Declaration of Independence

One of the most remarkable documents during the United States independence. It was drafted and voted by Thomas Jefferson in July 2, 1776, and was later signed and approved July 4, 1776. This document basically stated that the thirteen colonies were completely independent from the British Empire. This document is located in the Library of Congress in Washington. 4th of July is now a national holiday, also known as Independence Day.

Thomas Jefferson as many know is the main author of the Declaration of Independence, but he is not the only one who contributed to it. 56 other delegates from the thirteen colonies had to sign the Declaration. When the Declaration was signed, people started to question Parliament and saying it was a set of laws for Great Britain only! The Declaration had a lot of controversial topics, for example it stated that the King was actually a tyrant. Another example was that it stated that "all men are created equal" which makes it a problem because rich men thought slaves were not humans.

As you know, before the Declaration United States and Great Britain were already fighting a war. The Coercive act was given to punish the people of Boston of their actions, like the Boston Tea Party. So the First Continental Congress decided to boycott British goods. The was one of the many responses of the colonists. Later the Second Continental Congress joined and they accepted the Declaration of Independence.

The Second Continental Congress

This congress took place in Pennsylvania and 13 colonies except Georgia were part of this congress. The chief accomplishment of the Second Continental Congress, which convened on May 10, 1775. Was the drafting of the declaration of independence. The Second Continental Congress took place in the wake of the Seven Years’ War between Great Britain and France, which left Britain deep in debt. To pay off this debt, the British Parliament passed legislation that increased tax revenues from the American colonies, including the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Revenue Act of 1767. Many colonists, though, and the purpose of both the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress was to oppose them. The colonists argued that because the colonies were not represented in Parliament, that body had no authority to tax them, a view expressed in the still well-known phrase “no taxation without representation.”

This congress had 4 interesting things. First one, this congress assumed the whole responsibility of the war. Second one, they set up a continental army to defend them in any important case. Third one, George Washington who had a experience in the french-indian war being a soldier was put in charge of this continental army. And the fourth one, they sent a peace petition to King George III which he rejected. This petition is also known as the "Olive Branch Petition."

A important character which helped the second continental congress was, John Hancock. John Hancock which was the president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, was elected to be the president of this Second Continental Congress when Peyton Randolph left this place. He became the president because Henry Middleton which was their first option declined so John was the chosen one. Hancock is also known for his large signature in the Declaration of Independence. And for being the first member of the congress to sign this document.

First Continental Congress!

As you know, the Coercive Act, or the Intolerable Act as the colonists called it, was put into action in 1774. Some of the laws that was the Boston Port Act in March 31, 1774. This Act closed all ports in Boston and only British boats could enter and leave. Another act was the Quartering Act of 1774, which was the same act as the first one. These and many other acts were given to colonist and they were upset and tired with all the acts that were unfairly given.

In response to the Coercive Act, the colonists took action and decided to organize a meeting, hence the First Continental Congress was formed. It was the not the first congress they make, the first one was the Stamp Act Congress. The First Continental Congress was made up of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies (excluding Georgia). This Congress was established September 5, 1774. The meeting took place in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. There were 56 seats inside the meeting room, and this congress was succeded by the Second Continental Congress.

The Coercive Act was not given without reason, the British wanted to punish the colonists because of their actions (Boston Tea Party). One of the major causes that the First Continental Congress did was the absolute boycott of British goods. This boycott was accepted by the colonists and began December 1, 1774. Joseph Galloway thought of a "plan of union" which he wanted a legislative power in America. Another important accomplishment in the First Continental Congress was that they decide on making the Second Continental Congress in may 10, 1775.

The Townshend Act

The Townshend Acts were a series of acts passed beginning in 1767 by the Parliament of Great Britain. The townshend act were they taxes on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea that were applied to a year for the administration of the colonies. The purpose of the Townshend Acts was to raise revenue in the colonies to pay the salaries of governors and judges so that they would be independent of colonial rule. The Townshend Acts were met with resistance in the colonies, prompting the occupation of Boston by British troops in 1768, which eventually resulted in the Boston Massacre of 1770. As a result of the massacre in Boston, Parliament began to consider a to partially repeal the Townshend duties. Most of the new taxes were repealed, except the tax on tea causing then the Boston Tea Party. Following the Seven Years' War the British Empire was deep in debt.

Merchants in the colonies, organized economic boycotts to put pressure on their British counterparts to work for repeal of the Townshend Acts. Townshend Acts 1767, originated by Charles Townshend and passed by the English Parliament shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act. By the writings of John Dickinson, Samuel Adams, and others, protested against the taxes to make the colonist noticed they still have a voice to raise up. Colonist started gathering together to enforces each other and tell the parliament the have no right. The Townshend duties, imposed direct revenue duties that is, duties were not merely at regulating trade but at putting money into the British treasury. It was the second time of the history of the colonies that the tax has been levied only for the purpose of raising revenues.

Colonial reaction to these taxes was the same as to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, and Britain eventually repealed all the taxes except the one on tea. In response to the sometimes violent protests by the American colonists, Great Britain sent more troops to the colonies. Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is as the chief treasurer of the British Empire in charge of economic and financial matters. With the repeal of the Stamp Act, money is needed. The Acts create a new Customs Commission and punish New York for refusing to abide by the Quartering Act. The colonists are being taxed by Parliament without being represented in Parliament. And they are Englishmen and deserve the rights of Englishmen.

0 Tolerance For Intolerable Acts

The Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)

The Coercive Acts, or as the colonists named them, the Intolerable Acts, were acts that King George III imposed on the colonists for all wrong things they had done. These acts were all imposed in 1774. There are five Intolerable Acts. Boston Port Act, Administration of Justice Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act. Colonists called the Coercive Acts, Intolerable Acts because they were very intolerable to the colonists. The Sons of Liberty targered and feathered anyone in favor of the Intolerable Acts. The Intolerable Acts made the colonists be more together. We are going to post more about how the colonists fought back  English.

                                                                      Boston Port Act

The Boston Port Act was imposed on the colonists on March 31, 1774. Colonists had to payed nearly $1 million (today's money) on dumped tea. Also, the Boston Port was closed.  The Boston Port Act was the easiest way to enforce the other four Coercive Acts imposed on colonists. The Boston Port Act only allowed English ships to arrive on that port. The Boston Port Act was the first act of the Coercive Acts.

Administration of Justice Act

The Administration of Justice Act was one of the five acts imposed by Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party. It was imposed on May 20, 1774 and it was the second of the Coercive Acts imposed.  This act stated that thee governor of Massachusetts could move trials of English soldiers accused of committing crimes to England, because they thought that in the colony they wouldn't get a fair trial. It was known as the Murder Act because the soldiers escaped the consequences of their faults. This act was centralized in protection for the English soldiers.