The American Revolution and Confederation
1774-1787
Effects of the Intolerable Acts• The First Continental Congress (Phili,
PA)
– 12 colonies assembled to discuss
imposed restrictions
– Overall not many colonists wanted to
“break free” from Britain; just did not
want their rights/ freedoms infringed
upon
Who was represented?• Radicals: break from Britain (Samuel &
John Adams and Patrick Henry)
• Moderates: wanted to negotiate policies
and if that failed possibly initiate war
(Washington and Dickinson)
• Conservatives: wanted to address the
issue; at most a small protest; did not
want to break free (John Jay and Joseph
Galloway)
The Plan
• Colonial unification was necessary (which made
some plans not pass)
• Suffolk Resolves: initiated in Mass; accepted by 12
colonies; boycott British goods
• Declaration of Rights and Grievances: renew
colonial liberties; keep British law over commerce
(trade)
• This plan was sent to the King as a “Petition”
Royal Reaction
• You think you’re
gunna get away
with it? Not up in
here…NOT UP IN
HERE!
• The King did not accept the petition and named Mass a STATE OF REBELLION
• The clashes here would become the first of the Revolution
The Conflict Begins
• Lexington & Concord (Mass Bay &
present day Arlington, VA)
– 4/18/1775: British troops sent to
confiscate colonial militia armaments
– “Paul Revere” (Israel Bissle) and William
Dawes sent to warn the colonists