Chapter 2 Section 2 NotesColonial Resistance and Rebellion

In 1760 the British developed a policy called mercantilism.Britain needed more money to pay off a war debt it had b/c of the French and Indian WarTHE STAMP ACT

• In 1765, colonists were required to pay a tax on all newspapers and legal documents

Chapter 2 Section 2 notes• Colonists boycott British goods and G.B. repeals

Stamp Act• Declaratory Act of 1766 stated that Parliament had

the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies “in all cases”

Chapter 2 Section 2 notesThe Townsend Acts

Passed by Parliament in 1767New taxes on goods imported into the colonies such as glass, paper, tea, and leadThese were items the colonists needed because they couldn’t produce themThis angered the colonists and they boycotted again.

Chapter 2 Section 2 NotesTHE TEA ACT

Passed by Parliament in 1773Let the British East India Tea Company ship the tea to the colonies cheaper then the colonist could produce it!Colonists blocked all East India ships from colonial ports except at the Boston PortIn 1773 a group of colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of British Tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the taxes This was called the “Boston Tea Party”

THE INTOLERABLE ACTSPassed by Great Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party.The Intolerable Acts restricted the colonists’ rightsEx…. Trial by jury, allowed British soldiers to search homes

Movement Towards Independence

-Colonists banned together to fight the Intolerable Acts-In 1774, 12 of the colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to discuss their concerns-This meeting in Philadelphia became known as the 1st Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress

Lasted 7 weeks Delegates sent a document to Britain demanding their rights restored King George responded by force Two battles between British and Colonial soldiers took place in Mass, at Lexington and Concord. These were the 1st battles of the Revolutionary War People began to talk about independence from Britain

2nd Continental CongressIn May 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia Thomas Paine, an American Colonist, inspired others by publishing a pamphletHe called it Common Sense Paine called for complete independence from BritainHe said it was simply common sense to stop following Britain and the 2nd Continental Congress agreed.

The Declaration of IndependenceThe congress appointed a committee to write a document that would officially announce the independence of the U.S Thomas Jefferson did most of the work The document argued that the British did not look after the interests of the colonies

D Of I continuedA. Democratic Ideals Pg. 37 An Uncertain Future       The 2nd Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence        On July 4, 1776 the colonies were independentTrue freedom would not come true until Great Britain officially recognized the U.S. as free