DBQ Essay Eve of the Revolution
Jennifer Luna
Mr. O’Brian
DBQ Essay
11/30/14
Eve of the Revolution DBQ Essay
The original thirteen colonies gained their independence on July 4, 1776 by issuing the Declaration of Independence that was adopted by the Continental Congress. But before this thirteen colonies could declare independence they needed to unite and act as a whole. The period between 1750 through 1776 is known as the “Road to Revolution” since their was an increase of tension between the colonists and England. The English government had increased taxes on goods and also made new acts, this anger the colonies and increased a sense of unity, which helped form, what is now the United States of America. The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, was the first time the colonies united against a common enemy. In 1754 Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union, his plan was to unite and place the colonies under a more centralized government. Even though the plan was not carried out, it was a step closer to the unification of the colonies. In fact, a famous political cartoon was publish by the Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper known as “Join, or Die.” This cartoon emphasizes that the colonies need to unite to survive; a snake cut up into pieces and each piece being a different colony illustrates the need for unification (Document A). After the end of the Seven Years War in 1763 Britain started increasing taxes and creating new acts in order to pay for the war damage; the Stamp Act in 1765, Tax Imports, the Tea Act in 1773 and the Intolerable Acts in 1774 are great examples. As a result the colonies boycotted, protested, and wrote protests to the king, this helped to unify the colonies even more than before. On February 1774 Richard Henry Lee declared the colonies as united and to have the right to defend their freedom and liberties from the English parliament (Document C). Additionally, on September 1774 the colonies formed the First Continental Congress in
Mr. O’Brian
DBQ Essay
11/30/14
Eve of the Revolution DBQ Essay
The original thirteen colonies gained their independence on July 4, 1776 by issuing the Declaration of Independence that was adopted by the Continental Congress. But before this thirteen colonies could declare independence they needed to unite and act as a whole. The period between 1750 through 1776 is known as the “Road to Revolution” since their was an increase of tension between the colonists and England. The English government had increased taxes on goods and also made new acts, this anger the colonies and increased a sense of unity, which helped form, what is now the United States of America. The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, was the first time the colonies united against a common enemy. In 1754 Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union, his plan was to unite and place the colonies under a more centralized government. Even though the plan was not carried out, it was a step closer to the unification of the colonies. In fact, a famous political cartoon was publish by the Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper known as “Join, or Die.” This cartoon emphasizes that the colonies need to unite to survive; a snake cut up into pieces and each piece being a different colony illustrates the need for unification (Document A). After the end of the Seven Years War in 1763 Britain started increasing taxes and creating new acts in order to pay for the war damage; the Stamp Act in 1765, Tax Imports, the Tea Act in 1773 and the Intolerable Acts in 1774 are great examples. As a result the colonies boycotted, protested, and wrote protests to the king, this helped to unify the colonies even more than before. On February 1774 Richard Henry Lee declared the colonies as united and to have the right to defend their freedom and liberties from the English parliament (Document C). Additionally, on September 1774 the colonies formed the First Continental Congress in