Unit 3
The American Revolution
Part II
• The Roots of Rebellion II
• Although many believed
some early revolutionaries
were far too radical, many
who were calling for rebellion
were among the wealthy elite
of colonial society.
• Patrick Henry was a
prominent Virginia lawyer &
politician. Speaking in the
House of Burgesses, Henry
denounced the Stamp Act in
words that many found
treasonous. His most famous
speech ends w/ “Give me
liberty or give me death!”*
• John Dickinson was a
wealthy Pennsylvania
lawyer & landowner. In
1767 he anonymously wrote
Letters From a Farmer in
Pennsylvania,* which
argued that Parliament had
no authority over internal
colonial matters. It was
widely read & helped unite
the colonies against British
policies.
• Dickinson was more
moderate than Henry &
hoped to reconcile w/
England.
• Parliament granted writs
of assistance to British
officials that allowed
them to search any ship
or house for smuggled
goods without probable
cause. This was widely
unpopular w/ colonists,
even those who were not
involved in smuggling.
• James Otis challenged
the legality of the writs in
court, stating “taxation
without representation is
tyranny”.
• In 1772, the Gaspee,* a British customs vessel, ran
aground in Rhode Island. The ship was burned by
colonists who were charged w/ treason. They were
sent to England for trial, which angered many
Americans.
• The Gaspee Affair led to the formation of Committees
of Correspondence,* which were designed to promote
communication between anti-British leaders in
different colonies & gather more public support.
• The Tea Act of 1773* gave the British East India
Company a monopoly in America. This hurt
American merchants who had been buying cheaper
tea from the Dutch. Colonists were also outraged by
the tax on tea levied by the Townshend Acts.
• In Boston, several colonists dressed as Native
Americans & boarded British ships carrying tea.
They dumped tons of tea into the harbor – an act
known as the Boston Tea Party.*
• 1774 – Parliament passed the Coercive Acts to punish
Massachusetts. In America, these were known as the
Intolerable Acts.*
• The Port Bill closed Boston Harbor to trade.
• The Government Act banned all town meetings.
• The Quartering Act forced Massachusetts to pay
the cost of housing British troops in Boston.
• The Justice Act stated colonists charged w/ a
crime would be tried in England.
• 1774 – In addition to the
Coercive Acts, Parliament
also passed the Quebec Act.*
This law expanded the
province of Quebec into the
Ohio River Valley, blocking
colonial expansion to the
west. The law also promoted
Catholicism as the official
religion at the expense of
Protestant denominations.
• Americans saw the Quebec
Act as an attack by
Parliament on colonial
rights.
• Other colonies began
rallying behind
Massachusetts. The
general feeling was that
what was happening in
Boston could happen
anywhere.
• To enforce the Coercive
Acts, Thomas Gage was
appointed as military
governor of
Massachusetts. 2,000
British troops were moved
to Boston to prevent
further colonial uprisings.
• 1774 – In response to the Intolerable
Acts, the 1st Continental Congress*
met in Philadelphia. This was a
unifying force for the colonies that
established common goals for all.
• Congress sent to George III a
Declaration of Rights & Grievances.*
It expressed loyalty to England also
but demanded certain colonial rights.
• Massachusetts authorized John
Hancock to form a militia to resist
British tyranny. They were to be
ready to fight “at a minute’s
warning” & became known as
Minutemen.
• Many Americans remained
loyal to England. They
believed the Continental
Congress & those who called
for rebellion were guilty of
treason. This made the
American Revolution a civil
war.
• Americans who wanted to
remain English colonists were
known as Loyalists or Tories.
• Americans who had begun
calling for independence were
known as Patriots or Whigs.