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How did Boston come to play such a prominent
part in the resistance to British Imperial reform? |
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Factors: |
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Geography |
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Political traditions: autonomy and the town
meeting |
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Culture |
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Small population (15,000), with an intimate
geography |
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Vibrant commerce and many links to the empire |
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The highest literacy rate in the world (&
the most newspapers per capita) |
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The highest proportion of property owning voters
of any colony |
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What is Revere showing in this broadside? |
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How is it composed to make the viewer feel? |
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Why would John Adams be the lawyer who defends
the British? |
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Britain |
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King George III |
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Prime Minister
[Lord North], privy council |
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Parliament
[Prime Minister’s side à ß opposition] |
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American Secretary [Lord Dartmouth], who
corresponds with the governors of each colony in America |
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Massachusetts |
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Governor of the colony (of Massachusetts):
Thomas Hutchinson |
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Communication passes between American Secretary
and Governor of Massachusetts |
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Official portrait upon coronation: 1762 |
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The first native born Hanoverian monarch |
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George III is determined to take an active role
in government |
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Governor of the colony: Thomas Hutchinson |
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Chief administer of the colony |
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Convenes and prorogues the General Court (or
General Assembly) |
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the General Court |
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Council |
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House of Representatives of
Massachusetts—elected by the Towns |
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Agents in London: Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee |
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Representative of Boston: Samuel Adams (Caucus
leader) |
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The house of Representatives meets here |
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The council meets with the governor |
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Believed the first assembly to have space for
the public |
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Boston Massacre happened 50 feet from this
building |
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Question the system’s legitimacy (is it fair?
Does it protect our rights?) |
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Interrupt its smooth functioning (harassment,
physical intimidation) |
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Offer an alternative to the actions of the
central authority by building new institutions: the committees of
correspondence for the Towns |
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Adams calls Town meeting (Sources, 87) |
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Address to the governor about judicial salaries
(87-88): “No” |
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Address to the governor to convene the House and
Council of Massachusetts (88-89): “No” |
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Forming a committee of correspondence to address
the 250 towns of the colony (90) |
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In November 1772, it prints the Votes and
Proceedings, and sends to 250 towns |
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Develops two way communication with towns |
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a network for communication outside of network
the governor can control |
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Star network, with Boston at the hub: ready for
revolution |
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http://dc-mrg.english.ucsb.edu/WarnerTeach/E172/index.html |
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Notes
