week 11 - reaction to tea party Flashcards
boston port act
fisheries closed to new england’s ships
massachusetts government act
massachusetts council, previously constituted as an elected body with the governor’s approval, became appointed by the crown.
additionally, the act gave the new royal governor the ability to choose judges and county sheriffs without the council’s approval
no town meetings for 1 year without permission
the impartial administration of justice act
gained the king’s approval on the same day as the massachusetts government act.
this law sought to further increase the power of the governor by giving him the ability to move a trial to another colony or great britain if it was determined ‘that an indifferent trial cannot be had within the said province’
eliminated the right to a fair trial by one’s peers, removing an established judicial principle dating to magna carta
cut down colonial power
quebec act
became law soon after the legislation to punish massachusetts was enacted
also known as the canada act,
extended the borders of the province of quebec southward to the ohio river.
granted “the free exercise of the religion of the church of rome,” as the territory was home to a large french catholic majority.
while also instituting english criminal law, the act allowed french civil law to remain in place, which excluded trial by jury.
governor and legislative body established by the quebec act were crown-appointed positions with complete authority over the colony.
at a time of widespread religious intolerance, many protestant colonists shuddered at the prospect of tolerating catholicism in north america
challenged some of the major reasons that colonists had fought in the french and indian war-to defend and expand protestantism and representative government in north america.
what as the purpose of the coercive acts?
to break massachusetts bay and to warn the other colonies of the consequences of rebellious behaviour.
each act was specifically designed to cause severe damage to a particular aspect of colonial life.
The boston port bill’s assault on colonial trade damaged the provincial economy, drove up unemployment, and starved the boston people.
the government act abolished representative government by establishing an all-powerful governor, and the Justice Act removed the right to a fair trial.
what did congress adopt?
the declaration of rights and grievances
what was the declaration of rights and grievances?
declared that their rights as englishmen included life, liberty, property, and trial by jury.
the declaration denounced taxation without representation.
what did congress reject?
a plan for reconciling british authority with colonial freedom
what prompted the first continental congress?
the coercive acts
what did delegates promptly begin drafting?
the continental association
their most important policy outcome.
called for an end to british imports starting in december 1774 and an end to exporting goods to britain in september 1775.
enforced by local and colony-wide committees of inspection - committees would check ships that arrived in ports, force colonists to sign documents pledging loyalty to the continental association, and suppress mob violence.
committees of inspection even enforced frugality, going so far as to end lavish funeral services and parties.
many colonial leaders hoped these efforts would bond the colonies together economically.
why did georgia not attend?
facing a war with neighboring native american tribes, the colony did not want to jeopardize british assistance
