A Quartering Act required local au- posed a genuine dilemma for the
thorities to find suitable quarters for delegates . They would have to give
British troops, in private homes if an appearance of firm unanimity
necessary . Instead of subduing and to induce the British government
isolating Massachusetts, as Parlia- to make concessions . But they also
ment intended, these acts rallied its would have to avoid any show of
sister colonies to its aid . The Que- radicalism or spirit of independence
bec Act, passed at nearly the same that would alarm more moderate
time, extended the boundaries of Americans .
the province of Quebec south to the
A cautious keynote speech, fol-
Ohio River . In conformity with pre- lowed by a “resolve” that no obe-
vious French practice, it provided dience was due the Coercive Acts,
for trials without jury, did not estab- ended with adoption of a set of res-
lish a representative assembly, and olutions affirming the right of the
gave the Catholic Church semi-es- colonists to “life, liberty, and prop-
tablished status . By disregarding old erty,” and the right of provincial
charter claims to western lands, it legislatures to set “all cases of taxa-
threatened to block colonial expan- tion and internal polity .” The most
sion to the North and Northwest; important action taken by the Con-
its recognition of the Roman Catho- gress, however, was the formation of
lic Church outraged the Protestant a “Continental Association” to rees-
sects that dominated every colony . tablish the trade boycott . It set up
Though the Quebec Act had not a system of committees to inspect
been passed as a punitive measure, customs entries, publish the names
Americans associated it with the Co- of merchants who violated the agree-
ercive Acts, and all became known ments, confiscate their imports, and
as the “Five Intolerable Acts .”
encourage frugality, economy, and
At the suggestion of the Vir- industry .
ginia House of Burgesses, colonial
The Continental Association im-
representatives met in Philadelphia mediately assumed the leadership
on September 5, 1774, “to consult in the colonies, spurring new local
upon the present unhappy state organizations to end what remained
of the Colonies .” Delegates to this of royal authority . Led by the pro-
meeting, known as the First Con- independence leaders, they drew
tinental Congress, were chosen by their support not only from the less
provincial congresses or popular well-to-do, but from many members
conventions . Only Georgia failed to of the professional class (especial-
send a delegate; the total number of ly lawyers), most of the planters of
55 was large enough for diversity of the Southern colonies, and a num-
opinion, but small enough for genu- ber of merchants . They intimidated
ine debate and effective action . The the hesitant into joining the popular
division of opinion in the colonies movement and punished the hostile;
58
OUTLINE OF U.S. HISTORY
began the collection of military sup- that the Massachusetts colonists
plies and the mobilization of troops; were collecting powder and military
and fanned public opinion into revo- stores at the town of Concord, 32
lutionary ardor .
kilometers away, Gage sent a strong
Many of those opposed to Brit- detail to confiscate these munitions .
ish encroachment on American After a night of marching, the
rights nonetheless favored discus- British troops reached the village of
sion and compromise as the prop- Lexington on April 19, 1775, and saw
er solution . This group included a grim band of 77 Minutemen — so
Crown-appointed officers, Quakers, named because they were said to be
and members of other religious sects ready to fight in a minute — through
opposed to the use of violence, nu- the early morning mist . The Minute-
merous merchants (especially in the men intended only a silent protest,
middle colonies), and some discon- but Marine Major John Pitcairn, the
tented farmers and frontiersmen in leader of the British troops, yelled,
the Southern colonies .
“Disperse, you damned rebels! You
The king might well have effect- dogs, run!” The leader of the Min-
ed an alliance with these moder- utemen, Captain John Parker, told
ates and, by timely concessions, so his troops not to fire unless fired
strengthened their position that the at first . The Americans were with-
revolutionaries would have found it drawing when someone fired a shot,
difficult to proceed with hostilities . which led the British troops to fire
But George III had no intention of at the Minutemen . The British then
making concessions . In September charged with bayonets, leaving eight
1774, scorning a petition by Phila- dead and 10 wounded . In the often-
delphia Quakers, he wrote, “The die quoted phrase of 19th century poet
is now cast, the Colonies must ei- Ralph Waldo Emerson, this was “the
ther submit or triumph .” This action shot heard round the world .”
isolated Loyalists who were appalled
The British pushed on to Con-
and frightened by the course of cord . The Americans had taken
events following the Coercive Acts .
away most of the munitions, but they
destroyed whatever was left . In the
THE REVOLUTION BEGINS
meantime, American forces in the
G
countryside had mobilized to harass
eneral Thomas Gage, an amiable the British on their long return to
English gentleman with an Amer- Boston . All along the road, behind
ican-born wife, commanded the stone walls, hillocks, and houses,
garrison at Boston, where political militiamen from “every Middlesex
activity had almost wholly replaced village and farm” made targets of
trade . Gage’s main duty in the colo- the bright red coats of the British
nies had been to enforce the Coer- soldiers . By the time Gage’s weary
cive Acts . When news reached him detachment stumbled into Boston,
59