the british reaction to the boston tea party Flashcards
economic reaction
13th may 1774 - boston town meeting asked all the colonies to boycott british goods until the boston port act was repealed
boston committee of correspondence drafted a solemn league and covenant on 5th june committing itself to a british boycott
not all merchants were convinced that this was the right course of action:
- a trade boycott would would probably harm america more than britain
- previous non importations had shown that the boycotts were difficult to enforce and that some merchants had made money from trade with britiain at the expense of others
political response
committees of correspondence spread propaganda and persuade the colonists of the need to take collective action
virginia house of burgesses disbanded for supporting massachusetts on 24th may but still meet - 7 other colonies do the same
september 1774 - continental congress meets - all but one colony send delegates. pass the suffolk resolves, which declared the coercive acts void and suggested a boycott of british goods
october 1774 - declaration of rights and grievances - britain had no right to raise revenue without america’s consent
propaganda
42 colonial newspapers and hundreds of pamphlets helped persuade americans to support massachusetts and defend american liberties
thomas jefferson - a summary of the rights of british america
john adams - boston gazette and ‘america is not any part of the british realm’
unity
massachusetts in full rebellion - rhode island and new hampshire created militias
new york attack east india company ship - the nancy - but mostly remained loyal to britain
georgia not at first continental congress
few delegates at the congress wanted independence at this point - they wanted a solution to their troubles
how significant were economic boycotts?
brought communities together
asserting power over britain
britain would suffer economically
how significant was the continental congress?
first time that most of the colonies were united
acknowledged potential freedom and rights
how significant was propaganda?
largely concentrated in new england - less significant
thomas jefferson’s pamphlet
how significant were militias?
prepared to fight england
sparked revolution
new york remained loyal
what was the british response in 1774?
november 1774
gage asked north for immediate suspension of the coercive acts
took a month to reach london
north and king refuse
what was the british response in 1774?
why did the king and north eventually agree?
the colonies were in rebellion and needed to be taught a lesson
what was the british response in 1774?
how many troops were sent to boston?
4000
gage wanted 60,000
what was the british response in 1774?
warnings
william pitt proposed the removal of legislation offensive to the colonies but failed
lord north offered a conciliation plan where britain would forbear any colony paying for the cost of its own administration - failed
february 1774
parliament ruled massachusetts who were officially in rebellion
march 1775
north limited new england’s trade with britain and the west indies
lord dartmouth finally sent gage orders to put down the rebellion
april 1775
extended to the colonies
