committees of safety

Question 1

when were committees of safety established

Answer 1

1774

Question 2

what were the committees of safety

Answer 2

• mandate to enforce the boycott of british goods
• the committees also investigated and punished those who broke the continental associations rules
• 1775= 7000 colonists serving on committees of safety

Question 3

what was the situation in massachusetts

Answer 3

by 1774, british authority had completely broken down and militia units began to prepare for war.

Question 4

what was the situation in boston

Answer 4

general gage was effectively besieged in boston with few troops, so asked british gov for 20,000 more soldiers

Question 5

what was the situation in other colonies

Answer 5

extra legal conventions and committees had been established, and arms and munitions had been stockpiled. e.g. Rhode Island and New Hampshire militiamen seized cannon, arms and munitions from british forts.

not all americans supported the rebel cause e.g. NY remained loyal to britain

by the end of 1775 relatively few americans sought total independence

Question 6

what was the british reaction

Answer 6

• north nor the king agreed to gages suggestion that the coercive acts should be suspended
• north failed to appreciate the size of the military threat- only 400 troops were sent to Boston, gage wanted 20,000
• feb 1775- parliament declared MA in a state of rebellion, limiting new englands commerce with britain and the west indies and extended this to most colonies
• in march, dartmouth sent a letter to gage telling him to move against the rebellioon and arrest the rebels.