Unit 1.3 Apush Ids

Since the founding of the Thirteen Colonies, the colonists enjoyed a degree of autonomy and self sufficiency from the mother country, England. The colonies had colonial assemblies, which were more democratic than England’s and were independent governments. British mercantilist laws were not strictly enforced due to the policy commonly referred to as salutary neglect. However, as the British increasingly ignore the problems the colonies faced, the colonies began to look for a common government to lead them. This eventually led to three distinct efforts at intercolonial cooperation and union: The New England Confederation, Penn’s Plan of Union, and The Albany Plan of Union. Therefore, although there were unsuccessful attempts to unite the

Document A, shows a woman holding a musket and powder horn wearing a tricorn hat. This document bolsters that women’s roles were expanded during the American Revolution since they participated in the American Revolution and hints at the potential for revolutionary change in women’s roles. The Daughters of Liberty proved that they could do anything a man could do. When their husbands, brothers, and or sons went to fight in the war women had to continue making a living at home by assuming the tasks that the males had. The Daughters of Liberty were working relentlessly to prove their commitment to “the cause of liberty and industry.” Home manufacturing originated from when women made clothing for the people of their respective towns to boycott the British and when they had to produce products such as artillery as well as clothing for the American forces to utilize. Document J, a valedictory address by Molly Wallace from the Young Ladies’ Academy of Pennsylvania notifies us that friendly encouragement allowed herself to overcome apprehension due to sex, youth, and inexperience which will be an example that women can do anything they set their mind to and that if women are not denied the right to read, moreover they should not be denied the right to speak. Her speech increased discussion of educational opportunities for women and the Revolution had not yet greatly altered society’s perception of the role of women.

In July 1775, the Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition in hopes of a compromise. The petition promised American loyalty to Parliament as long as King George III would agree to repeal the Intolerable Acts. However, the king refused to agree on any kind of reconciliation. This proves that on the road to the revolution, the colonists tried to resolve conflicts, but the British king refused to come to a mutual agreement. Since the king declined the peace offer, the colonists only had one reasonable option. They had to fight for their freedom from Britain to escape the harsh laws and taxes that were imposed by Parliament.

The petition was originally created by the First Continental Congress to resist any further conflict between Britain and the 13 Colonies. The petition was earliest written by Benjamin Franklin and then Thomas Jefferson, but the language Jefferson used would only enrage the King, so when The Second Continental Congress took up the Petition, John Dickenson rewrote it. Congress passed the sending of the Petition to King George the Third and three days later the petition reached the kings presence. The king would have passed the petition if it weren’t for a letter being confiscated that John Adams wrote to a friend proclaiming his disapproval of the Olive Branch Petition and how the yearning for peace was not authentic. King George the Third received both the petition and the letter and denied the petition. He then proclaimed that the colonies were on a rebellious spree. Even though the petition was opposed, it still played a major part in the years to come for the Colonies to propel in the attempts at American Independence. It became the foundation of the beginning of the Revolutionary War and is the reason that we call ourselves Independent. Not only did it lead to the Revolutionary War, but it also inspired the idea of The Declaration of

Women in the colonies decided to create the Daughters of Liberty, what they would do is encourage colonists to make their own things like food and clothes instead of buying British goods.

When the American Revolutionary War ended, it did not mark the end of the American Revolution as a whole. Rather it marked the first step in a long and difficult process of forming a nation with a strong central government. Even before the Revolutionary War began, leaders of the thirteen American colonies recognized the importance and necessity of some form of centralized government. The Second Continental Congress, held in 1775 , was the first serious attempt to bring organization and unity to the thirteen individual and self- interested American colonies. At the Second Continental Congress, a committee was formed to produce the framework of a governmental system. The result, the Articles of Confederation, were weak and ineffective

It proposed the idea of regulating anything that had to do with the Indians. Without the consent of the “President-General” alongside the “advice of the Grand Council” the colonies could not “hold or direct all Indian treaties” as well as “make peace with or declare war with the Indian nations.” (Doc C) This idea presented the action of regulating Indian relations and stabilizing the colonies issues with one another. It also presented the idea of taxes and laws, which would help the economy, grow larger and stronger. However, many of the colonies thought it would limit their own authority. This exact thought was the reason The Albany Plan of 1754 never went into action, although it had proposed a more centralized government. (Doc C) The fear of each colony having more power than the other was the biggest factor as to why all these plans that had been drawn up to unite was never

The Albany Congress was met on June 19, 1754 held by legistaures from colonies between New York and the Mohawk nation. They were part of the Iroquois Confederation. Many government officials contributed together to published uncomfired plans for unifying the colonial governments of North America. Delegates selected acceptant to the plan for a union of 12 colonies. Different assembly would be sent in to a “grand council” that has a legitative power. After, they started noticing the power and authority to control the colonists. This resulted to colonies being unified. The plan gave the Grand Council control and power. They also taxed things for their own benefit. Although, this did not last, people and other government started to notice, which

Another, more direct, example of women’s political influence emerged nearing the later years of the revolution. As the conflict dragged on, and resources became scarce for the Patriot soldiers,

First, colonists like John and Samuel Adams did not think the war could be avoided. A few months before the petition the battles of Lexington and Concord were fought. This is when the continental congress decided to meet and make the petition because they knew that unless they did something it all would eventually lead to the war. Both John and Samuel Adams were in the second continental congress, and they both thought the war could not be avoided. One of the reasons that the olive branch petition was written was to retaliate against the intolerable acts. They were trying to get Britain to repeal intolerable acts. If the king had gotten rid of the acts the colonists would not have had to write the petition and war could have (and probably would have) been

John Dickinson preached that colonies must unify to oppose the wretched taxes, imposed with the purpose of raising money (Document 3). Dickinson regarded informing Parliament of the grievances as beneficial to welfare of the whole, including the mother country, Great Britain. Dickinson lived in Pennsylvania where Quakers influenced the idea that no violence should take place, upon which he showed no motive to declare independence. The Olive Branch Petition stated that colonies have an obligation to the King and their fellow subjects to stop further bloodshed of war and battles (Document 5). The petition proclaimed the colonial desire to stay loyal to the crown, but ironically, at the same time, the colonists built the Continental Army in preparation for war. It showed that the writers of the petition harbored little faith that Britain would redress the colonists’ grievances or make any action of reconciliation. The support for the crown lessened the longer Britain refused to address the issues colonies encountered with taxation and

The British government summoned the Intercolonial congress in 1754 to foster greater colonial unity and assure Iroquois Indian Chiefs support in the escalating war against the French. Benjamin Franklin proposed the plan. It aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and collecting taxes for the colonies’ defense. It was a plan for one central government in the colonies. The plan was vetoed by the colonies and London; they did not want to lose power. (word count 76)

In response to the common British oppression, a system of intercolonial committees of correspondence formed to coordinate a unified American reaction. Based upon the Massachusetts model, Virginia implemented the first intercolonial committee in 1773, and soon afterwards, committees appeared in all thirteen colonies. Thus, the colonies began to display political unity as they sought a united response. This unity was noted in a letter from Richard Lee in which he noted that all of North America was firmly united and resolved to defend their liberties. (Doc. C) The idea of political unity was also led to the creation of the First Continental Congress, in which 12 of the thirteen colonies were represented. Although more convention than congress, this body was an important step towards political unity. The Second Continental Congress, which convened in 1775 with all thirteen colonies in attendance, is

In attempt for the Americans to prevent any further deaths, they created the Olive Branch Petition. The Olive Branch Petition was written by John Dickinson, a Pennsylvania delegate. He stated the desire to remain loyal to the British crown, King George III, he asked the king to address the colonists complaints and in return the colonists promised to lay down their weapons when their grievances were addressed. King George III rejected the Olive Branch Petition and declared the colonists in rebellion. Parliament then passed the Prohibitory Act which closed American ports to over seas trade, and allowed the Royal Navy to seize American ships at sea. Many colonists still didn't want to break away from Britain. Officers toasted the king's health, merchants were afraid they would lose money, and people were afraid they would be put to death for rebelling against the crown. Thomas Paine published a pamphlet anonymously the title being, Common Sense. This pamphlet argued reasons for America to break away from Britain. This pamphlet rejected the idea of a monarchy and hereditary aristocracy, promoted the idea of a representative government, and called for unity in the struggle for independence. Also in the pamphlet, Paine argued that a monarchy was dangerous, men were born equal so no family had the right to rule over anyone else, and that Britain had taken advantage of Americans and taxed them unfairly. Paine suggested America think of themselves as a separate nation. He believed it was America's destiny to become independent, wanted American people to hold the power, not a distant monarch, and suggested election processes and establishment of a constitution. Common Sense was popular in the colonies; sold around 120,000 copies in a 3 month period, was also read aloud in public places, changed attitudes of Americans about independence, also helped shape the Declaration of Independence.

Unfortunately, not every American saw the issue as clearly as Franklin. Most were afraid of the consequences to a rebellion against British rule. John Dickinson, put forward the last appeal to England on July 5. It later became known as the Olive Branch Petition, in which Congress called for the King to "come to America's rescue".