THE COERCIVE ACTS
Parliament responded with new laws that the colonists called the “Coercive” or “Intolerable Acts .” The first, the Boston Port Bill, closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for . The action threatened the very life of the city, for to prevent Boston from having access to the sea meant economic disaster . Other enactments restricted local author- ity and banned most town meetings held without the governor’s consent .
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A Quartering Act required local au- thorities to find suitable quarters for British troops, in private homes if necessary . Instead of subduing and isolating Massachusetts, as Parlia- ment intended, these acts rallied its sister colonies to its aid . The Que- bec Act, passed at nearly the same time, extended the boundaries of the province of Quebec south to the Ohio River . In conformity with pre- vious French practice, it provided for trials without jury, did not estab- lish a representative assembly, and gave the Catholic Church semi-es- tablished status . By disregarding old charter claims to western lands, it threatened to block colonial expan- sion to the North and Northwest; its recognition of the Roman Catho- lic Church outraged the Protestant sects that dominated every colony . Though the Quebec Act had not been passed as a punitive measure, Americans associated it with the Co- ercive Acts, and all became known as the “Five Intolerable Acts .”
At the suggestion of the Vir- ginia House of Burgesses, colonial representatives met in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774, “to consult upon the present unhappy state of the Colonies .” Delegates to this meeting, known as the First Con- tinental Congress, were chosen by provincial congresses or popular conventions . Only Georgia failed to send a delegate; the total number of 55 was large enough for diversity of opinion, but small enough for genu- ine debate and effective action . The division of opinion in the colonies
posed a genuine dilemma for the delegates . They would have to give an appearance of firm unanimity to induce the British government to make concessions . But they also would have to avoid any show of radicalism or spirit of independence that would alarm more moderate Americans .
A cautious keynote speech, fol- lowed by a “resolve” that no obe- dience was due the Coercive Acts, ended with adoption of a set of res- olutions affirming the right of the colonists to “life, liberty, and prop- erty,” and the right of provincial legislatures to set “all cases of taxa- tion and internal polity .” The most important action taken by the Con- gress, however, was the formation of a “Continental Association” to rees- tablish the trade boycott . It set up a system of committees to inspect customs entries, publish the names of merchants who violated the agree- ments, confiscate their imports, and encourage frugality, economy, and industry .
The Continental Association im- mediately assumed the leadership in the colonies, spurring new local organizations to end what remained of royal authority . Led by the pro- independence leaders, they drew their support not only from the less well-to-do, but from many members of the professional class (especial- ly lawyers), most of the planters of the Southern colonies, and a num- ber of merchants . They intimidated the hesitant into joining the popular movement and punished the hostile;
CHAPTER 3: THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE
OUTLINE OF U.S. HISTORY
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began the collection of military sup- plies and the mobilization of troops; and fanned public opinion into revo- lutionary ardor .
Many of those opposed to Brit- ish encroachment on American rights nonetheless favored discus- sion and compromise as the prop- er solution . This group included Crown-appointed officers, Quakers, and members of other religious sects opposed to the use of violence, nu- merous merchants (especially in the middle colonies), and some discon- tented farmers and frontiersmen in the Southern colonies .
The king might well have effect- ed an alliance with these moder- ates and, by timely concessions, so strengthened their position that the revolutionaries would have found it difficult to proceed with hostilities . But George III had no intention of making concessions . In September 1774, scorning a petition by Phila- delphia Quakers, he wrote, “The die is now cast, the Colonies must ei- ther submit or triumph .” This action isolated Loyalists who were appalled and frightened by the course of events following the Coercive Acts .