Chapter 5 Notes

Carolina

• In South Carolina there was no effective government. There were bans of outlaws roaming. Violence started to break out. Respectable citizens organized to take the law in their own hands. They were known as the regulators. The leaders of the regulators got commission from the King and were able to chase the outlaws to North Carolina.
• In North Carolina the government was taking advantage and ripping off the colonist. They had regressive poll tax, unnecessary court taxes, and forced people to pay debts. Regulators were formed here also. They were formed to reform the government.

Boston

• After Boston Massacre Lord North has problems with the East India Company. It was going bankrupt.
• British government wanted to save it so they lower the price of tea for the colonist. Instituted the Tea Act of 1773. This repealed import duties on tea.
• Colonist upset and threatened the sea captains if they landed the tea.
• British Governor told the ships they needed to get signed papers to go back and the only way to get them was to land the tea.

Boston Tea Party

• colonist dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor while dressed as Indians
• December 1733

Coercive/Intolerable Act- series of acts passed by British Government

• Boston Port Act- closed Boston port until they pay for the tea
• Quartering Act- Soldiers are put up in private homes
• Administration of Justice Act- British soldier or government official could go to either another colony or back to England for trial
• Massachusetts Government Act- takes Massachusetts charter as a colony and shuts down Massachusetts government. Government council appointed rather than voted on
• Quebec Act- British government established French Civil Law and the Roman Catholic Church. Extended boundaries to between Ohio River and the Great Lakes.

First Continental Congress

• 12 out of the 13 colonies sent representatives
• issued document called the Declaration of Rights
• colony wide boycott put into effect
• sent several petitions to the king but were rejected

April 1775

• British government find out about Boston storing weapons
• troops sent to seize weapons; had to go through Lexington; had orders to arrest John Hancock and Sam Adams
• minute men created by colonist were waiting for the troops in Lexington; 8 killed minute men killed and several minute men wounded
• minute men attacked troops at Concord; British retreated
• by the time the troops got to Boston 70 soldiers were killed and 300 wounded; British troops held up in Boston by minute men

Second Continental Congress

• formed Continental army
• appointed George Washington head of army
• army lead country through war
• created Declaration of Independence

Thomas Paine

• Wrote book called Common Sense
• insisted colonist should declare Independence