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Coercive or Intolerable Acts (1774)

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Closed the Port of Boston: No trade = No jobs = No income. Dissolved the government of Massachusetts: Britain rules directly. British officials and soldiers tried in England. More Quartering Acts.

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Colonists' Reaction to Coercive Acts

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Colonists began preparing for armed conflict by organizing militias and stockpiling weapons. Convened the First Continental Congress in 1774.

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First Continental Congress (1774)

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Delegates met in Philadelphia. Main accomplishment: organizing a colonial boycott of British goods.

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Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775)

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First battle of the Revolutionary War. British sought colonial stockpiles of weapons. Paul Revere's 'Midnight Ride.'

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The Second Continental Congress was planned to meet to discuss ways to get Britain to repeal its taxes and the Coercive Acts.

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After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Congress assumed powers to direct the war effort, creating the Continental Army and a paper currency.

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Dunmore’s Proclamation was issued on November 7, 1775, by John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore.

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It declared martial law and promised freedom for slaves of American Patriots who joined the British Army, becoming Black Loyalists.

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Dunmore’s Proclamation only applied to slaves held by individuals opposed to the British.

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Slaves held by pro-British individuals were not freed, indicating the proclamation was motivated by war strategy rather than genuine concern for slaves.

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The Virginia Convention's response to Dunmore’s Proclamation.

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On December 14, 1775, they declared that all fugitive slaves would be executed.

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Common Sense (1776) was written by Thomas Paine.

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It argued for independence using Enlightenment principles and had a significant impact on colonists.

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The Declaration of Independence (1776) was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson.

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It declared American colonies as an independent nation and was influenced by John Locke and Enlightenment ideas.