continental congress background guide

8/7/2019 Continental Congress Background Guide

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MARIMUN2011 [email protected] 1

DAIS

HAMID SADR

Crisis Director

ABHINAV GUPTA

Assistant Crisis Director

DANIEL STYSIS

John Hancock, Chair

FELICIA MAZZARELLO

ViceChair

DEENA SMITH

Ambassador

DAEUN KIM

Ambassador

DEVANGI PATEL

Crisis Staff

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM YOUR CRISIS DIRECTOR

Deardelegates,

Iwishyou awarmwelcome toMarianopolis College and

theMariMUNconferenceof2011!Ihopethatyouarealllooking

forward to an exciting and intense Model United Nations

experienceatMariMUN2011.Forthiscrisiscommittee,wehave

chosentobeginthiscommitteeintheyear1775,atthebeginning

oftheSecondContinentalCongress.Researchanddebateofthis

topicwill bea greataddon towhateverknowledge you already

haveonthesubject.Numerousissuesareathand,butitwillbeup

to you delegates to determine the future of the American

colonies;theverycoloniesyouloveandrepresent.

Before continuing, a few introductions are in order. My

nameisHamidSadrandIwillbeyourcrisisdirector.IwasborninIran, and I am presently a second year science student at

Marianopolis. In addition to Model UN, I teach snowboarding

duringthewinterandImalifeguardduringthesummer.Working

bymy side are your knowledgeable, andhelpful assistant crisis

director,AbhinavGupta,andchair,DanielStysis.BeingaSelwyn

House graduate and now a second year Marianopolis student,

AbhinavhasbeenparticipatinginMUNconferencesfornumerous

years. His physique, presence and attitudemake him someone

youcannotmissbothinandoutofcommittee.DanielStysisisa

Marianopolisalumnus,nowstudyingatMcGillUniversitymajoringinHonorsPoliticalSciencewhiledoing2minorsinEconomicsand

Psychology. Daniels dedication and passion when it comes to

MUNmakehimanexceptionaladditiontotheteamandweare

gratefulthathehasreturnedtoMarianopolisonceagaintolenda

handinthisonceinalifetimeexperience.

>> Cont. page 2

2nd Continental


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AllthreeofushaveeitherlearntthebeautyofModelUNorfurtherdevelopedthatalreadyexisting

enthusiasmatMarianopolis,andwehopethatitwillbenodifferentforyouatthisyearsMariMUN

conference.WhetherafirsttimeMUNeroranexperienceddelegate,youareinforaninteresting

adventure.Irecommendthatalldelegatesreadthebackgroundguideinitsentirety,asitgiveyoua

basicunderstandingoftheissueandthefocusofthiscommittee.However,donotleavethebackgroundguideasyouronlysourceofinformation:again,thisdocumentwillonlycoverthebasics

oftheSecondContinentalCongress.Furtherresearchwillalsoallowyoutounderstandhowtheissues

athandaffectyourcharacterinauniqueway.Andfinally,donotforgetthatthisisacrisiscommittee

andthatthingsdonotnecessarilyhavetofollowthepathofhistory.Italldependsonyou.

IhopeyouguysareasecstaticforMariMUN2011asIam!Goodluckwithyourpreparation,andIhope

toseeyouallinFebruary!

Yourstruly,

Seyed Hamid Sadr Ghayeni

CrisisDirector

WHAT DO I NEED TO PREPARE BEFORE MARIMUN ?

>Youwillhavetowritea position paperthatmustbesentto

[email protected] February 20th

atthelatest.

Thistextshouldbeabasicdescriptionofyourcharacterspointofview

ontheissueofwhetherindependencefromBritainisthebestsolutionto

helpthe13colonies.Keepinmindthatyouarenotonlyacharacter,but

alsoarepresentativeofacolony.

Thelengthofthetextisuptoyou:youcanwriteaparagraphorapage,

dependingonhowmuchyoufeelyouneedtoexplain.

>Researchingyourpositionpaperwillhelpyouunderstandyourcharacterandyourcolonysperspective.Theresearchdoesnothavetobeextremelyin

depthortimeconsuming;onceyoufeellikeyouhaveagoodunderstandingof

whoyouwillberepresentingandyouhavewrittenyourpositionpaper,youare

ready.


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Aletterfrom

JohnHancockColonial Delegates,

Ever since our forefathers departed for the New World, it seems that our birthright as

Englishmen has been lost. The fruits of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 have established a

constitutionalmonarchyinEngland,yetthesesameprivilegeshavenotspilledoverintotheBritish

colonies,economicallyandmilitarilydependentandpoliticallysubordinatetothemothercountry.1

WeremainunrepresentedintheBritishHouseofCommonsandsubjecttothemonarch'sprerogative

throughimperialofficers.

However, over a centuryand ahalf,a mixofissues ofpracticality, commercial conflict of

interest, puritan mentality, and the philosophical contributions of the Enlightenment built up

internal pressure for greater colonial selfgovernment. The child, in the imperial parentchild

relationship, isapproachingmaturityafteryears of rebellious teenageyears. Protestsand riots a

which were limited to the destruction of private property or tarring and feathering of customs

officers2intermittentlyeruptedinthecoloniesinresponsetoharshimperialpolicies.Forinstance,

unjustprosecutionofimperialofficers,forcefulmilitaryrecruitment,andarepressiveantismuggling

measureswereseldompassivelyacceptedbythecolonialdemos.3Tothedetrimentofadistantand

misunderstanding British authority, colonial legislatures having been gaining legitimacy and

demandingconstitutional recognition.

>> CONT. next page

DEFINITIONS

Glorious Revolution:TheoverthrowofKingJamesII,theendofmonarchicalabsolutismin

England,theestablishmentofparliamentarydemocracy,theintroductionofthefirsteverBillof

Rights,andthepoliticalalienationofRomanCatholics,distrustedbytrueProtestants.

Constitutional Monarchy:TheMonarchspowerisconstrainedbyaConstitution,anelectedand

representativelegislature,andstrictlyceremonialroles.

Puritan mentality:PureChristian(protestant),incontrasttotheCatholics

Enlightenment:anintellectualmovementofthe18thcentury,whichstressestheprimacyof

humanreasoninlegitimacyandauthority.

Colonial legislatures:ourlocalelectedassembliesrivalingthelegitimacyofParliamentinLondon.

Constitutional Recognition:ahopedforendtoourcoloniallegislaturessubordinationtotheKing

andthedistantParliament.


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TheendoftheSeven Years WarwiththeTreaty of Parisin1763marksthecatalyzingdentin

thedivergenceoftheimperialandourcolonialmentalities.Ononehand,Britainbecameimperially

conscious.AsBritainemergedtriumphant,itacquiredasenseofmission,andtheBritishParliament

usurped the renewed assertiveness, as evident in the Declaratory Act of 1766.4 With a depleted

treasuryandnew administrativeunitsacross the threeoceans, revenuewas necessary. Itwasonlyselfevidentthatthesecuredcolonies,ofyetgreaterstrategicimportance,wouldshareinthecostof

theimperialdebt.5Ontheotherhand,theoldercoloniesoftheeasternseaboardsawanopportunity

for less dependence. With the expulsion of the French from Canada and the inner possessions

betweentheAppalachiansandtheMississippiandtheSpanishfromFlorida,theoldercolonieswere

nolongerdependentonthemothercountryfordefenseand,despitetheroyallyguaranteedIndian

reservewestoftheAppalachians,westwardexpansionbecameapossibility.6Aroundthesametime,

theseaboardcolonieswerehittinga recession.7AsaresultoftheSugarActandtheCurrencyActof

1764, trade deficit with the mothercountry was growing; it became increasingly harder to

compensateforitthroughtheprofitable,yetillegal,tradewiththeenemy'scolonies. 8Inshort,the

victoryof1763reinforcedtheoppositionoftheinterestsofthecoloniesandthemothercountry.

Ina contextofdivergentselfperceptions and interest, it isunsurprising that imperialpolicy failed.

Insteadofreestablishingthecolonials'rightandprivilegesasEnglishmenandentrenchingthecolonial

systemintheconstitution,theunrepresentativeParliamenttriedactafteracttosecurerevenuefrom

the colonies. TheStamp Act of 1765, theTownshends Act of 1768, theTea Act of 1773, and the

Coercive Actsof1774outlinenotonlytheuncompromisingassertivenessanduncreative9policyofthe

British Parliament to unilaterally introduce taxes and customs duties, but equally the

institutionalizationofthecolonialopposition.

>> CONT. next page

DEFINITIONS

Seven Years War (1756 1763):globalcolonialwarbetweenBritain,France,andSpainwhich

SpainandFranceoutofContinentalNorthAmerica.

Treaty of Paris (1763):concessionofFrenchandSpanishNorthAmericanpossessiontoBritainasa

resultofBritishtriumph.

Declaratory Act of 1766:Parliament'sauthorityisthesameinAmericaasinBritainandasserts

Parliament'sauthoritytomakebindinglawsontheAmericancolonies.

Trade deficit:payingmoreforimportsthanreceivingforexport,losingcurrency.

Stamp Act of 1765:adirecttaximposedbytheParliamentspecificallyonthecoloniesofBritish

America.Theactrequiredthatmanyprintedmaterialsinthecoloniesbeproducedonstamped

paperproducedinLondonandcarryinganapprovedimperialrevenuestamp.Townshends Act of 1768:aseriesoflawsintroducingtaxesinthecoloniesinordertopayforthe

salariesofimperialofficers(judgesandgovernors)astoseparatethemfromtheiraccountabilityto

colonialassemblies.TheseleadtothebraveresistanceofthepeopleofBoston,themilitary

occupationofBostonin1768andtheBostonMassacreof1770.

Tea Act of 1773:alawguaranteeingthemonopolyoftheEastIndiaCompanyoverteatradeinall

Britishcolonies.


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WiththeStampAct,theassociationoftheSons of LibertyandCorrespondenceCommittees

were born in order to coordinate transcolonial resistance and intimidation of customs officers;

however,afterthepromptrepealoftheAct,theassociationdisbanded. 10Later,inresponsetothe

TownshendsAct,thenonimportationagreementnecessitatedmoreorganizationasstoreshadtobe

inspectedandcitizensshamedintoparticipatingintheboycottoflistedgoods. 9FollowingtheTea

Act,colonialresistancematerializedintodirectaction,andtheBostonTeaParty,whichrepresenteda

losswith15,000totheEastIndiaCompany,11ensued.Thisdestructionoflargeamountsofproperty

resultedinastrictandharshreprisalbytheParliament,corruptedbythelobbyingeffortsoftheEast

India Company and ignorant of us, its abandoned North American subjects. The Coercive Acts

broughton theinstitutionalculminationofourefforts.It isinresponsetothesetyrannicalmeasuresthattwelvesistercoloniesconvenedintheFirst Continental Congressin1774yearofourLord,and

theinstitutionofourContinentalawarenesswasborn.

UnitedinadeterminationtoshowacombinedauthoritytoGreatBritain,twelvecoloniesmet

inCarpenter'sHallinPhiladelphiatodiscusssolutionstoanescalatingcrisiswithourmothercountry.

InlightoftherecentnatureoftheseeventsintheFirstContinentalCongress,youmustbeversedin

the divisions, interests, debate, and accomplishments achieved therein. First of all, the moderate

approach, thePlan of the Union proposed by Joseph GallowayofPennsylvania, was discarded.12

Second,theDeclaration of Resolves,asummaryofabuses,grievances,andprinciples,wasaddressed

totheinhabitantsofthe twelve coloniesthemselves,theinhabitantsoftheProvince of Quebec,thepeople of the GreatBritain, and,most importantly, asa petition tohisMajesty KingGeorge III.13

Third, a haltof tradewithBritain,anAssociation of nonimportation, nonconsumption, andnon

exportation,wasagreedbyacompactofcoloniesandbeganonDecember1,1774yearofourLord.14

Finally,thedelegatesprovidedforaSecondContinentalCongresstomeetonMay10th,1775yearof

ourLord,andsentletterstootherpotentiallylikemindedcoloniesinNorthAmerica.

>> CONT. next page

Sons of Liberty:thefirsteverorganizedresponsetotheParliamentsoppressiveStampAct.

First Continental Congress (1774):aconventionof12coloniescoordinatingtheirresistancetotheCoerciveActs.

Plan of the Union:moderateplanforresistance,rejectedintheFirstContinentalCongress.

Declaration of Resolves:outlinedcolonialobjectionstothe

IntolerableActs,listedacolonialbillofrights,organizedaboycott

ofBritishgood,andprovidedadetailedlistofgrievances,

publishedasaddressestothepeopleofGreatBritain,thenew

colonyofQuebec,theAmericancolonies,and,asapetition,tohis

MajestyKingGeorgeIII.


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ItistothisSecond Continental Congresswhichyouareherebyhonorablyinvitedtoattend.

Therearegreatcontroversialmattersathand.First,aresponsetothefirst petitionisonitswayback

fromBritain,andourallegiancestothemothercountry,itsgovernmentalinstitution,andthekingare

uncertain.Second,asofApril191775yearofourLord,violentclashesat Lexington and Concordriskescalating into more open hostilities, especially as improvised militia armies are rising across

MassachusettswiththeintentionofresistingGeneral Gage'sinconspicuousmaneuvers.Forinstance,

popularrumorhasitthatEthanAllenandtheGreenMountainBoysareheadingtowardtheBritish

heldFortTiconderoga.Third,asoftheLord Dunmore's Warof1774yearofourLord,theagreements

separatingtheseaboardcoloniesandtheIndianreservesintheinteriorhavebeenbreakingdown.15

The Iroquois, the Delawares, the Shawnees, and theCherokees are yet undecidedwhether their

interestsbestliewiththecoloniesorEngland;nevertheless,colonialexpansion,landspeculation,and

influxoffrontiersmenareofgreatconcerntothesepeoples.Four,thecoloniesarematuringsocieties,

buttheyarelackinginmilitarytraining,supplies,andnavalpower;couldthediplomaticartofcolonial

leadersplayoffEuropean rivalries totheiradvantage?Finally,howfararethecolonieswillingtotake

theirstrugglewiththeirmothercountry?Isindependentstatehoodfeasibleorwillitconstitutesuchaviolationofnature'slawsthatthecolonieswilldescendintoanapocalypticnightmarethatwillforever

crushthestruggleforequalrightsoflife,liberty,andthepursuitofhappiness?Howarewetoregain

ourlostrightsandprivilegesascitizensconstitutionallyprotectedagainsttyranny?

Lookingforwardtoconstructiveandinformeddeliberations,

PresidentoftheSecondContinentalCongress


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References:

1.Greene,P.Jack.Peripheries and the Center: Constitutional Development in the

Extended Polities of the British Empire and the United States, 1607 1788. Athens,Georgia:The

UniversityofGeorgiaPress,1986.Print.

2.Maier,Pauline.From Resistance To Revolution: Colonial Radicals and theDevelopment of American Opposition to Britain, 1756 1776..NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1972.

Print.

3.Maier,Pauline.From Resistance To Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the

Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1756 1776..NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1972.

Print.

4.Osgood,Herbert.TheAmericanRevolution.Causes and Consequences of the

American Revolution.Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.6577.

5.Gipson,H.Lawrence.TheAmericanRevolutionasanAftermathoftheGreatWar

fortheEmpire,17541763.Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.Esmond

Wright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.87102.6.Gipson,H.Lawrence.TheAmericanRevolutionasanAftermathoftheGreatWar

fortheEmpire,17541763.Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.Esmond

Wright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.87102.

7.Hacker,M.Louis.TheFirstAmericanRevolution.Causes and Consequences of the

American Revolution.Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.

114142.

8.Hacker,M.Louis.TheFirstAmericanRevolution.Causes and Consequences of the

American Revolution.Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.

114142.

9.Andrews,M.Charles.TheAmericanRevolution:AnInterpretation.Causes and

Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.1966.7787.

10.Maier,Pauline.From Resistance To Revolution: Colonial Radicals and the

Development of American Opposition to Britain, 1756 1776..NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1972.

Print.

11.Schlesinger,M.Arthur.TheAmericanRevolutionReconsidered.Causes and

Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.

1966.103114.

12.Schlesinger,M.Arthur.TheAmericanRevolutionReconsidered.Causes and

Consequences of the American Revolution. Ed.EsmondWright.Chicago:QuandrangleBooks.

1966.103114.13.Kindig,Thomas.Revolutionary War Timeline.IndependenceHallAssociation.July

4th,1995.Web.Dec.29th2010.

14.Kindig,Thomas.Revolutionary War Timeline.IndependenceHallAssociation.July

4th,1995.Web.Dec.29th2010.

15.Washburn,E.Wilcomb.Indians and the American Revolution.

Americanrevolution.org.Web.Dec.29th2010.


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DEFINITIONS

East India Company:EnglishJointstockcompany

Act of Quebec of 1774:actoftheParliamentofGreatBritainwhichexpandedtheterritoryofthe

ProvinceofQuebectoincludeterritorycovetedbythethirteencolonies

Magazine:locationwhereweaponryandammunitionarestored

Regular troops:anationspermanentarmedforces,whichremainunderarmsevenintimesof

peace

Militia:militaryforcecomposedofcivilians

GreenMountainBoys:militiafromNewHampshireandNewYork,leadbyEthanAllenasofthe

176os

Minutemen:militiathatcouldbedeployedrapidly;oneofthemosthighlytrainedandimportantforcesinthecoloniessquabbleswithGreatBritain

AlettertoJohnHancockfrom

PaulRevereMr. Hancock,As you read this, I am in Boston watching and warning the actions of the Regular troops. I have learned

much about them and their positions and I wanted to share this information with the colonial delegates. I

know that you will be present at the meeting at the Pennsylvania State House; therefore I have sent you

this message by safe courier in the hopes that it will be of some help to you and your fellow delegates.

Colonial Delegates,

InresponsetothedestructionoftheEast India CompanysteainBoston Harborfollowingthe

TeaActof1773,ParliamentpassedtheIntolerableActsandtheQuebecAct.Thelatterexpandsthe

territoryoftheProvince of Quebectoincludesomeofour territories.Infact,theGrand Ohio

Companyownedsomeoftheaforementionedlands.iWithindecisionamongstIndians,Idonotknow

iftheyareplanningfurtherexpansion.

OnthesamenoteswiththebehaviorofBostonianscontinuingthisway,rumorhaditiithat

GeneralThomasGagehadorderstoraidthemagazineatCharlestownandreturnitspowderto

Castle WilliamonCastle Island.iiiRumorsalsohaditthatRegular troopsweremobilizingtobe

preparedforactionthefollowingmorning.iv

HoweverallpartiesincludingGage,Brattle,andPhipshaddeniedsuchrumorsinBostonpapers;moreRegulartroopsarrivedinBoston.vMilitias,principally

Green Mountain Boys,formedspecializedgroupsofMinutemenandarrivedinBostonaswell.

>> CONT.


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TheRegulartroopswereconcentratingaroundLexington and Concord,andcolonialmilitias

metthemthere.MoremagazinesIamhappytoreportthatwehavegiventheRegulartroopsheavy

losses.EthanAllendid,infact,leadtheremainingGreenMountainBoystoFort Ticonderoga.viIhave

notseenorheardofanyRegulartroopsdepartingforFortTiconderogasofar,howeverIknowthatitishighlyvaluablestrategically.viiIdonotknowifthereareanymoremagazinesthere,butIdoknow

thatLordDunmoreraidedanothermagazineintheColony of Virginia.viii

WiththeaidofsourcesatParliament,Iwasfortunatelyabletodeliverthemessageofthe

influxofRegulartroopstoMr.AdamsandMr.Hancock,andthankfully,theysafelyfledbeforeconflict

began.ixAdditionally,IreceivedfurtherinformationthatRegulartroopswereorderedtoarrestboth

Mr.AdamsandMr.Hancock.x

Thus,IbelievethattheRegularsaresendingmoretroops,andthecolonialdelegatesshould

notbelieveParliamentiftheystateotherwise.Also,Iwarnallcolonialdelegatestobecarefulafter

whatMr.AdamsandourcompanywentthroughtoescapeBoston.

With you through the night,

P.S. I included a map I collected to help you plan around the aforementioned events.

Fort Ticonderoga:18thcenturyFrenchfortunder

Americancontrol,inthestrategicallyimportantregion

whereLakeGeorgemeetsLakeChamplain>

Lord Dunmore:GovernorofVirginiawhodeclared

warontheShawneeandMingoIndiannations

Virginia:wealthiestofthethirteencolonies


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References:

iProcter,James,Alfred.The Ohio Company: Its Inner History.Pittsburgh:UniversityofPittsburgh

Press,1959.iiRichmond,RobertP.(1971).Powder Alarm 1774.Princeton:Auerbach.iiiIbid.ivIbid.vFischer,DavidHackett(1994).Paul Revere's Ride.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress.viSmith,JustinHarvey(1907).Our Struggle for the Fourteenth Colony: Canada, and the American

Revolution, Volume 1.NewYork:G.P.Putnam'sSons.viiRandall,WillardSterne(1990).Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor.NewYork:WilliamMorrow.viiiSelby,JohnE;Higginbotham,Don(2007).The Revolution in Virginia, 17751783.Williamsburg,VA:

ColonialWilliamsburg.ixTourtellot,ArthurB(1959).Lexington and Concord.NewYork:Norton.xIbid.

CourtesyoftheLibraryofCongress.

BOSTON


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Whathappenedatthe

1stContinentalCongress

CARPENTERS HALL, OCTOBER 26, 1774.

Briefrecordofeventsofthefirstmeetingofcolonialdelegatesincongress

DelegatesagreetoMr. Franklins proposaltomeetafterParliamentclosedthePortofBostoninresponsetothedestructionoftheEastIndiaCompanysteainBostonHarbor

Georgiadidnotsendanydelegatesbecausetheydidnotwanttoworsentheirconflict withRegular soldiersontheirborders

ThedelegatesfromPennsylvaniaandNewYorkargueforattemptingtoseekresolution withParliament

Alldelegatesagreeuponmorerightsforcolonies Delegatesargueaboutwhetherornotthisshouldbebywayoftheprinciple of Parity

repeateddialogueincludingtaxation without representation orbysevering tieswithboth

ParliamentandCongressinfearoflosinganydegreesoffreedomcoloniescurrentlypossessed

DelegatefromPennsylvaniaJoseph Gallowayproposeshis plan of UnionthatwouldestablishanAmericanParliamentthatwouldworkwiththeBritishParliament.Additionally,each

parliamentwouldhaveveto powerovereachothersproposals

GallowaysplanofUnionisnotreceivedwithanydegreeofconsensus Paul Revereenterswithnumerous statements from Massachusettspolitical figuresthatcall

formoreconfrontationalactionupontheirtreatmentbyParliament

Thesestatementsfurtherdividethedelegatesintheirpositions Congressbeginstoleantowardthesestatements,becomingknownastheSuffolk Resolves

i

CongressadoptsVirginiandelegatesproposalforContinental Association,establishingnon

importation,nonexportation,andnonconsumptionpolicies

Policiesshallbeenactedbycommitteesofpoliticalfiguresineachareaofthecoloniespresent Theywouldbeenactedbypublishingallinformationaboutmerchantswhodonotfollowthe

policiesandmarkingthemasenemies,removinganycontrabandin se,andpersuadebuyersto

becomesavers

CongressdraftsastatementofAmericancoloniesgrievancesaddressedtoKing George IIIinordertoemphasizethatAmerican colonies remain loyal to the King, however do not do so

to Parliamentifthesegrievancesarenotaddressed

Thedocumentisdraftedandradicalelementsareleftunedited(including,mostimportantly,trade control shifting to American colonies),andbecomesknownastheDeclaration of

Rights of Grievances

CongressmovestoresumethesessioninthefollowingSpringupontheresponsetotheaforementioneddocument.

Sources:Kindig,ThomasE."FirstContinentalCongress." Ushistory.org.IndependenceHallAssociation,04July1995.Web.

15Jan.2011..;"FirstContinentalCongress." United States

History.OnlineHighways.Web.15Jan.2011..


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Whatyouwillbediscussingatthe

2ndContinental

CongressThe Problem

InhabitantsoftheBritishcolonieshavebeenmistreatedbytheirmothercountry,Britain,forgenerations.

TheNorthAmericancoloniesfeelthattheyaremerelyasourceofincomefortheEnglish;theyarenotrepresentedinParliamentanddonotfeelthattheirnaturalrightsashumanbeingsarebeingrespected.Forexampletheyaretreatedunjustlybyimperialofficersandareforcedto

enrollinamilitarythatmanydonotbelievehastheirinterestinmind.

NorthAmericancolonistshavebeenmovedtoexpresstheirfrustrationwithEngland.Unfortunately,doinganyradicalactiononthepartofthecoloniesisdifficultbecausetheyare

economicallyandmilitarilydependantonBritain.

Nevertheless,theyhavebeguntospeakupanddemandthattheirvoicesbeheardbythedistantgovernmentofEngland.

Forthis,theAmericancolonieshavebeenlabeledasrebelsbyhismajesty,theKingGeorgeIIIhimself.

TheAmericanshavebeguntofeelthatthisisafightnotjustforrepresentationingovernment,butforfreedom.However,insuchafight,bloodshedwillbeinevitable.


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Discussion points

ApetitionhasbeensenttoEnglandandtheresponseisonitswaybacktoAmerica. Withalltheturmoilinthethirteencoloniesrelationshipwiththeirmothercountry,alotoftalk

anddiscussionofindependencehasarisen;mostofthisoccursbehindcloseddoorsoutoffear

oftreasonfromloyaliststotheCrown.

Manyofthecoloniesbelievethatdiplomaticmeans,asopposedtofullfledgedwarfare,providesagreaterchanceofsuccessinachievingindependenceifindependenceisthe

solutionatall.Theyunderstandthattheyhavebarelyenoughmoneytofundtheirarmy;one

mustconsiderthehighcostsofhousing,food,arms,andtraining.Delegatesmustnottake

lightlythethreatofthemightyEnglisharmy.Diplomaticnegotiationswillmostlikelyendin

fewercasualties,butwilltheprivilegesofcitizenshipeverbegrantedtothemiftheywishto

stayunderthewingofthemothercountry?

Whatsmore,manybelievethatafriendlyrelationshipwithEnglandcouldproveitselfadvantageousinthefuture,sinceEnglandisoneoftheworldsmostpowerfulnations.

Atthemoment,thereisalreadybloodbeingsplatteredatLexington,andsomethingshouldbedonetobothminimizethecasualtiesandtohelpthefellowcolonists.

Furthermore,theIndianAmericancommunityisneitherontheBritishorAmericansideofthisdebate.Ifthingsweretoturnintowidespreadbattle,IndianAmericansupportwouldbeof

greatusetotheAmericansiftheyfoughtsidebysidethemandofgreatdisadvantageifthe

Englishweretogaintheirtrustandfriendship.

Finally,iffurtherviolenceweretooccur,couldEuropeanrivalsofEnglandbeusedagainstthemothercountry?

Photo credits for this background guide:

MapofBostonArea:LibraryofCongress

ThePatriot:http://images.hollywood.com/site/ledger_patriot.jpg

JoinorDieposter:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xHxPbqohqSc/Se9DgKdDzdI/AAAAAAAAB34/9raFUyuc4mI/s400/join+or+die+news

antique+com.jpg

FortTiconderoga:http://www.berggreen.org/travel/blog_pictures/fort_ticonderoga_1.jpg

ContinentalArmy:https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0524/5b05e48555b49/5b05e48e8977c.jpg

DeclarationofIndependencebyJohnTrumbull:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Declaration_independence.jpg/600px

Declaration_independence.jpg

continental congress background guide

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