Lesson 6: Closer to War

The Intolerable Actswere passed.

Representatives from the Colonies met to protest the

Intolerable Acts.

First Continental Congress

1774

Theme of the First Continental Congress

Textbook Activity

Alternate Text Activity

The Intolerable Actswere passed.

Representatives from the Colonies met to protest the

Intolerable Acts.

The meeting was called the

First Continental Congress.

A Declaration of Rights was

written. It included a list of grievances

Plans for a boycott were made.

A Continental Association was

formed to enforce the boycott.

  Resolution  

Resolved, That they are entitled to life, liberty and property: and they have never [given up] . . . a right to dispose of either without their consent.

Resolved, That the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative council:…

Resolved, That they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the king; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal.

Keeping track of Political Ideas

Declaration of Resolves

1st Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Writing Plan for First Continental Congress Simulation Your Task: Pretend you are a representative at the First Continental Congress. Write a short three-sentence statement

describing your feelings and ideas.  First Sentence: Describe how you feel about Parliament and the King:  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________  Second Sentence: Describe a grievance, or complaint, you have:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________   Third Sentence: Support your other two sentences with a core democratic value or political idea:  __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Patrick Henry Speech ( delivered in the House of Burgesses) They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? …Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force, which our enemy can send against us. …The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

EVENT YEAR WHAT HAPPENED? REACTION

Boston Tea

Party1773

Colonists tossed tea into Boston Harbor as a protest of the Tea Act

British were angry and demanded payment for the tea.

British passed new laws.

British blockaded Boston Harbor

Intolerable

Acts1774

The British passed four new laws as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.

The British closed Boston Harbor until colonists paid for the money lost when the tea was dumped in the harbor.

New Quartering Act

Colonists decided to meet to protest: First Continental Congress

Some colonists got weapons

First Contine

ntal Congre

ss

1774

Representatives from all colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia.

They wrote Declaration of Rights

They planned a boycott of British goods

Britain sent more soldiers to the colonies.

Britain decided to arrest some colonial leaders.

• Britain sends more soldiers. • British arrest some colonial leaders.

ACTION

In Massachusetts, colonists had responded to the Intolerable Acts by organizing special militia units called the “Minutemen.” These were special members of the militia that were supposed to be “ready in a minute” to defend Massachusetts.

General Gage learned that these Massachusetts militiamen were storing arms and ammunition in Concord about 20 miles northwest of Boston. He also learned that Sam Adams and John Hancock, two strong patriot leaders, were in Lexington.

Militia storing arms

Sam Adams and John Hancock

British General Gage:

Destroy the military supplies.

Arrest Adams and Hancock

Important People on the Road to Revolution

Person Important Information

.

John Adams Patriot leader who defended British soldiers in a trial after the Boston Massacre.

John Hancock Patriot leader who was wanted by the British along with Samuel Adams.

Battles ofLexington and Concord

April, 1775

EVENT YEAR WHAT HAPPENED? REACTION

Boston Tea

Party1773

Colonists tossed tea into Boston Harbor as a protest of the Tea Act

British were angry and demanded payment for the tea.

British passed new laws.

British blockaded Boston Harbor

Intolerable

Acts1774

The British passed four new laws as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.

The British closed Boston Harbor until colonists paid for the money lost when the tea was dumped in the harbor.

New Quartering Act

Colonists decided to meet to protest: First Continental Congress

Some colonists got weapons

First Contine

ntal Congre

ss

1774

Representatives from all colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia.

They wrote Declaration of Rights

They planned a boycott of British goods

Britain sent more soldiers to the colonies.

Britain decided to arrest some colonial leaders.

Battles of

Lexington and Concor

d

1775

The colonists stored gunpowder at Concord, Massachusetts and the British decided to get it.

British and colonial soldiers met at Lexington for a battle.

Another battle occurred at Concord.

The Revolutionary War officially began.

The Intolerable Actswere passed.

Representatives from the Colonies met to protest the

Intolerable Acts.

The meeting was called the

First Continental Congress.

A Declaration of Rights was

written.

Plans for a boycott were made.

The first battles of the American Revolution

took place.

A Continental Association was

formed.

The Revolutionary Warhad begun!

Corners

Had you been a newspaper reporter in the Colonies, which event would you have most liked to write about?

The Repeal of the Stamp Act

The Battles of Lexington and

Concord.

Boston Massacre

The Boston Tea Party