American Yawp 5 3

Summary

This historical overview explores the period between the Boston Massacre and the start of the Revolutionary War, highlighting Britain's attempts to reform colonial administration and the colonists' resistance. The Tea Act of 1773, favoring the East India Company, sparked the Boston Tea Party and united the colonies against taxation without representation. The script also discusses the roles of colonial women and groups like the Daughters of Liberty in the boycott movement. It examines the divide among colonists, with loyalists, neutrals, and patriots, and the pivotal events at Lexington and Concord that marked the war's beginning. The narrative concludes with the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the ideological shift and the colonies' united call for independence.

Takeaways

• 📜 The period between the Boston Massacre and the next major resistance from colonists was relatively peaceful, but the Tea Act of 1773 reignited tensions.
• 🛑 The East India Company was on the verge of collapse in 1773, leading Britain to pass legislation allowing the company to bypass taxes and undersell colonial merchants.
• 🚫 In response to the Tea Act, colonists boycotted tea and prevented East India Company ships from entering ports, culminating in the Boston Tea Party in December 1773.
• 🔥 The Tea Act and the subsequent boycotts and protests highlighted the colonists' frustration with taxation without representation and united them in a common cause.
• 👥 The Daughters of Liberty, like the Sons of Liberty, were established to unite colonial women in acts of protest against British policies.
• 🤔 Not all colonists were in favor of the resistance; many remained loyal to the king and parliament, while others were neutral, unsure of the outcome.
• 🗣️ Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense' was instrumental in rallying support for independence and unifying the colonies against Britain.
• ✍️ The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776, after contentious debates and revisions.
• 🔍 The Declaration of Independence included a critique of the king's actions and a restatement of John Locke's contract theory, justifying the colonies' desire for independence.
• 🚩 The fighting at Lexington and Concord in April 1775 marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War and shifted the conversation towards independence rather than reconciliation with Britain.

Q & A

What was the period of relative peace between the Boston Massacre and the next outbreak of resistance from the colonists?

The period of relative peace was a lull before the next outbreak of resistance, which was eventually disrupted by the Tea Act and the events leading up to the American Revolution.

Why was Britain passing legislation that angered the colonists after the Boston Massacre?

Britain's desire and need to reform imperial administration remained, so they continued to pass legislation to regain control and consolidate the empire, which angered the colonists.

What was the situation with the East India Company in 1773, and how did it affect the colonists?

In 1773, the East India Company was on the verge of collapse. Britain passed the Tea Act of 1773, giving the company the right to export directly to the colonies, bypassing navigation taxes and allowing them to undersell other merchants, including colonial merchants, which upset the colonists.

How did the colonists respond to the Tea Act of 1773?

The colonists responded by boycotting tea entirely and preventing East India Company ships from coming into port, culminating in the Boston Tea Party in December 1773.

What was significant about the Tea Act and the colonists' response to it?

The Tea Act reignited America's passion about the issue of taxation without representation and united the colonies in a common experience of protest, building upon previous actions and involving colonial women through groups like the Daughters of Liberty.

Were all colonists supportive of the boycotts and protests against British policies?

No, not all colonists were supportive. Many remained faithful to the king and Parliament, including Anglican clergy, elite merchants, and those holding royal offices, while others were neutral, expecting a reconciliation with Britain.

What event marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War?

The beginning of the Revolutionary War was marked by the fighting at Lexington and Concord in April 1775, where shots were fired between the British and the American minutemen.

How did the publication of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' influence the call for independence?

Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' was incredibly effective in unifying anger towards the king and Britain, selling over a hundred thousand copies in its first month and pushing the call for independence forward.

What are the two main parts of the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence is made up of two main parts: one section restating John Locke's contract theory to justify independence, and another listing the alleged crimes of the king.

What was the significance of the Declaration of Independence being approved on July 4th, 1776?

The approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, marked a formal assertion of independence from Britain and is now celebrated as the United States' Independence Day.

Why was the reference to the transatlantic slave trade removed from an early draft of the Declaration of Independence?

The reference to the transatlantic slave trade was removed because delegates from the southern colonies, where the slave trade was beneficial, did not want to officially condemn it, showing the early centrality of the slavery issue in American politics.