The American Revolution and Confederation

1774-1787

Effects of the Intolerable Acts• The First Continental Congress (Phili,

PA)

– 12 colonies assembled to discuss

imposed restrictions

– Overall not many colonists wanted to

“break free” from Britain; just did not

want their rights/ freedoms infringed

upon

Who was represented?• Radicals: break from Britain (Samuel &

John Adams and Patrick Henry)

• Moderates: wanted to negotiate policies

and if that failed possibly initiate war

(Washington and Dickinson)

• Conservatives: wanted to address the

issue; at most a small protest; did not

want to break free (John Jay and Joseph

Galloway)

The Plan

• Colonial unification was necessary (which made

some plans not pass)

• Suffolk Resolves: initiated in Mass; accepted by 12

colonies; boycott British goods

• Declaration of Rights and Grievances: renew

colonial liberties; keep British law over commerce

(trade)

• This plan was sent to the King as a “Petition”

Royal Reaction

• You think you’re

gunna get away

with it? Not up in

here…NOT UP IN

HERE!

• The King did not accept the petition and named Mass a STATE OF REBELLION

• The clashes here would become the first of the Revolution

The Conflict Begins

• Lexington & Concord (Mass Bay &

present day Arlington, VA)

– 4/18/1775: British troops sent to

confiscate colonial militia armaments

– “Paul Revere” (Israel Bissle) and William

Dawes sent to warn the colonists