American revolution

Question 1

What was the seven years war ?

Answer 1

1756-1763

Question 2

In what way was the 7 years war significant?

Answer 2

-the colonies received a trained army, William pits recalled power in Britain 1957 and organised the funding of 25,000 men to be trained by British forces (renowned as one of the best military forces internationally).
Men like Washington (who later becomes General of the colonial army) gained insights into the strategy and tactics of warfare. Washington served as colonel and commander of Virginia regiments, leading expeditions to combat foreign forces. Although many of which where notable failures (eg expedition of General Braddock) these were learning experiences.
- The war left Britain in a £140 million national debt, annual interest was $4.4 million whist their income was only 8 million. Political forces in London were left with the massive task of balancing the budget. Furthermore Britain’s industrial revolution beginning to take full force, a period in which the population would double and concentrate in nations capital, this would bring about large scale social issues within Britain’s internal affairs that needed funding to deal with. This lead to the decision to begin enforcing taxation within the colonies

Question 3

when was the sugar tax passed?

Answer 3

1964

Question 4

How was it passed?

Answer 4

Swiftly. It went quickly through the parliament in London, there was a general agreement that taxation of the colonies was only fair as they had rallied up a £140 million debt by defending them in the 7 year war, and the colonial people had lived tax free for long enough whilst British citizens in the mother country were taxed harshly (even the poorest strata of society was expect to pay their own taxes). Furthermore there were no lobbying groups for the American colonies in London, MP’s were unconcerned with the wants of the American people

Question 5

Why was the sugar tax significant?

Answer 5

• Its was the first tax that hit the colonies, after having the majority of the American peoples existing living virtually tax free, their were often avoided through the bribery of officials ect

Question 6

What did the colonial response to the sugar act prove about the colonies?

Answer 6

• from the earliest stages the colonies were able to construct intellectual responses to British taxation. Their society was impressively intellectually developed, 75% of white males could read and write by 1763 compared with only 60%in Britain, there were 9 colonial universities and collages along with 30 newspapers in circulation. This is largely to the movement that deeply infiltrated the developing American society, known as Enlightenment- the philosophical movement promoted liberty, intellect and constitutionalism, the American Philosophical Society was founded 1743 as a direct repose to this.
  In 1764 James Otis wrote the influential pamphlet ‘The Rights of The British Colonies, Asserted and Approved’ which condemns the newfound British assertiveness and preached that their should be no taxation without colonial consent
  In 1765 nine colonel assemblies sent a message to London condemning the sugar tax and despite establishing an acceptance for British regulation of trade argued taxation for revenue was unacceptable

Question 7

What was the Sugar Tax of 1764?

Answer 7

it actually reduced the existing taxation (that was never enforced) on sugar, mostly on molasses used for rum ( production based solely in New England). In addition to this it imposed a £500 fine on any official who accepted bribes from the colonist and permanent suspension from any governmental post to confront the issue of tax evasion that had dominate the latter years
- The revenue used was to fund the 10,000 troops station in North America to protest the boarder following the 7 year war

Question 8

Was Britain justified in passing the Sugar Tax of 1964?

Answer 8

Britain WAS justified
- They had got themselves into a £140 million national debt by defending America in the 7 year war, they had trained up 25,000 of colonial militia men to match the British standard of fighting
- The money was to protect the Northern boarder, Britain couldn’t finance funding this themselves due to the debt they were in
- America had got away tax free for long time, whist even the poorest of British society in the mother country had been expected to pay harsh taxes
Britain WASN’T justified
- they had no representation in British parliament, this by definition is undemocratic. In this sense the political forces in London failed to give British citizens over seas the same fundamental rights in those in the mother country. ALTHOUGH could be argued that this was unrealistic as the tax needed to be implement urgently Britain didn’t have time to organise this
- Britain was ignorant for believing that the tax would go unquestioned. America had developed a impressively intellectual and liberally aware society (through the enlightenment movement) they were never going to accept this level of paternalism, acknowledged by the colonials as the behaviour of a dictatorship ALTHOUGH in the same breath it could be argued that the colonies had played their cards wrong earlier on, they disobeyed Britain’s ordered of the proclamation line 30,000 colonist crossed the boarder regardless. Furthermore Pontiacs rebellion of 1763 proved they couldn’t deal with their own internal affairs - although they later prove otherwise its understandable that London had that perception at the time

Question 9

When was the currency act?

Answer 9

1764

Question 10

What was the currency act?

Answer 10

Banned colonial money (affecting mainly Virginia who had printed lots of money during the 7 year war).

Question 11

Why was the currency act implemented?

Answer 11

It appeased British merchants who were no dealing with a more stable currency (usually British sterling of Spanish dollars)

Question 12

Why was the act significant?

Answer 12

Its depicts British lack of concern for the wellbeing of its American colonies. It literally couldn’t have been passed at a worse time, the American economy was going through an economic depression post 7 year war as orders for supplies no longer supported the American economy
This largely affected a once prosperous society as poverty prevailed, proving that Greenville’s primary concern was balancing the budget

Question 13

When was the Quartering Act?

Answer 13

1765

Question 14

What was the Quartering Act?

Answer 14

The act placed a standing British army in America during peacetime . It also required colonist to provide housing for British soldiers that needed it. Colonist were expected to house solders the barracks that they had paid for. If barracks were fully local inns and stables and unused houses should be utilized. Furthermore colonist were expected to pay for their upkeep (eg food, medical care eact)

Question 15

When was the Stamp act passed?

Answer 15

1765

Question 16

What was the Stamp act?

Answer 16

A stamp (produced in London) had to be placed on all formally written or published paper. This encompassed anything from books and legal document’s to playing cards.

Question 17

political response to the 1765 stamp act?

Answer 17

• It was the first act that universally affected all 13 of the colonies
• caused the 1765 Virginia house of Burgess: Henry put forward 7 resolutions at the end of the session (some members had gone home), the 5 mildest of his resolutions were accepted by the remaining 39 Burgess
  1. colonist should have the same rights as the English
  2. colonists rights were guaranteed in the royal charter
  3. colonist should only be taxed when represented in parliament
  4. colonists should have to consent to their own laws
  5. The house of Burgess had the sole right to tax the Virginians

this is a form of political organised processes, revisionist historians have cited the house of Burgess response as an early blueprint for what would soon develop into the first and second congress that would declare the revolutionary war

By the end of 1765 8 other assembly bodies had passed resolutions rejecting the stamp act and denying Britain right to tax the colonies whilst they remained unrepresented. Most signed petitions called for the acts repeal showing an element of unity within the colonies

-The stamp act congress of 1765. Because of the political reaction the Massachusetts assembly suggested an intercolonial meeting to draft to set of resolutions that represented common colonel belief’s. They met in New York, 9/13 colonies sent delegates- all men of high social standing. they concluded that the stamp act stripped them of their liberties, claiming only their own legislature should impose taxes on demand that it was the duty of the colonies to seek the repeal of the stamp act and the abolition of vice-admirable court that tried colonist without a duty

The stamp act was the first indirect request for autonomy. Americans accepted that a parliament 3000 miles away would never be able to fully represent them, and it wasn’t realistic to expect them to. So they concluded that the only realistic way to protect their own liberties as to implement elements of self rule into the running of the colonies
The resolutions of the congress also expressed the growingly mainstream belief that the taxes enforced on the colonist was part of a wider scheme to supress their liberties and forced them into complete subordination hence the focus on liberties and the collective obligation of the communities to preserve their own rights. The PM, first Pitt then Grenville was painted as the emetise of the colonies, underpinning human nature, hatred known no boundaries f class, gender or religion

Question 18

Why was the stamp act passed?

Answer 18

• It was estimated to raise £60,000 in the first year, 1/4 of what was needed to cover colonial defence. Britain couldn’t afford to make those payments alone, they were in £140 million of national debt whilst paying £4.4 million interest and receiving £8 million as their income.
• The attempt to let America deal with their own defence failed- Pontiacs rebellion

Question 19

political response to the 1765 stamp act?

Answer 19

• It was the first act that universally affected all 13 of the colonies
• caused the 1765 Virginia house of Burgees: Henry put forward 7 resolutions at the end of the session (some members had gone home), the 5 mildest of his resolutions were accepted by the remaining 39 burgesses
  1. colonist should have the same rights as the English
  2. colonists rights were guaranteed in the royal charter
  3. colonist should only be taxed when represented in parliament
  4. colonists should have to consent to their own laws
  5. The house of burgesses had the sole right to tax the Virginians

this is a form of political organised processes, revisionist historians have cited the house of burgesses response as an early blueprint for what would soon develop into the first and second congress that would declare the revolutionary war

By the end of 1765 8 other assembly bodies had passed resolutions rejecting the stamp act and denying Britain right to tax the colonies whilst they remained unrepresented. Most signed petitions called for the acts repeal showing an element of unity within the colonies

-The stamp act congress of 1765. Because of the political reaction the Massachusetts assembly suggested an intercolonial meeting to draft to set of resolutions that represented common colonel belief’s. They met in New York, 9/13 colonies sent delegates- all men of high social standing. they concluded that the stamp act stripped them of their liberties, claiming only their own legislature should impose taxes on demand that it was the duty of the colonies to seek the repeal of the stamp act and the abolition of vice-admirable court that tried colonist without a duty

The stamp act was the first indirect request for autonomy. Americans accepted that a parliament 3000 miles away would never be able to fully represent them, and it wasn’t realistic to expect them to. So they concluded that the only realistic way to protect their own liberties as to implement elements of self rule into the running of the colonies
The resolutions of the congress also expressed the growingly mainstream belief that the taxes enforced on the colonist was part of a wider scheme to supress their liberties and forced them into complete subordination hence the focus on liberties and the collective obligation of the communities to preserve their own rights. The PM, first Pitt then Grenville was painted as enemies of the colonies. underpinning human nature, hatred known no boundaries of class, gender or religion. The emotive response that the Massachusetts congress hones in on could be argued to have set the inevitability of war in stone or at least been the earliest indicators that the colonies would gain their liberties or die trying

Question 20

What was the violent response to the stamp act?

Answer 20

models of Oliver (Massachusetts stamp distributor) and Bute (Kings chief advisor) were hung on the tree of liberty (a physical tree that symbolises freedom from tyranny). Hutchinson (chief justice and lieutenant governor of state) order it to be taken down. The mob instead attacked Oliver’s office and later his home. Oliver resigned
A Boston crowd also attacked the houses of two British officials in hopes of their reignition (one did immediately), they also attacked Hutchinson’s house
- this was also perceived as an attack on the class divide as Oliver and Hutchinson were hated for supporting the stamp act and for being rich whist doing it, many wealthy elite also became victims of house damage in the riots
the mob protest was sucesfull in thesnese hat it got instant results, the colonies felt they needed this at it was a display of their power (through force) at a time where Britain was doing all they could to keep them powerless.
However the form of resistance was far from flawless. The mob action ended up cause harsher divides between the rich and the poor as different aims got thrown into the movement (this is due to the lack of leadership that characterises the chaos of mob action), by dividing colonial society the movement was damaged
Furthermore the mob action made the colonist look uneducated and savage to Britain, this isn’t what they wanted when large sections of the colonies were attempting to engaged in diplomatic, political discussions

Question 21

How did popular protest evolve in the resistance to the stamp act?

Answer 21

popular protest turn the political discussion of the intellectual elite (characterised by the Massachusetts assembly and Virginia house of Burgesses) into a movement of the people
Or Boston a group called the Loyal Nine emerged (skilled workmen and shopkeepers), the most important leader was Sam Adams who focuses on the resentment on those who supported of the Stamp act. He turned to the gangs of the south and North for support, who were willing to put their differences aside to join the American plight
- Adams work as part of the popular protest was key, but fundamentally he was perpetuating the feelings of resentment that were instigated first by the political discussion that came from the Massachusetts assembly. They called on the colonies to fight to preserve their own liberties, implying that Britain sought to do others, the popular protest only carried out these order. Already by 1765 the idea of a congress resembling a government (representative were sent from colonies to present the wants of their people) guiding it people to achieve a commonly held aim

Question 22

when was the stamp act repealed?

Answer 22

1766

Question 23

why was the stamp act repealed?

Answer 23

governmental switch over- Grenville replaced by Rockingham who felt British power needed to be implemented more discreetly if it was going to be sustained. At this point America was becoming an increasingly hot topic in London’s political debate, even Pitt argued ‘this kingdom has no right to levy taxes upon its colonies’. Jefferson also did his best to liberalise public opinion, he went London and did his best to differentiate between direct and indirect taxes. It was repleaded with a 275/167 vote
- The colonies had successfully asserted their power, they were treated with more causation, post 1766

Question 24

when was the Declaratory Act passed?

Answer 24

1766 (same time as the repeal of the stamp act)

Question 25

what was the Declaratory Act?

Answer 25

it expressed Britain’s right to tax he colonies and asserted colonial subordinate to the crown and parliament

Question 26

Why was the Declaratory Act passed?

Answer 26

To remind colonies that the stamp act was no repleaded because they sympathised with the colonist. They would not tolerated further insistence of influence over taxation

Question 27

What did the repeal of the stamp act mean for the colonies

Answer 27

• British sovereignty would never hold the same authority over the colonist, they had fought and won
• although most colonial assemblies return to normal and gave their thanks to the king the colonies realised what the power of a governing body and compliance from bellow could do

Question 28

What was the significance British political instability 1766?

Answer 28

William Pitt replaced Rockingham, this was likely to have meant softer rule for Britain, Pitt had previously fought Americas case in parliament (he was a gentle imperialist). But Pitt was in poor health and had to delegate his duties to those beneath him. This allowed Townshend to dominate political proceedings

Question 29

When were the Townshend duties passed?

Answer 29

1767

Question 30

What were the Townshend duties?

Answer 30

An eternal tax put on led, paint, china, wine, paper, tea ect

Question 31

What was the New York retraining act?

Answer 31

New York’s colonel assembly was suspended from passing legislation as a punishment for their resistance to the quartering act of 1765. New York kicked up more of a fuss than the other colonies as the British military headquarters where located in their colonies, therefore they were disproptionatley affected by the act.

Question 32

Why were the Townshend duties passed

Answer 32

To increase revenue, that could then be used to pay crown officials who worked in the colonies. Townshend felt crown officials were too lenient with the colonist as they relied on the colonial assemblies to pay their salary

Question 33

What was the American Board of customs commissioners?

Answer 33

It was a group of officials who’s duty it was to tighten customs services to prevent smugglings. however they were unable to carry out their duty and the Royal Navy was sent in 1768. Now more confident the customs officials seized ‘The Liberty’ a small vessel belonging to racialist John Hancock. A flight broke out and the ship was confiscated however the customs officials were forced to take refuge in Castle William

Question 34

when was the writs of assistance passed?

Answer 34

1767

Question 35

what was the writs of assistance?

Answer 35

authorised that British authority could search any vessel or property to avoid smuggling, colonist felt this new law would be exploited as much as I could be

Question 36

What was the intellectual response to the Townshend acts?

Answer 36

1768- John Dickinson wrote ‘Letters from a Pennsylvanian farmer’ which proved to become an influential opposition to the Townshend acts. Printed in most colonial newspapers it argued against taxation without representation, the suspension of the new York colonial assembly and that custom officials should not be under British control

Question 37

What was the political/organised response to the Townshend duties?

Answer 37

1768- The Massachusetts assembly sent out a circular letter denouncing the Townshend duties for violating the principal of taxation without representation and appealing to the other colonies to do the same. Gov Bernard saw this is an attempt to incite rebellion and attempted to get it revoked, however Massachusetts assembly voted against. Bernard then took to dissolving the letter himself- this worsted tension between colonies and Britain

The Virginia house of burgesses went further and issued their own circular letter advocating joined measures against British actions that were designed to oppress them

Question 38

when and why did British troops arrive at Boston?

Answer 38

1768, because tension were quickly rising. There were groups of colonist who did all they could to counteract every British move

Question 39

How did the arrival of 600 British troops worsen matters?

Answer 39

• It seemed to the colonist that Britain was moving closer and closer to military occupation in the colonies at a time that America was pushing for their own liberties
• Under the Quartering Act of 1765 the colonist would have to finding housing for people they were now developing to see not only as foreigners but as enemies
• off-duty soldiers sought to find part-time jobs, and were willing to work for lower wages. This undercut the colonists
• Newspapers fabricated stories about conflicts between colonist and the soldiers

Question 40

what was the economic resistance to the Townshend acts?

Answer 40

By 1769 every colony accept New Hampshire’s had organizations that had pledged to boycott British goods in resistance to the duties. This complement the non-importation boycotts that were going on within the colonies. Households took the personal pledge to manufacture their own clothing and grow their own crops in an attempt to damage British business. Non-importation also spurred patriotism and morality in the colonies as it undermine the need for British luxury goods and highlighted the simplicity of American life

By 1769 the unofficial body called the ‘committees of inspection’ was also set up. They worked as a govern forced (much like a police force) to enforce non-importation in the colonies. Merchants who were caught importing British goods had their warehouses broken into and goods damaged. Being tarred and feathered was also a popular form of public humiliation.

Question 41

What triggered the Boston massacre

Answer 41

British soldiers who were guarding the ‘House of Customs’ were harassed by a mob throwing snowballs. The troops under provocation opened fire (whether Captain Thomas ordered them to do so is still debated).

Question 42

What triggered the Boston massacre?

Answer 42

British soldiers who were guarding the ‘House of Customs’ were harassed by a mob throwing snowballs. The troops under provocation opened fire (whether Captain Thomas ordered them to do so is still debated).

Question 43

Why was the Boston massacre important to America stepping one step closer to demanding autonomy?

Answer 43

Massively changed public opinion- Sam Adams political machine presented the massacre as a deliberate attack on innocent colonist. Funerals of the Victims were made into massive public protests and the American cause now had martyrs
Out of the 8 soldiers brought to trail 6 were acquitted- this lead many colonist to believe the legal system as corrupt and no longer sought to protect American liberties

Question 44

How divided were the colonies 1769

Answer 44

The colonist were massively divided- whether or not you identified as a patriot or a loyalist literally split families. Sam Adams was a fierce patriot who argued the Boston massacre was a purposeful British terrorist attack, his brother John Adams however defended the 8 British soldiers in court. His skilful defence got 6 acquitted and 2 with a mere ‘M’ branded on their thumbs. This showcases that the division wasn’t as simple as a geographical division that characterised opinion (like the south and north in the later civil war)

Question 45

When were the Townshend duties repleaded?

Answer 45

1769

Question 46

Why were the Townshend duties repealed?

Answer 46

it was no longer economically viable for Britain to enforce the duties, it was doing them more harm than good

Question 47

What was the significance of the repeal of the Townshend duties?

Answer 47

• Another colonial win

Question 48

What was the significance of the repeal of the Townshend duties?

Answer 48

• Another colonial win, but Britain made it clear they were not willing to be submissive to the colonies.

Question 49

What duty remained despite the repeal of the Townshend duties and why?

Answer 49

the duty on tea. Lord North kept the tax on tea as ‘a mark of supremacy of parliament’. Its clear Britain still wasn’t willing to liberalise their relationship with the colonies.

Question 50

What triggered the Boston Tea Party ?

Answer 50

The Tea Act, passed 1773. The acts gave the British East Indian Company (EIC) monopoly on tea sale in the American colonies by allowing them to sell directly to the Americans instead of stopping at Britain first have having to pay tax. This allowed the EIC to sell their tea so cheap it undercut the smuggled tea.
This angered the colonist as it was seen as an attack on their economy, further painting Britain as an oppressor.

Question 51

What happened during the Boston Tea Party?

Answer 51

• the first ship arrives, two of Hutchinson’s sons were merchants of which the tea was assigned to, he was determined that the tea be unloaded however most Bostinions at this point were just as determined that this dint happen- thousands gathered daily to prevent tea being unloaded
• the second ship ‘The Elinor’ arrives, this leads to a two week discussion between Hutchinson and patriot leaders. Later ‘The Beaver’ arrives
• 60 sons of liberty dressed as Native Americans directed by Sam Adams board the 3 ships and throw 342 chests of tea overboard with about £10,000 worth of tea. The Royal Navy could have opened fire but didn’t as they felt this would only cause a violent escalation

Question 52

What was the British reaction to the Boston Tea Party?

Answer 52

London was outraged, Lord North now refused to tolerate any more ‘bad behavior’ from the colonists, Britain had been week too many time and taught America bad habits. North was ready to take a hard-line approach. This hard-line approach took the form of the Coercive Acts

Question 53

When were the Coercive acts passed?

Answer 53

1774

Question 54

Why what were the Coercive acts?

Answer 54

1) Boston Port Act- closed Boston to trade until destroyed tea had been paid for
2) Massachusetts Government Act- revoked royal charter allowing royal governors to appoint or removal civil officials, needed permission for town meetings
3) The Impartial Administration of Justice Act (nicknamed the Murder Act)- governor could refer a royal officials trial elsewhere if he felt the official would receive an unfair one in Massachusetts
4) Quartering Act- more authority to military commander seeking to house their troops, they could be housed in occupied facilities
5) Quebec act (seen as a coercive act, passed at the same time)- extension of Quebec boundaries and restored french civil law and guaranteed religious freedom

Question 55

How did the coercive acts unify the colonies?

Answer 55

Although the acts were only meant to punish Massachusetts, the colonies now adopted the ideology that a threat to american liberties anywhere was a threat to american liberties everywhere, and so they rallied together to fight for their sister colony.

Question 56

What was the economic resistance to the Coercive acts?

Answer 56

Boston town meetings called for all colonies to partake in an economic boycott of British goods in till the Boston port act was repealed. The Boston committee drafted solemn covenant (formal agreement between two bodies) committing themselves to a boycott.
Communities worked hard to endorse the document but some merchants suggested it wasn’t the best course of action as it damaged their own economy worst the Britain- so there was still some (but minimal) opposition

Question 57

What was the resistance of the ‘everyday American people’ to the Coercive acts?

Answer 57

The committee or correspondence spread propaganda that made the colonist feel they needed to stand up for colonial liberties

Question 58

What was the political resistance to the coercive acts?

Answer 58

Britain made it clear that nay colonial assembly that seemed willing to denounce the coercive acts would be instantly dissolved
1774- Virginia house of Burgess passed their own resolution condemning the Boston Port act regardless. Their Governor dissolved the assembly two days later but this led to them meeting again for an unofficial meeting in which they promoted non-consumption of tea and pledged to a non-importation deal. It openly declared ‘an attack made on our sister colonies threatens the ruin of all of us’. Other colonies followed Virginia lead and when assemblies were prevented from meeting they did so unofficially taking the role of government in their local area
(The continental congress)

Question 59

What was the intellectual response to the coercive act?

Answer 59

by 1775 there were 42 newspapers in the colonies, all but 2 or three were radical. Numerous pamphlets doing the rights of the colonies were published attempting the rally up grassroots support. in 1774 to 1775 John Adams wrote under the pen name ‘Novangulus’ for the Boston Gazette, publishing 12 essays one of which stated ‘America is not any part of the British realm’

Question 60

When was the first continental congress?

Answer 60

1774

Question 61

Why was the first continental congress formed?

Answer 61

to sort out how the colonies were going to react to the coercive acts?

Question 62

What was the continental congress?

Answer 62

All but one (Georgia- because the colony was engaged in a despite with native Americans and needed British backing) sent at least delegate to Philadelphia to represent them. the congress was filled with prominent figures who were radical moderate and loyalist

1) Suffolk resolves declared the coercive acts invalid and anyone who enforced these illegal acts should resign. It also called for Massachusetts to arms for defence and appoint militia officers. General Gage was warned that efforts t arrest citizens on political charges would result in his soldiers being detrained and arrested. its also retracted loyalty to the King
2) it called for ‘the association’ which imposed non-importation of all British goods and for one year non-consumption and non-exportation
3) The delegates agreed on the Declaration of Rights and Grievances which addressed King George. Its pledged allegiance to him but not parliament. It openly accepted Britain’s right to regulate trade but stated their refusal of parliament implementing taxes to regulate revenue
4) it lastly called for the second continental congress that spring if complaints had not been tended to

Question 63

what was the economic reaction to the coercive acts?

Answer 63

Ban on British imports (non-importation) backed by various bodies and the everyday American people
non-consumption was popular with ordinary people, it also boosted the radicalism cause as Americans were being made aware they are fully equipped to provide themselves (no need to feel dependent on Britain)
In the promotion of simplistic American living even the wealthy elite tampered with abandoning the British luxuries that characterized their lifestyle- they level the poor gaining a great sense of inter-colonial unity. The fight for freedom appeared to be a common cause
the committees of inspection (set up 1769) were established across the colonies, they enforced the boycott but went further than this but acting as a police force, investigating cases in which the rules set by the continental congress had been broken. By spring of 1774 4000 colonists, many being directly involved were serving under the committee of inspection or similar associations

Question 64

What was the situation is colonies by 1775?

Answer 64

• traditional rule was a thing of the past, the colonies were beginning to cohesively form their own governmental system. The continental congress made rule that the committee of inspection ensured would be followed at the grass roots
• violence was also brewing in the colonies, to say a war was not suspected would be largely misleading when colonist began to stockpile weapons, Rhode Island and New Hampshire seized cannon arms and munitions from British forts
• However the colonies were not in total defiance to British rule as the the Declaration of Rights and Grievances continued their pledge of loyalty to King George- the embodiment of British sovereignty. Most colonial people still hoped for a compromise between British and american interests so that the Anglo-american ties would not be completely severed

Question 65

By 1775 how did Britain feel towards the colonies?

Answer 65

Britain was not willing to back down and repeal the coercive acts. Although by now America was a well established topic in political discussions in London, and therefore had gained small alliances the majority insisted on hard-line rule. William Pitt for example who had previously stated ‘this country has no right to levy taxation on the colonies’ called for the acts to be repealed, this was rejected 66/32
Britain felt attacked through the actions of congress (The declaration of rights and grievances retracted their allegiance to parliament). Massachusetts was declared to be in a state of rebellion, and Dartmouth sends Gage a letter telling him to move against the rebellion and arrest the leaders of the revolt

Question 66

How large of a role did Gage play in the colonies 1775?

Answer 66

After being told by Dartmouth to move against the revolt and arrests its leaders Gage sent spies through Massachusetts (that was declared to be in a state of rebellion in London) to assess colonial strength and find out where the colonist have stockpiled their weapons.
When weapons were found in Salem troops were sent to seize them however they were largely outnumbered, forcing Gage and his men to withdraw. Colonist now openly resisted British soldiers preforming their duty (this forebodes a future war)

Question 67

When was Lexington and Concord?

Answer 67

1775

Question 68

What triggered Lexington and Concord?

Answer 68

• Gage was finally given the orders he had been waiting for from Dartmouth to move against the rebellion and capture the rebel leaders
• After sending spies into Massachusetts to locate where colonist had stockpiled their weaponry, they were found in Salem

Question 69

What happened during Lexington and Concord?

Answer 69

Gage sent 700 men from Boston to Concord to seize rebel arms and arrest the leaders of congress, these men were lead by Colonial Smith. The Massachusetts militia however were warned of oncoming troops by a member of the Boston committee of inspection (Paul Revere). 70 armed militiamen were waiting in Lexington, the British army attempted to intimidate by lining up in 7 companies of 10.
Shots were soon fired (unsure which side opened fire first). 8 militia men were soon killed, British soldiers set fire to local buildings, an eyewitness thought they were trying to set dire to the whole village and rushed to tell the militia.
Troops rushed to concord in search of arms, by 1pm 3000 militiamen had arrived and in only half an hour British trooped were forced to retreat
As British forces were retreating they were met by 800 more red coats however they continued to pull back
273 British had been killed compared to only 92 militiamen.
Boston was now surrounded by militiamen, Britain dispatched 4000 reinforcements this gave Gage 6500 redcoats to deal with the colonists

Question 70

Why was the outcome of Lexington and Concord so significant?

Answer 70

• it gave the colonist confidence in the fact that they would be able to win a possible war, an unorganised group of militiamen had beaten one of the most powerful armies in the world
• Anglo-american relationship would never be the same, what was once a political dispute was now a military conflict, the tension levels were escalated at an unignorable rate
• the power of the colonist working together shines through, if anything the colonial win pays homage to to the shake shift self governance system the colonist had constructed. It was the continental congress that had called for Massachusetts to arm for defense. Furthermore it was Paul Revere, a member of the committee of inspection (that worked as the enforcement of congresses rule) that warned their militia. Finally, it was the militia made up predominantly of ordinary men that fought (and some lost their lives) to defend colonial liberties

Question 71

What caused the second continental congress?

Answer 71

the colonists had declared a state of emergency following Lexington and Concord. As a highlight of Anglo-american tension (political conflict had just turned into military conflict) the colonies needed to collectively decided what their next move would be

Question 72

What were the features of the second continental congress?

Answer 72

• All 13 colonies sent delegates, each colony was authorized one vote to use to either approve or prevent proposed measure within congress.
• Despite military engagements neither Britain or the colonies wanted war. Britain still viewed it as a small rebellion within its empire, and the majority of Americans still wished to maintain some kind of beneficial relationships with Britain
• out of the 65 men at the first congress, 50 were at the second, this kept unity and continuity in hope of preventing arguments. Newcomers: Franklin and Jefferson
  1) congress would take control of the army duuring wartime, representaives werent comfortable with one man having the power of the whole army at his fingertips (too close to tyrnay), however in hindsight thios was a bad idea, congress was far from equipt to run an army, only one solider in congress. Army was to be of 20,000 men and later on congress would vote for £2 million of papaer money to finance the force
  2) Wahington would be appointed commander of the continetal army, He was well experince from the 7 year war, he looked the opart (always attened congress in his uniform)and was a wealthy panter (35,000 acre of land), this put fears of radicalims to rest. Washington accepted but it was obviopus he doubted thier decsion in making him head.
  3) effort at reconciliation were made, most delegates wanted his. congress adopted ‘a declaration of the causes and necessities of taking up arms’ stating colonists would rather die than be enslaved, but it also disclaimed that it had no intention for separating from Britain
  4) The olive branch petition- the final attempt to avoid a legitimate war. the petition appealed to King George asking for the prevention of further hostilities, affirming American loyalty to Britain. King George however rejected the petition deemed the congress as an illegal body that was waging war with Britain, instead he sent his civil servant to suppress the rebellion.

Question 73

How did the second continental congress differ from the first?

Answer 73

out of the 65 men that were there, 50 had been delegates at the first continental congress this aimed to keep the peace and ensure the smooth running of congress decisions. Newcomers however soon become very influential (Jefferson and Franklin)
The tone of congress was far more urgent, as conflict seemed to be nearing- men lives were now at stake
Colonies knew now they had to make a decision on their aims, it was the high point of tension that would make or break America as a free nation. Simply it was now or never

Question 74

In what way was the second continental congress significant?

Answer 74

finalized the idea that Britain and the Colonies would not be able to meet a compromise. But as a nation the Americans were too committed to the rebel cause and too developed of a nation to remain submissive to British rule- conflict was now inevitable