QUESTION
From the late 1760s to July 4, 1776, American colonists moved from merely protesting the decisions of
King and Parliament to a Declaration of Independence and a Revolutionary War to overthrow that
authority.
Using both your own knowledge and the documents provided, identify and discuss the turning points
which marked this changing relationship.
DOCUMENT A
DOCUMENT B
This account of the Boston Tea Party and an original document of the remembrances of a participant in
that event appears in one of the standard college textbooks used today in many colleges and
universities.
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One the evening of December 16, 1773, a gathering of perhaps 8,000 men, much of the town’s contingent of
able-bodies males, assembled at the Old South Church. They were there to hold a town meeting, to ask that the
hated tea not be landed. Their request was not granted, and at the end of the meeting Sam Adams rose from his
seat and said "This meeting can do nothing to save the country." As if by prearranged signal, as soon as the
meeting adjourned, a band of men disguised as Mohawk Indians rushed down Milk Street to Griffin’s Wharf.
Three companies of these instant Indians rowed out to the anchored tea ships, boarded them, split open the tea
chests, and dumped their massive contents into the waters of the harbor. Their mission accomplished, the men
quickly and quietly dispersed...." Firsthand America, A History of the United States, David Burner, 1996
____________
George Hewes, One of the Indians participating in the Boston Tea Party, December 16, 1773
"[I brought}... a small hatchet, which I and my associated demonated the tomahawk, with which, and a club, after
having painted my face and hands with coal dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin’s wharf, where
the three ships lay that contained the tea.... [T]here appeared to be an understanding that each individual should
volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequences for himself. No disorder took place
during that transaction, and it was observed at the time that the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed for
many months."
SOURCE:
George Hewes, 1773 - Firsthand America, A History of the United States, David Burner, 1996.
DOCUMENT D
The Association was the most effective device adopted by the American colonials and the First
Continental Congress to deal with grievances with Great Britain. Copying earlier spontaneous boycotts
and harshly enforced by radical Sons and Daughters of Liberty, the non-importation of British goods
forced British merchants to appeal to Parliament to placate the colonials.
_______________
"We, his Majesty's most loyal subjects, the delegates of the several colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts
Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of Newcastle,
Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, deputed to represent
them in a continental congress, held in the city of Philadelphia, on the 5th day of September, 1774, avowing our
allegiance to his Majesty, our affection and regard for our fellow-subjects in Great Britain and elsewhere,
affected with the deepest anxiety and most alarming apprehensions, at those grievances and distresses, with
which his Majesty's American subjects are oppressed...
And we do solemnly bind ourselves and our constituents, under the ties aforesaid, to adhere to this Association,
until such parts of the several Acts of Parliament passed since the close of the last war,... are repealed.... And
we recommend it to the provincial conventions, and to the committees in the respective colonies, to establish
such farther regulations as they may think proper, for carrying into execution this Association.
SOURCE:
The Association of the First Continental Congress, October 20, 1774, in
Journals of the Continental Congress, Vol. 1, pp. 75-80.".
DOCUMENT E
This declaration by the First Continental Congress was clearly targeted at the American people and to
the outside world as colonial leaders attempted to explain the grievances which had brought them into
opposition to their King
"...The good people of the several colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Castle, Kent and Sussex on
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, justly alarmed at these arbitrary proceedings
of Parliament and administration, have severally elected, constituted, and appointed deputies to meet and sit in
general congress, in the city of Philadelphia, in order to obtain such establishment, as that their religion, laws,
and liberties may not be subverted.
That the inhabitants of the English colonies in North America, by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of
the English constitution, and the several charters or compacts, have the following rights:
Resolved, That they are entitled to life, liberty and property, and they have never ceded to any sovereign power
whatever, a right to dispose of either without their consent.
Resolved, That our ancestors who first settled these colonies, were at the time of their emigration from the
mother country, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural-born subjects, within the
realm of England.
Resolved, That the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate
in their legislative council: and as the English colonists are not represented, and from their local and other
circumstances, cannot properly be represented in the British Parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclusive
power of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, …
SOURCE:
Declaration of Colonial Rights and Grievances, October 1, 1774 , Journals of the Continental
Congress, 1774-1779 (Washington, 1904-1937).
DOCUMENT F
The Boston Port Act was passed by Parliament in direct retaliation for the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
______________
"An act to discontinue, in such manner, and for such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging,
lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the town, and within the harbour, of Boston, in the
province of Massachusett’s Bay, in North America.
WHEREAS dangerous commotions and insurrections have been fomented and raised in the town of Boston, in
the province of Massachusett's Bay, in New England, by divers ill-affected persons, to the subversion of his
Majesty's government, and to the utter destruction of the publics peace, and good order of the said town; in which
commotions and insurrections certain valuable cargoes of teas, being the property of the East India Company,
and on board certain vessels lying within the bay or harbour of Boston, were seized and destroyed: And whereas,
in the present condition of the said town and harbour, the commerce of his Majesty's subjects cannot be safely
carried on there, nor the customs payable to his Majesty duly collected; and it is therefore expedient that the
officers of his Majesty's customs should be forthwith removed front the said town... be it enacted.... That from and
after.... [June I, I774,]... it shall not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever to lade, put, or cause or
procure to be laden or put, off or from any quay, wharf, or other place, within the said town of Boston..., upon pain
of the forfeiture of the said goods, wares, and merchandise, and of the said boat, lighter, ship, vessel, or other
bottom into which the same shall be put... until it shall sufficiently appear to his Majesty that full satisfaction hath
been made by or on behalf of the inhabitants of the said town of Boston to the united company of merchants of
England trading to the East Indies, for the damage sustained by the said company by the destruction of their
goods sent to the said town of Boston... in the months of November and December, in the year one thousand
seven hundred and seventy-three, and in the month of January, in the year one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-four."
SOURCE:
Act of the British Parliament, 1774.
DOCUMENT G
Thomas Paine was nothing if he was not a world traveling rabble rouser. He came to the American
colonies and helped foment a revolution. He returned to England to promote radical causes and had to
flee for his life. He went to France where he aided in the French Revolution. "Common Sense," printed in
Philadelphia on January 10, 1776 and reprinted throughout the colonies, offered his reasons why
America should seek independence.
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"In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense....
Volumes have been written on the subject of the struggle between England and America. Men of all ranks have
embarked in the controversy, from different motives, and with various designs; but all have been ineffectual, and
the period of debate is closed. Arms as the last resource decide the contest; the appeal [to arms] was the choice
of the King, and the {American] Continent has accepted the challenge....
The Sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.... Now is the seed time of Continental union, faith, and
honour....
I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection with Great
Britain, that same connection is necessary towards her future happiness and will always have the same effect -Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument: -- we may as well assert that because a child hath
thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat....
SOURCE:
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776.
DOCUMENT H
As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee served on 18 different
committees - none as important as his appointment to frame the Declaration of Rights of the Colonies,
which led directly to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry
Lee was accorded the well-deserved honor of introducing the bill before Congress. The bill was
adopted on July 2 - the formal act that dissolved the ties with England. Two days later, on July 4, 1776,
the Declaration of Independence was ratified.
_______________
"That these united Colonies are, and ought to be, fee and independent States, that they are absolved from all
allegiance from the British crown, and then all political connection between America and State of Great Britain
is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
SOURCE:
Adapted from historyteacher.net
http://www.historyteacher.net/
Richard Henry Lee, Second Continental Congress, July 2, 1776.
DBQ Question created by:
Mr. Gordon Price Utz, Jr.
Stratford Senior High School
Houston, TX