Townshend Acts Charles Townshend thought colonists bad behavior

Townshend Acts • Charles Townshend – thought colonists bad behavior made it important to have an army in colonies • Placed a duty on goods such as glass, paint, paper and tea • Continue to increase the unhappiness of the colonists

Boycott of British • Determined Goods not to pay taxes, the • • duty was a tax in disguise Sam Adams leads opposition Boycott: refuse to buy one or more goods from a certain source All colonies agreed to a boycott Women were important to making this work – They found ways to avoid buying British imports

Repeal of Townshend Acts • Lord North – new head of English Gov. • The duties weren’t making up for all the money British were losing from the boycott • Decided to repeal all taxes but the on tea • Some people in Britain thought this was a bad idea, the King

http: //www. history. com/shows/america-the-story-ofus/videos/boston-massacre#boston-massacre

Boston Massacre • Same day Parliament repealed Townshend duties, brawl broke out in Boston • Five Bostonians were dead and 10 were injured • Patriots called this a Massacre • What is a massacre?

What Really Happened? • Bostonians resented the British soldiers • Egged them on • Troops were forbidden to fire on citizens • Mob started throwing ice balls at the guards

• Mob pressed forward and knocked a soldier down and the troops panicked and opened fire • Was really a riot, not a massacre • Sam Adams used the opportunity to rally anti-British support • John Adams (Sam’s cousin) was a patriot but believed in justice – defended the troops • Adams proved they acted in self defense • Upheld the law no matter who it is

Colonial Meeting It is now 1770 and the British have continued to enact controversial laws. A tragic event has taken place in Boston. In your group, evaluate the actions of the British by completing these sentences: ’ The Townshend Acts were fair/unfair and their repeal is fair/unfair because. . . The Boston Massacre was/was not justified because. . . Today’s Target: Identify, describe, and analyze the seeds of the Revolutionary War

Colonial Meeting 2 How should you and your fellow colonists choose to respond to the British government at this point in time? Comply (obey without question) Oppose (protest even if unwilling to rebel) Rebel (declare independence) Prepare a new spokesperson to answer this question: At this point in time, should American colonists rebel against the British? If not, what should we do? Today’s Target: Identify, describe, and analyze the seeds of the Revolutionary War

Boston Tea Party • http: //www. history. com/vid eos/the-sons-of-libertyand-the-boston-teaparty#the-sons-of-libertyand-the-boston-tea-party

Boston Tea Party • Repeal of Townshend acts lead to a time of calming in the colonies • Tax on tea was annoying but do-able • Tea Act – try to rescue British East India Company • Americans were boycotting British tea and was hurting the British tea company

Tea Act • Lord North (British Parliament) • Tea Act lowered cost of tea so even when taxed was cheaper than Dutch Tea • Many colonists weren’t fooled and were concerned the British were trying to tax them even more

Tea Ships Arrive • When British Tea Ships sailed into ports colonists tried to keep them from unloading • Some ships turned around • Boston they were ordered not to turn around until they unload • Sons of Liberty – dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded the three ships • Dumped 90, 000 pounds of tea into the sea that night

Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party

The Intolerable Acts • Britain had thought colonists had gone too far • They tried to send them cheap tea but they threw it in the sea • To the King it was no longer about taxes, it was about Britain’s control over the colonies • Parliament passed a new series of laws in 1774 –The Intolerable Acts

Intolerable Acts

Massachusetts's Punishment • 1. closed Boston Harbor until ruined tea was paid for • 2. placed Massachusetts government under British control – Colonists could not even hold a meeting with out British governor permission • 3. British soldiers accused of murder would be tried in

More Punishment • More troops sent to enforce laws in colonies • Some British leaders worried that new laws would push colonists into rebellion

Colonies Unite • Colonies support Boston – sent goods so they could get by • In Virginia lawmakers drafted a resolution to support Massachusetts • Virginia called for a meeting of delegates from all colonies – to try to come up with a peaceful solution to the conflicts with Great Britain

Loyalists and Patriots • Not everyone agreed with uniting and supporting each other • Loyalists thought the Bostonians had gone too far and should pay for the tea • They thought the Patriots were causing trouble

st 1 Continental Congress • September 1774 50 leaders met in Philadelphia • Patrick Henry – “I am not a Virginian, I am an American” • United by their love of liberty and hatred of tyranny • Sent a respectful message to the King and called for a new boycott of goods

st 1 Continental Congress

st 1 Continental Congress Carpenters Hall, Philadelphia, September 1774

Colonies form Militias • Patriots appointed committees to enforce the boycott – militias incase it didn’t work • Militias trained and gathered gun powder

Colonial Meeting 3 The year is now 1774 and tensions between the colonists and the British have increased dramatically. In your group, evaluate the actions of the British by completing these sentences: The Sons of Liberty were right/wrong to throw tea into the Boston Harbor because… We believe the Intolerable Acts are fair/unfair because. . . Today’s Target: Identify, describe, and analyze the seeds of the Revolutionary War

Colonial Meeting 3 How should you and your fellow colonists choose to respond to the British government at this point in time? Comply (obey without question) Oppose (protest even if unwilling to rebel) Rebel (declare independence) Today’s Target: Identify, describe, and analyze the seeds of the Revolutionary War

Lexington and Concord • http: //www. history. com/vid eos/first-revolutionarybattle-at-lexington-concord#first-revolutionary -battle-at-lexington-concord

Lexington and Concord • King refused to answer colonist’s letter • “New England government are in a state of rebellion. Blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent”

Diagram of Battle

Lexington • April 1775, British General Gage got word the colonists were hiding gun powder and weapons in Concord – Gage decided to strike • Marched to Concord through the night to get the colonists supplies • Colonists had spies – Revere and Dawes went and told

Lexington Continued • Minutemen (militia) gathered at Lexington (on the way to Concord) • Met British in early morning and fought • At the end, 8 colonists lay dying and 10 were wounded. • British were victorious

Concord • British continued into Concord looking for gunpowder and weapons but colonists had hidden it • British began setting Concord on fire and Captain Davis took his men to fight the British • Colonists held their ground and the British were running away in

British Retreat • Retreat back to Boston was a nightmare for the British • Minutemen lined their route and fired at them • Americans proved they were willing to fight and die for their cause

Colonial Meeting 4 It is late April 1775 and the conflicts between the colonists and the British government have reached a crisis point. In your group, evaluate the actions of the British by completing these sentences: The battles at Lexington and Concord were/were not justified because. . . How should you and your fellow colonists choose to respond to the British government at this point in time? Comply (obey without question) Oppose (protest even if unwilling to rebel) Rebel (declare independence) Today’s Target: Identify, describe, and analyze the seeds of the Revolutionary War

nd 2 Continental Congress and the Olive Branch Petition