HISTORY 169 



Lakes and the Ohio led (1763) to a war with colonies were represented except Georgia. A 

 the Indian tribes, of which the master spirit declaration of rights was agreed upon, in which 

 was Pontiac. The sentiment of political free- was set forth the claim of the colonists as Brit ish 

 dpm was strongly developed among the colo- subjects to participate in making their own laws 

 ni-ts, and republican ideas and feelings trans- and imposing their own taxes, and to the rights 

 mitted from the period of the commonwealth in of trial by a jury of the vicinage, of holding 

 England were widely diffused, though at the public meetings, and of petitioning for redress 

 same time a warm attachment existed for the of grievances. The maintenance of a standing 

 mother country and a devoted loyalty to the army in the colonies without their consent was 

 Crown. The first opposition was aroused by protested against, as were eleven acts passed 

 an act of parliament in 1761, authorizing sher- since the accession of George III. in violation 

 iffs and officers of the customs to use " writs of of colonial rights and privileges. The first con- 

 assistance" or general search warrants. These flict occurred, and the first blood of the Revolu- 

 writs were resisted in Massachusetts, where the tion was shed, on April 19, 1775. (See Concord, 

 rights of the people were defended by James and Lexington.) On the night of the day fol- 

 Otis. In 1765 the Stamp Act was passed, which lowing the action the king's governor and army 

 declared that every document used in trade or found themselves closely beleaguered in Boston, 

 legal proceedings, to be valid, must have affixed The people everywhere rose in arms, and before 

 to it a tax stamp of the minimum value of one the close of summer the power of all the royal 

 shilling, and increasing indefinitely according to governors from Massachusetts to Georgia was 

 the value of the writing. To enforce the act at an end. Volunteer expeditions from Vermont 

 parliament authorized the ministry to send and Connecticut, led by Ethan Allen and Bene- 

 troops, for whom the colonies were required to j diet Arnold, seized the important fortresses of 

 provide quarters and various necessaries. These , Ticonderoga (May 10th) and Crown Point (May 

 acts created great excitement and indignation | 12th). The second Continental Congress assem- 

 in America. Everywhere the people determined bled on May 10th at Philadelphia, in the State 

 not to use the stamps, and associations calling ! house, now known as Independence Hall. It 

 themselves "sons of liberty," were organized sent another petition to the king, denying any 

 in opposition to the act and for the general > intention of separation from England, and ask- 

 defense of the rights of the colonies. In Octo- , ing only for redress of grievances; but measures 

 ber a congress of delegates from nine colonies were taken to raise an army, to equip a navy, 

 assembled in New York on the invitation of and to procure arms and ammunition. The 

 Massachusetts, and drew up a declaration of forces before Boston were adopted as the Conti- 

 rights, a memorial to parliament, and a petition nental army, and Washington was nominated 

 to the king, in which they claimed the right of and unanimously chosen (June 15th) as corn- 

 being taxed only by their own representatives, mander-in-chief. Before he could reach the seat 

 The merchants of the principal cities agreed to of war the battle of Bunker Hill had been fought, 

 purchase no more goods in England till the act June 17th. He regularly beleaguered Bo>ton 

 was repealed, and the people pledged themselves till March 17, 1776, when the British evacuated 

 to use no articles of English manufacture. The it and sailed for Halifax. Meantime, an inva- 

 Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, but the next sion of Canada under General Montgomery 

 yt-.tr parliament passed an act imposing duties j suited in the capture of Montreal and a n ; 

 on paper, glass, tea, and some other articles from Quebec, which was attacked December 31. 

 imported into the colonies. The colonies in 1775, by parties led by Montgomery ami Arnold. 

 return revived with renewed vigor their Don- 1 On June 28, 1776, a British fleet attacked 

 importation associations. Massachusetts, and Charleston, S. (\. and was repulsed with great 

 especially Boston, was foremost in the opposi- loss by a small force in Fort Sullivan iaften\ard 

 tion. A military force under General Gage was Fort Moultrie), commanded by Colonel Moult rie. 

 sent to occupy the town in 1768. A collision On July 1th the Declaration of Inde|>en.i 

 took place March 5, 1770, between the soldier* written by Jefferson, was adopted, and in this 

 and a crowd of citizens, in which three of the cloeument the colonies were first designated the 



r were killed and eight wounded. The " Tinted States of America," Soon after tin- 

 ton Massacre," as this was called, caused evacuation of Boston by the British. \Va*hing- 

 great excitement throughout the country. In ton transferred his army to New York. < >n 

 April. 1770, the government removed all the June 29th the late garrison of Boston arrive.! 

 duties except that of threepence a pound on from Halifax, and soon after other Bnti*h troops 

 tea. Combinations were now formed again- 1 from Kurope and from the South. Die catn- 



importation and use of tea, ami mea-un-- p.-nu r n began on Long Island, where, on August 



n to prevent its being either landed or sold. 27th, the Americans were defeated with heavy 



At Boston, December 16, 1773, a band of men low, ami forced to abandon that island, and 



Indians went on board three tea soon after the city of Nen York. Ha ving f ouzhJ 



ships which had recently arrived from Kngland. another unsuccessful battle at White Plains 



MM emptied the tea into the Water. Parliament (October I'M M. Washington earijf in December 



thereupon, in 1771, passed the "Boston IWi WM comix-lied to retreat beyond the Delaware 



Hill." which closed that port to all commerce. .-,i the head of but 3,000 men. About the same 



ransfrrred t he board of customs to Marl >le- time the British seized nnd held the is|:in,| of 



and the seat of colonial government to Rhode Island. On the night of December 



H. Other repressive I. ills were also passed. Washington crossed the Delaware in open I 



On September .".th the "(ild Continental Con- with 2.400 men. and fulling upon the British 



met in Philadelphia, in which all the forces at Trenton, captured al.out 1 , 



