Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts
1774
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Boston Port Bill
Administration of Justice Act
Massachusetts Government Act
Quartering Act
Quebec Act
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–1774 First Continental Congress
• Suffolk Resolutions
–Repeal of the intolerable acts
–Reject declaratory act
–Plan for boycott: Continental
Association to enforce boycott
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–Battles of Lexington and Concord
• First battles of American Revolution
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Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826
• Virginia gentry
• Man of contradictions
• Influence by John Locke
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• Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
– anti-British propaganda
–Calls for independence
– Links independence with a sense of
religious mission
– Convinces delegates to the 2nd
Continental Congress to push for
independence
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July 4, 1776
Declaration of Independence
• Who is accused of violating the rights of the
colonies?
• Who is not mentioned in the Declaration of
Independence?
Look at the grievances that are listed.
• What are the grievances that relate to the
specific acts passed by the British Parliament
after the French & Indian War?
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• Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776
– May 1776; New England and Rhode Island declared
independence
– Continental Congress approves Declaration
– Address King George III; does not mention Parliament
– Influenced by Enlightenment thinker, John Locke
– Fails to address status of poor whites, blacks, and women
– Original draft blamed the institution of slavery on the
British King, later removed
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• History Channel The Revolution 02 Rebelling
to Revolution 7:50 min
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsgGDQ20z20
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• The Tale of the Tape
– Britain 162,000 troops, world’s largest navy,
professional army
– British disadvantage: long supply line, financial
burden, public support
– U.S. Colonies 220,000 troops
– Disadvantage: no trained army & poorly financed
– State militias do well in guerrilla raids; not as well
in battle
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American Revolution
• 1776 British out of
Boston
• Divided society into
• loyalists (Tories)
vs..Whigs (patriots)
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Issue of Slavery 1770s
James Somerset sues for his freedom in England
English court ruled in favor of Somerset
Colonies: Slaves in Mass. petitioned their local
assembly & slaves in the South looked for ways to
get to England
Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, promised slaves
freedom to those who enlisted in the British forces.
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