Changes

In 1770, in what became known as the "Boston Massacre,"  British troops shot and killed a colonial mob for throwing snowballs (with rocks in them) at them.  (The future President John Adams then served as the defense attorney for the British soldiers, and obtained "not guilty" (acquittal) verdicts for them because they were provoked into shooting.)

In 1770, in what became known as the "Boston Massacre,"  British troops shot and killed a colonial mob for throwing snowballs (with rocks in them) at them.  (The future President John Adams then served as the defense attorney for the British soldiers, and obtained "not guilty" (acquittal) verdicts for them because they were provoked into shooting.)

There was relative calm from 1770 to 1773.  But the clam was not complete, broken most notably by the Gaspee incident in 1772.  The Gaspee was a British ship which ran aground which chasing smugglers.  Citizens of Rhode Island boarded the ship and burned her, to the King’s great outrage.

There was relative calm from 1770 to 1773.  But the calm was not complete, broken most notably by the Gaspee incident in 1772.  The Gaspee was a British ship which ran aground while chasing smugglers.  Citizens of Rhode Island boarded the ship and burned her, to the King’s great outrage.

During this period of calm, Samuel Adams established another organization: the Committee of Correspondence.  This group, and others like it throughout the colonies shared information on the British’s activities in the colonies.   

During this period of calm, Samuel Adams established another organization: the Committee of Correspondence.  This group, and others like it throughout the colonies shared information on the British’s activities in the colonies.   

Bent on destroying the colonists’ boycott of English tea, England next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company, the East India Company, lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  The East India Company had a huge inventory of tea and received an exception from the tea tax.  On the whole, this would have significantly lowered the price of tea in the colonies.  But colonists realized the danger that lay in the establishment of a monopoly on an item taxed as heavily as tea.  Resistance began to rise.

Bent on destroying the colonists’ boycott of English tea, England next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company, the East India Company, lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  The East India Company had a huge inventory of tea and received an exception from the tea tax.  On the whole, this would have significantly lowered the price of tea in the colonies.  But colonists realized the danger that lay in the establishment of a monopoly on an item taxed as heavily as tea.  Resistance began to rise.

The East India Company proceeded to import tea from their huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where it planned to undersell colonial merchants.  The Puritans of Massachusetts were outraged.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally-appointed governor refused.  On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists led by Samuel Adams disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the tea ships.  They dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor.  The task took an entire night, as the ships contained 350 chests of tea.  That tea was worth about 1.87 million dollars of today’s currency.

The East India Company proceeded to import tea from their huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where they planned to undersell colonial merchants.  The Puritans of Massachusetts were outraged.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally-appointed governor refused.  On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists led by Samuel Adams disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the tea ships.  They dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor.  The task took an entire night, as the ships contained 350 chests of tea.  That tea was worth about 1.87 million dollars of today’s currency.

As punishment, Britain passed the Coercive Acts, or the Intolerable Acts.  They revoked Massachusetts’ charter, closed Boston Harbor, installed a British general as governor, and repealed liberties like the right to hold town meetings.  The closing of the harbor, in particular, was a sore blow to Massachusetts, whose economy was largely dependent on fishing and whaling.

As punishment, Britain passed the Coercive Acts, or the Intolerable Acts.  They revoked Massachusetts’ charter, closed Boston Harbor, installed a British general as governor, and repealed liberties like the right to hold town meetings.  The closing of the harbor, in particular, was a sore blow to Massachusetts, whose economy was largely dependent on fishing and whaling.

The British also passed the Quebec Act, which gave Canadians part of the Ohio Valley.  This infuriated the colonists.  In addition, the Act gave the French more freedoms, such as freedom of religion for the Catholic Church.  Colonists were angered because (1) they felt people in Quebec were getting more freedoms than they had and (2) they feared establishment of an Anglican Church in America.

The British also passed the Quebec Act, which gave Canadians part of the Ohio Valley.  This infuriated the colonists.  In addition, the Act gave the French more freedoms, such as freedom of religion for the Catholic Church.  Colonists were angered because (1) they felt people in Quebec were getting more freedoms than they had and (2) they feared establishment of an Anglican Church in America.

Although the Congress had hoped to keep peace, conflict began to break out.

Although many colonists had hoped to keep peace, conflict began to break out.

Let's stop for a moment to review the causes of the revolution.  British oppression was not the only catalyst of the Revolutionary War, and many factors played a role:  <br><br>

Let's stop for a moment to review the causes of the revolution.  British oppression was not the only catalyst of the Revolutionary War, and many factors played a role:  <br><br>

==The American Revolution==

==The American Revolution==

The conflict between Britain and her colonies continued for over a decade before America moved for independence.  After all, the British eventually backed down when the colonies resisted.  But Britain did not back down from the Coercive Acts, in spite of strong resistance.  This time, they were determined to bring America into line.

The conflict between Britain and her colonies continued for over a decade before America moved for independence.  After all, the British eventually backed down from their early taxes when the colonies resisted.  But Britain did not back down from the Coercive Acts, in spite of strong resistance.  This time, they were determined to bring America into line.

The Coercive Acts were aimed squarely at Massachusetts, specifically, Boston.  Britain hoped that Massachusetts would give in if it was isolated from the other colonies.  But the network of organizations that ran throughout the colonies united them, and they stood together.

The Coercive Acts were aimed squarely at Massachusetts, specifically, Boston.  Britain hoped that Massachusetts would give in if it was isolated from the other colonies.  But the network of organizations that ran throughout the colonies united them, and they stood together.