All questions worth 4 pts.
1. Answers will vary but should include:
- The colonists had come to enjoy a great deal of autonomy. With Britain concerned with its own affairs, especially the Seven Year’s War, the colonies had mostly been able to run themselves with little to no interference. The colonies ran their own colonial governments. They had commerce networks established.
- Having successfully governed themselves, the colonists found it irksome to have Britain suddenly take an interest and begin dictating their lives again. The passage of so many acts and laws that the colonists felt took advantage of the colonies was seen as an affront to their rights as British citizens. All of the acts and laws passed by Britain were seen as exploitative and an affront to their rights as British citizens.
2. Answers will vary but should include:
- The colonists became more determined in the changes they wanted, and they became more willing to work together to accomplish their goals.
- 1750 – Albany plan Delegates from 4 colonies met and proposed the idea of a government organization, appointed by the king, which would deal with affairs affecting all colonies (such as Native Americans). The proposal was rejected by all
- 1765 – Stamp Act Congress 9 colonies participated. Their resolve agreed that the colonies should be subordinate to Britain, but that they disagreed with the taxes that Britain had imposed on them.
- 1765 – Sons of Liberty Displeased with the Stamp Act, the Sons of Liberty organized to protest. They attacked Stamp agents, encouraged and enforced a widespread boycott of British goods. The British eventually repealed the Stamp Act, primarily because of the economic damage from the boycott.
- 1772 –Committees of Correspondence Committees set up among the colonies to allow intercolonial cooperation.
- 1773 – Boston Tea Party Protests against the tea act culminated in groups of colonists preventing East India Trade Company shipments of tea from reaching the docks, most dramatically in Boston where it was dumped into the ocean.
- 1774 – First Continental Congress All colonies sent a representative, except Georgia. It passed 5 resolves. It rejected the idea of a colonial union under British rule, it called for the repeal of all the oppressive acts, it encouraged defensive military preparation among the colonies, and it encouraged the use of boycotts against the British. The congress also determined that they would meet again the next year, indicating a more formal, ongoing association. In contradiction to the message of the congress, the document was addressed to the “Most Gracious Sovereign”.
3. Answers will vary but should include:
- Student should pick yes or no, and then present a logical argument with specific historical facts to back up their choice.