Ben Her
1. Summarize colonial resistance to British taxation.
The British began to tax the colonies to get them to help pay for the French and Indian War, which for the most part benefitted those colonies. People in England paid 25-30 times more taxes than the colonists, but the colonies were used to taxing and governing themselves. They made noise about being taxed without being represented but they knew for a fact that representation in Parliament was impossible, owing to the distance and time of travel. At the time, many of the British living in England weren't exactly represented, either; there were plenty of irregularities in the system. But the colonists were extremely well-organized in their efforts to oppose taxation. Boycotts were a common response, since they were easy to organize and hit the British where it hurt the most- the pocketbook. More radial responses, like the Boston Tea Party, were generally condemned.
2. Explain the mounting tension existing in Massachusetts.
The mounting tension in Massachusetts exploded in Apr., 1775, when General Gage decided to make a show of force. Warned by Paul Revere and William Dawes, the Massachusetts militia engaged the British force at Lexington and Concord (see Lexington and Concord, battles of). Patriot militia from other colonies hurried to Massachusetts, where, after the battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), George Washington took command of the patriot forces.
The British remained in Boston until Mar. 17, 1776, when Gen. William Howe evacuated the town, taking with him a considerable number of Tories. British troops never returned, but Massachusetts soldiers were kept busy elsewhere fighting for the independence of the colonies. In 1780 a new constitution, drafted by a constitutional convention under the leadership of John Adams, was ratified by direct vote of the citizenry.
3. What was the significance of the Battle of Lexington and Concord?
This was the first battle of the Revolutionary War in which shots
The British began to tax the colonies to get them to help pay for the French and Indian War, which for the most part benefitted those colonies. People in England paid 25-30 times more taxes than the colonists, but the colonies were used to taxing and governing themselves. They made noise about being taxed without being represented but they knew for a fact that representation in Parliament was impossible, owing to the distance and time of travel. At the time, many of the British living in England weren't exactly represented, either; there were plenty of irregularities in the system. But the colonists were extremely well-organized in their efforts to oppose taxation. Boycotts were a common response, since they were easy to organize and hit the British where it hurt the most- the pocketbook. More radial responses, like the Boston Tea Party, were generally condemned.
2. Explain the mounting tension existing in Massachusetts.
The mounting tension in Massachusetts exploded in Apr., 1775, when General Gage decided to make a show of force. Warned by Paul Revere and William Dawes, the Massachusetts militia engaged the British force at Lexington and Concord (see Lexington and Concord, battles of). Patriot militia from other colonies hurried to Massachusetts, where, after the battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), George Washington took command of the patriot forces.
The British remained in Boston until Mar. 17, 1776, when Gen. William Howe evacuated the town, taking with him a considerable number of Tories. British troops never returned, but Massachusetts soldiers were kept busy elsewhere fighting for the independence of the colonies. In 1780 a new constitution, drafted by a constitutional convention under the leadership of John Adams, was ratified by direct vote of the citizenry.
3. What was the significance of the Battle of Lexington and Concord?
This was the first battle of the Revolutionary War in which shots