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Comprehensive Slave code
Virginia House of Burgesses Comprehensive slave code
South Carolina
-Separate whites from slaves/Africans
-Rice became the basis for the plantation economy
-The major motivation of slave codes - FEAR -
Sugar act
-cut the duty on foreign molasses from 6 to 3 pence per gallon
-retained a high duty on foreign refined sugar
-prohibited the importation of all foreign rum
-Replaced Molasses Act of 1733 -
Stamp Act
First direct tax on American colonies
Must bear a stamp
Taxed items-wills, newspapers, pamphlets, bills, licenses, almanacs, dice, playing cards
Violators will be tried and convicted without juries in vice-admiralty courts
"Rights" raised by Stamp Act -
Boston Massacre
Cold Winter Day
British patrolling streets
Shots fired
Five Bostonians and two boys lay dead
John Adams represented soldiers
Blamed the incident on a mob. Jury agreed -
The Gaspee Incident
British custom schooner chased Colonial vessel suspected of smuggling
Ran aground
At night colonists boarded Gaspee, set the crew ashore, and buried the boat
Act of rebellion -
Tea Act
Not enacted to generate revenue
Proposed to give a monopoly to East India Company on direct sales to the colonies
Did not boycott instead destroyed tea/sent it back to England -
Boston Tea Party
Thomas Hutchinson
Bostonians would not let tea be unlocked on December 16, 1773 night
30-130 men dressed in Mohawk costumes
Why costumes?
Many witnesses and spectators to the event -
First Continental Congress,
56 delegates
Structured with emphasis on equality of participants and to promote free debate
Declaration of rights and grievances
If Britain failed to address the colonist's grievances promptly, congress will reconvene on May 10, 1775
Disbanded October 26, 1774
Greatbritians reaction
- continental congress was an illegal assembly -
battle of Lexington and Concord
General Gage
77 men led by Captian John PArker met the British outside Lexington
Stand your ground, don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin
The shot was heard around the world no ones who fired
8 Lexington militia men died/ 10 wounded
1 British soldier wounded
Marched onto concord
Met a bigger force
Colonists superior position
British retreated
Marched back to Boston -
Pennsylvania Constitution
-Abolished property ownership as test of citizenship
-Protected citizens from imprisonment for debt