Colonial Response to British Legislation
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Questions and Answers

What was the immediate response of New York to the Quartering Act of 1765?

  • They nullified the Act themselves.
  • They backed down after a threat from Townshend. (correct)
  • They agreed to supply British troops willingly.
  • They protested against the Act.
  • What was the primary objective of the Revenue Act of 1767?

  • To eliminate the American Board of Customs Commissioners.
  • To support colonial self-government initiatives.
  • To tax American imports such as tea and glass. (correct)
  • To abolish all taxes on imports.
  • How did Townshend differentiate his duties from the Stamp Act?

  • He classified them as external taxes rather than internal ones. (correct)
  • He increased the public visibility of the tax collectors.
  • He eliminated taxation on essential goods.
  • He created more penalties for non-compliance.
  • Who argued that only colonial assemblies had the power to tax commerce for revenue purposes?

    <p>John Dickinson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criticism did colonists have against the American Board of Customs Commissioners?

    <p>They accused the commissioners of corruption and overreach.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the general hope of the colonies regarding Townshend's policies?

    <p>That he would pursue more reasonable policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact did the distinction between internal and external taxes have on colonial resistance?

    <p>It decreased resistance as taxes were seen as less invasive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant effect of the threats made by Townshend regarding colonial laws?

    <p>It heightened colonial awareness of British interference.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the Townshend duties primarily aimed at generating?

    <p>Revenue for the British government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the colonists' statement justifying the taking up of arms ultimately reject?

    <p>Independence as a solution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant action did the Congress take regarding military command?

    <p>Appointed George Washington as commander</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which critical ally did the Americans eventually gain support from during the conflict?

    <p>France</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major disadvantage did Great Britain face in the war?

    <p>Difficulty supplying forces in the colonies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the Congress' responses to Britain closing the colonies to all trade?

    <p>Creating a continental navy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge did George Washington face in leading the Continental Army?

    <p>Poorly trained and undisciplined militias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one significant challenge faced by the Continental Congress during the American Revolution?

    <p>They had no power to compel the colonies for supplies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the individuals that opposed the American Revolution and supported the British?

    <p>Loyalists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of Americans is estimated to have supported Great Britain during the American Revolution?

    <p>Twenty percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group fought with the British during the American Revolution?

    <p>Loyalist militia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did some Native Americans support the British during the American Revolution?

    <p>They wanted to maintain control of western lands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What motivated some enslaved individuals to join the British forces during the war?

    <p>Promises of freedom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common perception among some colonists about the potential revolution?

    <p>It could result in chaos and instability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did New York City play during the American Revolution?

    <p>It was a loyalist stronghold.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who among the following groups was most likely to oppose the American Revolution?

    <p>Merchant elites dependent on British trade</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be said about the impact of Loyalists on the American Revolution?

    <p>They posed challenges and divided the colonies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary goal of the colonial leaders before the outbreak of hostilities?

    <p>To put economic pressure on Great Britain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event occurred on April 19 during the American Revolution?

    <p>The confrontation at Lexington and Concord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who rode out to alert the townspeople of the impending movement of British troops?

    <p>William Dawes and Paul Revere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the Battle of Bunker Hill?

    <p>A British victory with significant casualties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Olive Branch Petition aim to achieve?

    <p>To profess loyalty to the Crown and seek peace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group captured Fort Ticonderoga with the hope of using its cannons?

    <p>The Green Mountain Boys</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was General Thomas Gage ordered to do in Massachusetts?

    <p>Arrest radical leaders and suppress rebellion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage did imports drop by from 1774 to 1775 as part of the colonial economic strategy?

    <p>More than ninety percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the colonies use to prepare for quick military action against the British?

    <p>Minute Men militias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which British governmental figure attempted to find a compromise with the colonies?

    <p>Lord North</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main purpose of the Tea Act of 1773?

    <p>To provide a monopoly on tea sales to East India Company</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event is marked by the actions of fifty men disguised as Mohawk Indians boarding a ship?

    <p>The Boston Tea Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant consequence of the Boston Tea Party?

    <p>A series of punitive measures were enacted by Parliament</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which act allowed British troops to be housed in private buildings?

    <p>The Quartering Act</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following measures was NOT included in the Coercive Acts?

    <p>Allowing British soldiers to open fire on colonists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the colonial reaction to the Tea Act indicate about their view of British taxation?

    <p>They strongly opposed any form of British taxation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary aim of the Intolerable Acts from Parliament's perspective?

    <p>To punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Coercive Acts impact the governance of Massachusetts?

    <p>It limited the legislative powers granted to local assemblies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main reason behind the Boston colonists' actions during the Boston Tea Party?

    <p>To protest against a lack of representation in Parliament</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements best describes the British government's reaction to the Boston Tea Party?

    <p>They strengthened military presence in the colonies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Colonial Response to British Legislation

    • Charles Townshend opposed the Stamp Act but continued to raise revenue through the Revenue Act of 1767, imposing duties on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea.
    • The Townshend duties faced backlash, with John Dickinson asserting that only colonial assemblies had the right to tax commerce.
    • To regulate these duties, Townshend created the American Board of Customs Commissioners, whose zealous enforcement led to resentment among colonists.

    Loyalists and Patriots

    • Divided loyalties characterized the American colonies; those supporting Britain were called Loyalists (or Tories), while those opposing were known as Patriots (or Whigs).
    • Approximately twenty percent of Americans identified as Loyalists, including merchants reliant on British trade and officials fearing chaos from independence.
    • The conflict drew in diverse groups, including Native Americans, who primarily sided with the British due to land disputes and slaves seeking freedom by joining British forces.

    Boston Tea Party and Colonial Resistance

    • To salvage the East India Company, the Tea Act of 1773 granted it a monopoly on tea sales, lowering prices but igniting colonial outrage over the implied right to tax.
    • In defiance, colonists, led by Samuel Adams, dumped an entire shipment of tea into Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773, marking a transition from protest to direct action.

    Coercive Acts and Escalation

    • Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party with the Coercive Acts (also known as the Intolerable Acts), which included closing Boston's port and revoking parts of the Massachusetts charter.
    • The acts intensified colonial grievances and galvanized resistance, leading to the formation of a united front among the colonies.

    Outbreak of Hostilities

    • Economic pressure tactics led to a significant drop in imports, heightening tensions as British officials sought to quell unrest in Massachusetts.
    • The first armed conflict began on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord, resulting in casualties for both British troops and colonial militias.

    Key Battles and Continental Congress

    • The Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, emerged as the first significant battle of the Revolution, demonstrating colonial resolve despite a British victory.
    • The Second Continental Congress convened, expressing loyalty to the Crown while preparing for war, ultimately declaring the Continental Army with George Washington as commander.

    Shift Towards Independence

    • Despite sending the Olive Branch Petition seeking reconciliation, the Congress transitioned towards a self-governing approach, establishing a Continental Army and navy.
    • By late 1775, with continued hostilities and Parliament's refusal to compromise, the push for independence gained momentum.

    British Advantages and Challenges

    • Despite the strengths of the British military—over 100,000 troops, extensive resources, and the world's largest navy—logistical challenges complicated their operations.
    • The American forces, fighting for their liberties on familiar terrain, had the advantage of motivation and emerging leadership in Washington, though they comprised poorly trained militias.

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    Description

    Explore the complex dynamics between American colonists and British rule during the pre-revolutionary period. This quiz delves into the economic measures imposed by Charles Townshend, the resulting colonial backlash, and the contrasting identities of Loyalists and Patriots. Test your understanding of this pivotal time in American history.

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