The Beginnings of Self-Government

Roanoke Island (1580s) First English-speaking colonists in America

1584 fort and settlement with more than 100 men was established - it was abandoned the following year due to weather, lack of supplies and poor relations with the Native Americans*.

The colonists and natives didn’t get along despite the fact that the two local chiefs had been taken to England in hopes of forming good relations.

In 1587 another party of 110 English colonists, including women and children, set sail for the New World, reaching Roanoke Island in July of that year

Roanoke Island (1580s) First English-speaking colonists in America

A week later - Capt. John White, was forced to return to England for badly needed supplies. White was waylaid in England for three years, and when he returned to Roanoke Island in 1590 there was no sign of colonists.

Their houses were gone, and the only sign of human presence was the letters “CRO” and “CROATOAN” carved on two trees led some people to believe that the colonists had sought the help of the Croatoan Indians but they were not there. The fate of the lost colonists is as much a mystery today as it was then

Jamestown (1607)• King gave The Virginia Company (London) a

CHARTER to establish a trading post

– Def: written grant of authority to make laws “for the good and welfare” of Jamestown

Instituted Representative Assembly: lawmaking body composed of individuals who represented the population

Plymouth Colony (1620)

• Virgina Company (London) got charter to establish the first New England colony (fishing)– Who were these “Pilgrims”?• Poor or middle class landless individuals• Contract to Work 7 years GET LAND

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY IN

ACTION

Moving towards Self-GovernmentBy 1732, all colonies had been

established

• Each colony had its own:

• REMEMBER – ALL WERE UNDER THE RULERSHIP OF THE BRITISH MONARCHY AND HAD NO REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT

-Political documents

-Own constitutions

-Own legislatures

• Britain did little to manage colonies since they were miles away (2 months)

• Colonies gradually became SELF-GOVERNING– Few taxes and provisions– BUT - 1651 Navigation Acts – British Shipping and Colonies

– Series of laws that restricted the use of foreign ships for trade between Britain and its colonies

– English trade should be carried in English vessels– Ships' crews had to be three-quarters English, and "enumerated" products

not produced by the mother country, such as tobacco, cotton, and sugar were to be shipped from the colonies only to England or other English colonies

2,000

But, mid 1700s - TIGHTENING

King George IIIDealt more firmly with

colonies

(1) Restrictive Trade Acts(2) More control of local affairs(3) New Taxes to support British Troops in North America

??Why are they still here??

Why Still Here?

• From 1750-1770, the English fought the French (border line dispute of the new world)• Called French and Indian War

– Native Americans sided with FranceEnglish defeated the French at the cost of enormously

increasing the national debt of Great Britain

The American colonies were affected as well

Great Britain compelled them to pay taxes to relieve the British national debt (exploited them for the economic benefit of the mother country with little regard for the effects on the colonists)

The American colonies were affected as well

Great Britain compelled them to pay taxes to relieve the British national debt (exploited them for the economic benefit of the mother country with little regard for the effects on the colonists)

1764 Sugar Act• Imposed tax on all

sugar imported to colonies

• Tax revenues – help pay for wars waged by British and support British troops here

Stamp Act (1765)• Required use of tax stamps on all legal documents,

newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, certain business agreements

Colonists – severe economic burden and seen as unjust

If colonies were to revolt work together

• Early Attempts– 1643 New England Confederation “league of friendship”

• Strengthening colonial defenses against the threat of Indian attacks• The organization was to be composed of two delegates from each of the four member

colonies. – Six of the eight votes were necessary to adopt any measure– Regular annual meetings were to be held, but additional conferences could be called in cases of emergency.

Dissolved in 1680s

– 1754 Meeting called in Albany, NY• Discuss problems of colonial trade, danger of attacks of French and Native American allies

• Ben Franklin proposed ALBANY PLAN OF UNION– Formation of a Congress (Meet annually)– Some powers (military, Native Americans, trade)– Turned Down by colonies and Crown

» Many in the British government, already wary of some of the strong-willed colonial assemblies, disliked the idea of consolidating additional power into their hands

1765 (Oct) 9 out of 13 colonies sent delegates to STAMP ACT CONGRESS

(NYC)

• Prepared a DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES against new British actions

• Sent to the King

• Result Parliament repealed Stamp Act BUT CROWN PASSED NEW LAWS TO BIND COLONIES MORE TIGHTLY TO CENTRAL GOV’T IN LONDON

First opposition to British gov’t from colonies

These new laws included…

• Declaratory Act (1766): Parliament had the right to make laws for the colonies in all matters

• Townshend Acts (1767): Raising revenue (taxes) in the colonies to pay for the judges and governors to remain loyal to England

Colonists Reaction

• Increase in mob violence– Boston Massacre – – Street fight that occurred on March

5, 1770, between a "patriot" mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers.

– British fired on mob – 5 died

– A town meeting was called demanding the removal of the British and the trial of Captain Preston and his men for murder. At the trial, John Adams defended the British, leading to their acquittal and release

Resentment and Anger

Colonists Reaction – 1) Protests multiplied 2) Protested taxes by a BOYCOTT (refusal to purchase all English goods)

Colonists Reaction – 1) Protests multiplied 2) Protested taxes by a BOYCOTT (refusal to purchase all English goods)

1773 POWERFUL CLIMAX…

BOSTON TEA PARTY

• Colonists dressed as Mohawk Indians

• Dumped 350 chests of British tea into harbor

England Responds:Tea Act (1773): financial aid to East India Trading Company (bankrupt)

Allowed the company to sell tea to the colonists at a low price (lower than the price of smuggled tea even including the required tax).

The British reasoned that the Americans would willingly pay the tax if they were able to pay a low price for the tea.

Effectiveness of American Boycott - Drop of 70 percent in tea sales over three years.

On November 28 Dartmouth arrived in Boston harbor with a cargo of tea.

Samuel Adams and others - were determined that the cargo would not be landed in the city (blocked 3 ships).

Deadline – 20 days off ship (Act)A group of some 50 men - disguised as Mohawk Indians (unconvincingly)

The vessels were boarded, the cargo carefully taken from the holds and placed on the decks.

There, 342 chests were split open and thrown into the harbor. A cheering crowd on the dock shouted its approval for the brewing of this “saltwater tea.”The “Tea Party” was quickly restaged in other port cities in America

British Parliament Responded…

• Intolerable Acts(1774 ): closed Boston harbor, placed gov’t of Boston under DIRECT British control

• Quebec Act (1774): Removal of political freedoms; strip colonies of colonial assemblies

• Quartering Act (1774): permitted troops to be quartered in unoccupied buildings, inns, taverns

In response… RI, PA, and NY proposed a Colonial Congress be held

• ALL colonies would select delegates to send to Philadelphia

FIRST CONTINENTIA

LCONGRESS

Carpenter’s Hall (Sept 5 1774)

12/13 colonies sent delegates (GA no show)WHY? Georgia needed British military help to defend their borders and protect them from the Creek Indians at the time... They did not think it wise to participate in boycotts or openly criticize Great Britain and risk losing their protection

They decided…• Should send a petition to King

George to explain grievances• Con’t to boycott British goods– Declared that each county and city should

form a committee to spy on peoples actions and report to the press names of those who violated the trade boycott

– List of names – printed in local newspaper• Require each colony to start an army

*We did not advocate INDEPENDENCE

We wanted to right the wrongs that had been inflicted upon us and hoped that a unified voice would gain us a hearing in London.

When British Government received petition…

• Condemned Congress’s actions as Open Acts of Rebellion

• Responded with EVEN STRICTER MEASURES…

April 1775Battle of Lexington

and Concord• Redcoats v Minutemen• Location: Lexington and Concord, Mass

FIRST BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The British Army set out from Boston to capture rebel leaders and destroy the Americans store of weapons and ammunition in Concord. - The colonists were warned (Paul Revere) that the British Army was approaching. - The local militia was able to hide much of their ammunition and weapons

Once the British decided to retreat, they began the long march back to the city of Boston.

The Americans continued to gain forces and continued to attack and harass the British during their retreat.

British reached Boston they had lost 73 men and 174 were wounded.

The Americans lost 49 men and 41 were wounded.

Let’s take a look at what was happening…

• John Adams• Part II Independence

HW – Identify what colony each of the main character delegates were from.

Stop Notes