The Sons and Daughters of Liberty’s generally were common citizens of Boston and was directed by members of the Middle Class such as
silversmith Paul Revere. The organization was used in public protests against the British. While many of their activities were peaceful (protest
marches, petitions, songs, poems, newspaper articles), there was also a very dark side to the organization.
The Sons of Liberty, in particular, were not afraid to attack British soldiers, tax collectors, or officials who were caught walking through the
streets of Boston alone at night. In addition, the Sons of Liberty used threats and attacks to convince Colonists to go along with boycotts. Merchants
who refused to go along with boycotts could be threatened, beaten, tarred and feathered, or have their homes and businesses burned to the ground.
Many merchants loyal to Britain left Boston and officials of the British Government often asked to be transferred to other cities. Britain began to
have a great deal of trouble finding volunteers to collect taxes.
Aiding Sam Adams was the wealthiest man in all of Massachusetts – merchant and smuggler John Hancock. Hancock used his wealth to help
Adams organize protests; pay for advertisements in newspapers, and to provide money to pay leaders within the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
Adams was also helped by Paul Revere – a man widely respected by both Colonials and the British. Revere served as a “go between” for Adams and
Hancock and the rough crowds used in protests against the British.
In Virginia, the largest and wealthiest of all the 13 Colonies, some of the richest men in the colony also began to turn against British policies.
Virginia was not ready to protest and fight openly like Massachusetts, but public opinion was slowly turning against Britain. By 1775, Virginians
such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry would join the fight against Britain.
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EFFECTS:
The Stamp Act united the 13 Colonies and created a group of Colonial leaders who would make certain that anger against Great Britain
would not disappear. From 1765 onwards, a small number of Colonials dedicated themselves to fighting British taxes until the taxes were dropped or
until the 13 Colonies were allowed to send representatives to Parliament. A few of these leaders, such as Sam Adams and John Hancock, wanted to push
the issue further than mere protests. They wanted complete Colonial independence from Britain.
B. A New Tax – The Townshend Acts:
The repeal of the Stamp Act was not the end of British taxes for the 13 Colonies. Although Colonists ignored it, the Declaratory Act (passed
in 1766) was a warning to the 13 Colonies – that Britain felt it had the right to tax the Colonies at any time or for any purpose. Within Parliament,
debate raged over taxing the 13 Colonies. A small minority of the members or Parliament had sympathies for the 13 Colonies but the majority felt
that Britain must show its authority over the 13 Colonies before control was lost altogether.
Former Prime Minister George Grenville (now a Member of Parliament) still believed that the 13 Colonies should be taxed and accused those
who opposed taxing the 13 Colonies of being cowards – daring them to tax the Colonies. Britain’s Treasurer, Charles Townshend, accepted the
challenge and vowed to tax the Colonies. Within a month, a new tax was passed and named after the Treasurer – the Townshend Acts.
The Townshend Acts taxed items such as paint, lead, glass, paper, and tea. In short, the Townshend Acts taxed items that were popular and in
demand in the 13 Colonies. In addition, the new law gave Customs Officials (British officers in charge of trade and tax collection) greater power to
arrest Colonists for smuggling. Customs officers were given special legal papers known as writs of assistance that allowed them to search Colonial
property without warning or reason. (1)
Townshend hoped that his tax would be able to raise large amounts of money for Britain and also felt that the taxes were low enough to avoid
a bad reaction in the Colonies. He also hoped that the acts would cut back on smuggling and prove to the 13 Colonies that Britain had a right to tax
and make laws for the Colonies. While he thought that he had struck a nice balance that would be acceptable to all concerned, Townshend could not
have been more wrong.
EFFECTS:
The Townshend Acts were as disliked by the 13 Colonies as the Stamp Act had been. The principle was the same, argued Colonists – no
taxation without representation. Colonists simply refused to accept a tax when they had not had a say in its creation or a voice in Parliament. (2) Many
Colonists felt that they could accept a tax passed by their own assemblies, but Great Britain refused to even consider the idea of allowing the Colonial
Assemblies to vote on taxes.
The writs of assistance drew even greater anger. Colonists rightly felt that the writs violated both British law and the rights of British citizens.
Under the law, the property of British citizens could not be searched without good reason or unless a citizen was suspected of breaking the law. The writs
clearly broke British law itself. Many Colonists wondered where it would all end. How many rights would they lose? Were any of their rights safe?
Were they not British citizens with equal rights to citizens living in Britain itself? (3)
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Sons and Daughters of Liberty organizations throughout all 13 Colonies helped to organize another boycott – called the Nonimportation
Agreements. The new boycott would last for one year (from 1769 to 1770) and Colonists were encouraged to avoid buying anything taxed under the
Townshend Acts until the new taxes were cancelled. Once more, protests broke out in all of the major cities. Colonists were determined to put an end to
taxes passed without representation.
C. The Quartering Act and the Dismissal of the New York and Massachusetts Assemblies:
Shortly after the Townshend Acts were passed, Britain passed the Quartering Act. The new law forced cities with British soldiers stationed
in them (such as Boston and New York City) to provide food, shelter, and supplies to soldiers. When New York City protested against the
Quartering Act, the New York Assembly was dismissed. Protests against the Townshend Acts also led to the dismissal of the Massachusetts
Assembly.
EFFECT:
The Quartering Act made many colonists feel as if they were being taxed by the British Government (without representation) and bullied
by Britain for protesting against taxes (by soldiers within Colonial cities). The dismissal of the New York and Massachusetts Assemblies convinced many
that Britain planned to take away the rights of Colonists. The right to assemble was considered one of the most important rights given to British citizens.
Citizens in all 13 Colonies were alarmed by these British actions and were deeply concerned about their rights as British citizens.
D. A Turning Point in British-Colonial Relations - The “Boston Massacre” (1770):
On March 5, 1770, a crowd of Bostonians attacked a group of British soldiers guarding the Customs House in Boston. The
crowd yelled insults and threw rocks, ice, and snowballs at the soldiers. During the tense moments of the dispute, some reported that a member of
the crowd yelled “fire”. Others believed a British soldier slipped and his musket fired. Regardless of the cause, the nervous soldiers fired into the
crowd – killing five citizens before their officer could regain control of the situation
Many suspected that Sam Adams and Paul Revere had organized the crowd and encouraged them to taunt the soldiers, but no direct proof of
their involvement has ever been found. However, it is true that Sam Adams encouraged members of the Sons of Liberty to become involved in
“incidents” with British soldiers. In the event that a soldier harmed a colonist, Adams reasoned, it could be used to show how “brutal” the British
were to the citizens of Boston.
The soldiers were put on trial (a Colonial move to show Britain that the Colonies could be just and fair) and were successfully defended by
John Adams (Sam Adams cousin) – receiving only minor punishments for the incident. Adams was extremely unpopular for a short while, but he
believed (in this case) that the soldiers had been unfairly attacked by a mob of “the lowest sort” and deserved a fair trial. John Adams’ actions
eventually earned him the respect of most Colonists, who realized that he was an honest and fair man.
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EFFECT:
The “Boston Massacre” reawakened the anger of the Colonists toward Britain that had been slowly dying since the Townshend Acts were
passed in 1767. Sam Adams and Paul Revere used the incident to create propaganda pictures, articles, and poems that made the British look like
murderers. (4) False accounts of the “massacre” were circulated to all 13 Colonies through another Adams organized group – the Committees of
Correspondence. The Committees were dedicated to watching and reporting everything the British did to all 13 Colonies. An incident that happened in
one colony would be reported to the committees in all of the colonies. (5)
Early Colonial Leaders in Massachusetts
James Otis
Lawyer and defender of Colonial
Merchants and creator of the slogan
“No taxation without representation!”
Mercy Otis Warren
Colonial playwright and poet – she
wrote a hugely successful play designed
to make fun of the British in Boston
Dr. Joseph Warren
leader of the Massachusetts
Committee of Correspondence and
organizer of the “midnight ride”
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Sam Adams
Master organizer and fighter against
British taxes and policies
John Hancock
Wealthy Colonial merchant/smuggler
who provided Sam Adams with money and
support
Paul Revere
Important member of the Sons
of Liberty who worked with Adams
and Hancock
John Adams – Colonial Lawyer and future President of the United States
Review Questions
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1.
What is a “writ of assistance?”
2.
What “principle” was the heart of the Colonial argument against British taxes?
2.
After the Townshend Acts, what did many in the Colonies wonder?
4.
How did Adams and Revere use the Boston Massacre?
5.
Explain how the Committees of Correspondence operated.
Page 24
Name: ________________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Five/Part Five – The Road to Rebellion
V. The Road to Rebellion
A. The Committees of Correspondence:
Sam Adams’ efforts to spread the news of the Boston Massacre to all 13 Colonies marked the beginning of the heavy use of the Committees
of Correspondence. Colonists carefully watched British actions (laws, taxes, court cases, the arrival and movement of soldiers, and British officials),
recorded what they observed, and spread the news through the committees in each colony. Adams understood that he needed to find ways to
maintain Colonial anger against the British. The committees were very helpful in this regard.
EFFECTS:
Although the committees were a peaceful organization, they formed the beginnings of a much more valuable and deadly tool that would
be used to great effect in the future. They were perfect “spy rings”, or groups of spies. During the Revolutionary War, former members of the
committees helped the United States Army gather information on British troop movements. At times, the information gathered was enough to save the
Army from defeat or enough to allow the Army to defeat the British in battle.
B. Britain Cancels Taxes:
On the very day that the Boston Massacre took place, Parliament again cancelled taxes on the 13 Colonies. The Nonimportation Agreements
(Colonial boycott) had hurt merchants Britain, who again forced Parliament to cancel taxes. The Quartering Act was cancelled and the majority of
the taxes that angered Colonists were also repealed. King George III, however, did ask for one tax to stay in place – the tax on tea. The King
believed (and Parliament agreed) that Britain still had to show that it had the right to tax the Colonies.
EFFECTS:
The cancellation of the Quartering Act and many British taxes pleased the people of the 13 Colonies. Once again, they had united and
forced Great Britain to back down. Colonists, however, still wondered about the future and worried that their rights were threatened. The issue of
Britain’s right to tax had not been settled and memories of British actions such as the dismissal of Colonial Assemblies, the writs of assistance, and the
Boston Massacre were still fresh in the minds of Colonists.
Britain still made no offer to allow the Colonial Assemblies to vote on taxes or to give the Colonies representation in Parliament. As a result, little
or nothing had been done to resolve the issue that was at the heart of Colonial protests – representation. (1) Britain felt that the cancellation of taxes
(both the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts) was more than generous and did not (or could) not understand that the troubles with the Colonists had only
been calmed – not solved.
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C. An Uneasy Peace:
The timely cancellation of taxes helped to calm the 13 Colonies after the uproar over the Boston Massacre. Britain had come to the decision
that the Colonies needed time to settle down and the British Government did not want to do anything to create further anger. No new taxes were
proposed in Parliament and British officials in the 13 Colonies did not take any threatening actions. Anger remained fairly strong only in New
England.
The Middle Colonies were another story, however. Other than New York (where the Colonial Assembly had been dismissed for protesting
against the Quartering Act), the people of the Middle Colonies did not feel overly threatened by Britain. A minority of the population of the Middle
Colonies was unhappy enough to want independence – mostly people on the frontier. People on the frontier were under threat of Indian attacks and
still felt that Britain was not doing enough to protect them.
The mood was entirely different in the Southern Colonies. British taxes had done little to harm Southern cash crop exports and no Southern
Colonial Assembly had been dismissed. The wealthiest Southerners (planters) remained very loyal to Britain and few in the colonial governments of
the South considered independence from Britain. The only Southern Colony that had a strong anti-British following was Virginia, where men like
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry remained concerned about British actions.
EFFECTS:
As 1770 came to a close (the year of the Boston Massacre), the 13 Colonies were not ready to break free from British control. War and
independence was on the minds of only a few Colonists. For the majority of the people in the Colonies, independence from Britain was still unthinkable.
(2) Colonists, although angry and concerned, wanted to work out their differences with Britain peacefully and remain a part of the British Empire.
D. Britain Passes The Tea Act in 1773:
Britain’s tax on tea, as symbol of the government’s right to tax the Colonies, did not create a violent reaction. Large numbers of
Colonists still refused to buy British tea in quiet protest. The tax that represented Britain’s right to tax quickly became a financial nightmare. Tea
was imported into the 13 Colonies by the British East India Company. The tea was sold to Colonial merchants and was then sold directly to
Colonists. Colonial merchants had to raise the price of tea in order to make a profit as tea sales declined.
When Colonists refused to buy the tea, it began to build up in the warehouses of the East India Company. By 1773 the company had 15
million pounds of tea in storage and the company, one of Britain’s largest, was beginning to fail. Parliament decided to come to the aid of the East
India Company by passing the Tea Act in 1773. Under the Tea Act, tea would be sold directly to Colonists without going through Colonial
merchants, saving the Colonists money even though the tax on tea was still in place.
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EFFECTS:
Britain was shocked once again when the 13 Colonies erupted in protest. Colonial merchants could be put out of business by British
policies and Colonists saw this as a sign that Britain was now taking away the Colonial right to “free enterprise” or to conduct business without
government interference. Other Colonists saw the act as a trick to get the Colonies to accept the British tax on tea. A new boycott was created against
tea, the Daughters of Liberty began to serve coffee in its place, and the Sons of Liberty actually prevented the unloading of tea in many harbors.
E. The Boston Tea Party:
The boycott on tea lasted through much of 1773 and the situation with Britain’s East India Company grew worse by the day. Tea ships in
harbors were reluctant to unload their tea with crowds of angry Colonists on shore and threats from the Sons of Liberty ringing in their ears. In late
November of 1773, three tea ships arrived in Boston Harbor and Governor Thomas Hutchinson demanded that they be unloaded. Hutchinson was a
well-known Loyalist, or supporter of Great Britain.
The Sons of Liberty and other Patriots (supporters of independence for the 13 Colonies) warned that the cargo should not be unloaded under
any circumstances. When it became clear that Hutchinson intended to unload the cargo, Sam Adams organized a meeting in Boston’s Old South
Meetinghouse on December 16. Once more, Adams sent a note to the governor demanding that the tea be kept aboard the ships. When word came
back to the meeting that the governor intended to unload the tea the following morning, Adams yelled, “This meeting can do no further to save the
country.”
Adams’ statement was a preplanned signal that triggered one of the most famous events in American History. Men burst through the doors
dressed as Indians, voices from the gallery above the meeting called “Boston Harbor a teapot tonight! The Mohawks are come!” and the lights went
out in the meeting hall. Several British Army officers who had arrived to keep an eye on Adams were run over as the “Indians” and other Patriots ran
out of the meetinghouse. The crowd, which soon grew to hundreds and then thousands, moved towards the docks and the tea ships.
The “Mohawks” boarded the ships, hacked open the tea chests with tomahawks, and dumped the tea into the harbor to the cheers of the crowd
on shore. In the space of an hour, thousands of pounds (dollars) of tea had been destroyed. The Sons of Liberty had sent a message to Britain that
could not be ignored. Colonists had no intentions of paying taxes that were passed without their approval and that threatened to ruin their businesses.
(3) In fact, they were willing to take drastic actions to prove their point.
EFFECTS:
In general, people were shocked by the destruction of tea in Boston. Many in the Colonies thought that the Sons of Liberty had gone too
far and that a breakdown in law would follow. Many others were thrilled with the Tea Party and felt that taking greater action against Britain and its
taxes was long overdue. The Tea Party helped to win the support of many Colonists to the “patriot cause” (struggle for independence). (4) People sensed
that a change had taken place – the 13 Colonies were openly defying Great Britain. In his diary, John Adams wrote down his reaction to the Boston Tea
Party:
Page 27
“This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm . . . it must have such important and lasting results that I can’t help considering it a turning point in
history.”
In Britain, the reaction was very different. The British were furious with this outright act of defiance against the authority of the King and the
Government. The King was personally offended and members of Parliament (as well as ordinary British citizens) who had sympathized with the
Colonists in the past were outraged. King George III ordered Parliament to punish Massachusetts for the Tea Party and what it represented – a loss of
British control over the 13 Colonies. (5) No thought was given to backing down and giving the 13 Colonies representation in Parliament or to allowing
Colonial Assemblies to vote on taxes.
The famed “Boston Tea Party”
December 16, 1773
Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson
Flag of the British East India Company – the company that shipped tea to the 13 Colonies
Page 28
Review Questions
1.
What “issue” was “at the heart” of Colonial protests against Great Britain?
2.
What was “unthinkable” for a majority of the people in the 13 Colonies, even after the Boston Massacre?
3.
The Tea Party was a message from the Sons of Liberty to Great Britain. What was that message?
4.
What did the Boston Tea Party help to win?
5.
In Great Britain, what did the King and Parliament feel that the Boston Tea Party represented?
Page 29
Name: ______________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Five/Part Six – Rebellion
VI. Rebellion
A. The “Intolerable Acts”:
Both Parliament and the King of Britain came to the decision after the Boston Tea Party that Massachusetts must be punished and that
Britain must show that it was in control. Britain’s right to tax the Colonies was to be settled. In the minds of the King and the members of
Parliament, it was time to show the 13 Colonies that Great Britain was to be obeyed. In 1774, Parliament passed a series of harsh new laws that were
designed to punish Massachusetts in general and Boston in particular. The new laws were considered to be so harsh by the Colonists that they named
them the “Intolerable Acts.”
The first law shut down Boston Harbor to all ships entering or leaving the harbor. Not even a fishing boat would be allowed to leave and
return. British warships blocked the mouth of the harbor and customs officers kept a close guard over ships tied up at the docks. The harbor was to
remain closed until the tea that had been destroyed was paid for in full. Furthermore, Boston was to repay British officials for any property that had
been destroyed by “Patriots.” Finally, the City of Boston was expected to show that it was sorry for what had happened before the harbor could be
reopened.
A second law made it illegal to hold more than one town meeting a year in any Massachusetts town unless written permission was given by
the governor. Town meetings were considered to be one of the most important rights (the right to assemble) in the New England Colonies. In
addition, all trial juries would be selected by officials of the British Government and could not be elected by Colonial citizens. Colonists wondered if
it would be possible to receive a fair trial when British officials selected the jurors.
The third law allowed customs officers and other British officials who were charged with a crime to be tried in Britain or Canada instead of
Massachusetts. The laws made Colonists feel that a British official could commit a crime and “get away with it.” Juries in Britain and Canada were
far more likely to find a British official innocent than a jury in Massachusetts.
Finally, the fourth law was a new Quartering Act. British soldiers would no longer have to sleep in tents in the open parks of Boston.
Colonists would now be forced to take soldiers into their own homes when no other form of housing was available. The citizens of Boston faced a
loss of privacy, damage to their homes, and poor treatment by British soldiers. British soldiers had a reputation for roughness and poor manners.
The thought of a squad of British soldiers in their homes struck fear into the hearts of Bostonians.
EFFECTS:
The Intolerable Acts convinced the people of Massachusetts and the other Colonies that Britain truly meant to take away Colonial rights.
(1) The new laws threatened to destroy all business in Boston and create a shortage of food by closing the harbor down. British officials were likely to be
found innocent of crimes while Colonists were likely to be found guilty. Soldiers could invade the privacy and peace of Colonial homes.
Page 30
The laws created enormous anger in Massachusetts – an anger that spread to the other Colonies as the committees of correspondence spread the
news. People from the other 12 Colonies began to send food to Boston to help the city while the port was closed. Citizens throughout the 13 Colonies
wondered if they might also lose their rights and face severe punishment from Britain.
B. The Quebec Act
Shortly after the Intolerable Acts were passed, news reached the 13 Colonies that another act had been passed. The Quebec Act was
created by Parliament to give Canadians (many of whom were French Catholics) complete religious freedom. In addition, the law gave Canada all of
the lands along the Ohio and Missouri Rivers – land that had been claimed by Colonists such as George Washington. Finally, the new act gave
Canadians the beginnings of independent rule.
EFFECTS: Colonists were very unhappy with the Quebec Act. Many saw it as a reward to their former enemies of the French and Indian War. Worse,
the act gave away lands that Colonists had fought for during the French and Indian War. People in Canada were being given rights even as citizens in
the 13 Colonies were losing their rights. (2) Colonists considered the Quebec Act to be an insult and were shocked that Britain would treat a former
enemy better than its own “British” citizens.
C. The First Continental Congress:
News of the Intolerable Acts spread quickly through the 13 Colonies thanks to the efforts of the Committees of Correspondence. The reaction
across the Colonies was one of anger and fear. The Virginia Assembly called for a day to be set aside to mark the “shame” of the Intolerable Acts.
Other Colonies pledged to support Massachusetts and oppose the British laws.
Anger and fear forced 12 of the 13 Colonies to hold another meeting in Philadelphia known as the First Continental Congress. The delegates
at the Congress met to discuss what the Colonies would do about the harsh Intolerable Acts and the insulting Quebec Act. Delegates such as Sam
Adams and John Adams urged that the Colonies should break from Great Britain, but they were in the minority. Despite all that had happened, most
of the delegates were still unwilling to risk a war with Great Britain or break from their parent country.
The delegates at the Continental Congress decided to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Boycott all British goods until the Intolerable Acts were cancelled.
Support Massachusetts by sending food and other items to help the City of Boston while the port was closed.
Encourage all Colonies to create an emergency militia force and begin training them
The delegates agreed to meet in May of 1775 to discuss further action at a Second Continental Congress (3)
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EFFECT:
The forming of militia’s was viewed as a potential preparation for war by Great Britain and Britain intended to bring the 13 Colonies
under control as quickly as possible. Britain’s commanding officer in Boston, General Gage, decided to raid and capture or destroy stores of weapons in
towns outside of Boston to prevent future fights. (4) The raid was set for the night of April 18-19, 1775.
D. Lexington and Concord:
The Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence kept a close watch on British troops in Boston. Colonials working in the stables
where British officers kept their horses were ordered to have the horses saddled and prepared to ride late at night on April 18, 1775. Other Colonists
working in and near British headquarters in Boston overheard that a large number of soldiers would leave Boston “by surprise” and move to capture
the militia weapons being gathered at the small towns of Lexington and Concord. They also planned to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock.
All of this information was reported to Patriot leaders before they reached many of the British officers who would participate in the
movement! A quick plan was created to alert a small group of men across the river from Boston who waited to ride to Lexington and Concord to
spread the news that the British were on the move. One lantern would be placed in the tower of Boston’s Old North Church if the British were
leaving Boston by land. Two would appear if they crossed the river in boats.
Shortly after midnight, the three riders saw two lanterns and sped down different roads to make certain the news reached Lexington and
Concord. The three riders were named Dawes, Prescott, and Paul Revere. They shouted, “The Regulars are coming” as they passed through towns
to alert militia units along the way.
During the night, 800 well- trained and equipped British soldiers marched to the village of Concord and found 70 “minutemen” (men who
could be ready for action in 60 seconds) under the command of Massachusetts Captain John Parker blocking the road. The British officer in charge,
who had been told to avoid a confrontation, ordered the minutemen to move. In the silence that followed, a musket fired (to this day, we do not know
which side fired first) and the nervous British troops opened fire without their officers command.
By the time the British officers got their men back under control, eight Colonists lay dead and the rest of the minutemen had scattered to warn
militia units in the surrounding towns about what had happened. The British moved on to Lexington, finding very few weapons and failing to
capture Sam Adams or John Hancock. Militia units coming from all directions then attacked the British and drove them back to Boston in a day-long
bloody fight that left 73 soldiers dead and 200 wounded. The militiamen had been driven into a fury by news of the deaths at Concord and they had
turned their fury loose on the British.
EFFECTS:
The opening shot at Concord has since been known as the “shot heard round the world” for its importance in history. The fighting at
Lexington and Concord meant that the 13 Colonies were now in a state of open and violent rebellion against Great Britain and could now expect the
British to strike back with all of their strength. A hard decision lay ahead for the Colonists who were to meet at the Second Continental Congress in
May. Would they try to make peace with Britain or declare independence? (5)
Page 32
General Thomas Gage
Commander of British forces in Boston
Margaret Kemble Gage
Wife of General Gage – she may have
passed British plans to Dr. Warren of
Colonial Intelligence
William Dawes, Jr.
One of the Patriot night riders
to Lexington and Concord
Review Questions
1.
What did the Intolerable Acts convince many people of in the 13 Colonies?
2.
Why were Colonists very unhappy with the Quebec Act (more than one reason)?
3.
What did the delegates to the First Continental Congress decide to do in response to the Intolerable Acts (four steps)?
4.
How did the British react to the forming of Colonial militia forces (what did the British decide to do)?
5.
Which “hard decision” did the Colonies have to make after the fighting at Lexington and Concord?