Why did the colonies want to free themselves from Great Britain? Lesson 8 Objectives You will identify the situations in which the colonists claimed the British government violated some of the basic principles of constitutional government and analyze the reason to justify a declaration of independence from Great Britain. Lesson 8: Terms of Importance 1. ministries departments of government created by Parliament and the king to help develop new policies and enforce the laws Parliament had passed. 2. corrupt government when leaders work with bankers and businessmen for their own self interests at the cost of the common welfare. 3. 1 st Continental Congress 12 of 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia in 1774 to decide on a response to the actions of Britain. They decision was to ban trade with Britain to get it to change its policies toward the colonies. 1
Lesson 8: Terms of Importance 4. abuse of power when the balance of power is upset in a government and the common welfare is threatened by those in charge. 5. Minutemen militias formed by local communities from civilians that had great pride in who they were and how quick they could form for an anticipated British attack. Minutemen 2
Britain becomes a World Power England had the strongest army and navy in the world and could exert it s power worldwide. Britain s empire needed a larger government to deal with it s world empire which included America. To do this, the king and Parliament created ministries, headed by appointed ministers, to carry out the laws in these colonies around the world. Charges of Corruption By the early 1720s, some in Britain believed the executive branch was too strong. They claimed that the king and his ministers ignored the limitations placed on them by the English Constitution violated the rights of people favored their own interests at the cost of common welfare It was common for the king to bribe members of Parliament. It was well known that the king and his ministers were working closely with bankers and businesses to gain wealth and power at the expense of all others. The king got taxes raised to keep a huge navy and army. The American colonists were aware of this but ignored it because Britain had basically ignored them since AD1607. 3
British Government Tighten Control Over the Colonies America had been obeying only the laws they agreed with. One they did not obey was the Navigation Acts which forced America to trade only with Britain. Cost British money to protect Americans on the frontier The French and Indian War Started in America and spread to Europe Fought from 1754-1763 between Britain and France Cost Britain money to protect American colonies Britain raised taxes and restrictions on America to help pay for war 4
The Colonists Begin to Resist New laws and restrictions meant colonists would lose money. Accustomed to Salutary Neglect Colonists did not have the right to vote for Parliament. They felt like that Parliament had no right to tax them. NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! The Colonists Begin to Resist ACTS AND EVENTS THAT CONVINCED AMERICANS THAT THE BRITISH WERE VIOLATING THEIR RIGHTS 1. Quartering Act required colonists to allow British soldiers to live in their homes. 2. The Boston Massacre a mob threatened to attack a sentry at the Customs House in Boston, the mob was fired on by the British troops, Crispus Attucks first to be killed (7 total), British troops charged with murder but found innocent made colonists more resistant to British rule. 5
The Colonists Begin to Resist 3. Tea Act lowered taxes on tea but reasserted Parliament s power to tax the colonies - result was The Boston Tea Party and the boycott of British goods. 4. The Intolerable Acts Britain s response to the Tea Party. It shut down the port of Boston, limited town meetings, gave more power to the royal governor, and planned for a massive British occupation of Boston. 6
The Colonists Organize Fall of 1774 12 of 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia for the 1 st Continental Congress. Delegates agreed to stop trade with Britain to stop the abuse of power Many colonies, especially in New England, were preparing for war they had organized Minutemen Militias in anticipation of an attack. They believed it was the right of the people to overthrow a government that no longer protected their rights. The Revolution Begins On April 19, 1775, British troops tried to march to Concord, MA. They heard that Minutemen were hiding arms and ammunition there. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode ahead of the redcoats warning people that the British were coming. On that day, at Lexington and Concord, the Minutemen and Britain met on the battle field and the shot that was heard around the world was fired. 7
Colonies Organize and Unite June 1775, delegates met in Philadelphia for 2 nd Continental Congress (first government to unify the colonies as a nation) Appointed Payton Randolph as first president Continental Congress Presidents - 1774 to 1789.mht George Washington is chosen as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army A year later, they chose a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence that would explain why America wanted to be free. Lesson 8 Review 1. Critics of the British government believed it was becoming corrupt. What evidence did they have for their opinion? 2. By the 1760s, American colonists began to resist certain actions of the British government. What were these actions and why did many Americans resist them? 3. The British government, for the most part, believed that its policies in the colonies were fair and just. Develop arguments in support of the British government s point of view. 8
Lesson 8 Review 4. List 2 specific events that led to the American decision to revolt against the British government. For each you select, identify the basic idea about government it violated. Then, develop an argument based upon the ideas and events to justify the American revolution against the British government. Lesson 8 Review 5. Women took an active role in the revolutionary struggle, forming anti-tea leagues and nonimportation groups to see that colonists did not buy British goods during the boycott. What does the following quotation tell you about women s views on their role in colonial politics? Let Daughters of Liberty, nobly arise, And tho s we ve no Voice, but a negative here, The use of the Taxables, let us forbear. 9