Section 3-41763-1776CHAPTER 6

In 1774, Parliament passed a series of laws to punish the Massachusetts colony and to clamp down on resistance in the colonies. The British called these the Coercive Acts.

The Colonist called them the Intolerable Acts

Closed the port of Boston until colonies paid for destroyed tea Altered the Massachusetts charter to ban town meetings Replaced the elected council with an appointed one Increased the governor’s power over the colonists Protected British offi cials accused of crimes in the colonies from

being tried by colonies Allowed British offi cers to house troops in private dwellings.

THE INTOLERABLE ACTS

In September 1774, delegates from all the colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia. This would be called the First Continental Congress.

Voted to ban all trade with Britain until the Intolerable Acts were repealed.

Train Troops

Colonist Spies British SpiesSamuel Adams General Gage

Paul Revere and a second messenger, William Dawes were sent to spread the news about British troop movements.

One lantern meant troops traveled by land out of Boston Two lantern meant troops traveled by water out of Boston

MAJOR EVENTS THAT LED TO DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

Lexington and Concord- was the fi rst battle of the Revolutionary War “SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD”

Now people had to choose what side they were on Patriots Loyalist

Olive Branch Petition

CHOOSE A SIDE

Thomas Paine wrote the book called the Common Sense He believed that all men, not just land owners, should have the

right to vote. He also ridiculed the ideas that kings ruled by will of God. Americans were beginning to understand that it was time to fight for

independence.

On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a key resolution. It called the colonies “ free and independent states” and

declared “ all political connections between them and the State of Great Britain.. Totally dissolved”

Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston,

and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote the Declaration

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ikO6LMxF4http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/bat

tles-of-lexington-and-concord/videos/declaration-of-independence

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-lexington-and-concord