Chapter IV

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN COLONIES, FROM 1763 TO JULY 4, 1776.

In February, 1763, The Peace of Paris, concluded between the governments of England and France, closed the war in America that had been so painful to the colonies from the part which the French persuaded the Indians to take in it. But, while the colonies bore a large part of the burden, (they had raised $16,000,000 of its expenses, and had lost, in battle or in hospital, 30,000 men,) of a war that drove the French out of all their possessions in Canada and east of the Mississippi river; they were, at the same time, trained to act in concert, which paved the way for a future confederation, and hardened them to war. Being called into battle under celebrated English commanders, and to fight side by side with European veterans, they had opportunity to learn the art of war, as well as to compare themselves with the soldiers of the mother country and of France. This comparison was favorable to them, and inspired them with confidence in their own ability.

The fatal blunders of Gen. Braddock, and the skill and bravery of Washington and his provincial troops which, alone, saved the British army from entire annihilation in the Pennsylvania wilderness, was never forgotten. They felt themselves, even as raw militia, equal to the best European soldiers, when on their own ground.

It was a great mistake of the Home Government to put on an arrogant tone with them just when they had learned their strength. In the year 1764 that government, plunged in debt by its long wars with the continental powers, (it amounted to $700,000,000,) and on the plea that the colonies who had been protected, should bear a fair share of the pecuniary burden, determined to impose taxes on them. Previously they had restricted their commerce to English ports, had laid duties on various imports, and assumed authority to change the governments of the colonies without their consent. This had produced much dissatisfaction, but had no further immediate effect than to lead them to remonstrance, evasion, or legal resistance. The proposal to lay _internal taxes_ was quite another affair. Submission to this they thought would be fatal to their liberties. They resisted with general moderation, respectfully, but with determined resolution.

The British ministry were provoked by this resistance, holding it to be rebellion; and determined to put it down, by force, if need be. The struggle continued for ten years with growing obstinacy on either side. The home government was exceedingly obtuse or it would have either proceeded to extremes at once or yielded the whole case, as it finally determined to do in 1776, when it was too late. In this period of lively discussion, and of organization to secure the strength of union in resistance, the separate colonies were gradually moulded into a nation, imbued with common sympathies and ideas, and moved by common interests. They had not thought of independence during all this preliminary struggle. The war had lasted a year before that idea became prominent. That was not, even then, regarded as an _end_, so much as an indispensable _means_ to secure their liberties. Thus we see that no taint of _conspiracy_ attached to the revolutionary struggle. The colonies were thoroughly loyal, until loyalty came to mean loss of liberty, and the rights enjoyed by Englishmen in England. The exercise of arbitrary power they felt it right to resist; but they exhausted all other modes and means of resistance before they resorted to arms.

They did not even make a first attack. They waited till armies were sent to subjugate them, and until those armies commenced the attack; then the whole country rose in the stern resolve to right their wrongs.

1763.

The Peace of Paris was signed in February of this year. July 7th began “Pontiac’s War,” with the simultaneous attack on all the forts in the peninsula of Michigan, and the whole frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Pontiac was an Ottawa chief, of great ability, and had drawn many Indian tribes into the war. It was virtually ended in September of the same year.

1764.

April 5.—“The Sugar Act” was passed in the English
Parliament. This levied duties on coffee, pimento, French and
East India goods, and forbade iron and lumber to be exported
except to England. It was for the avowed purpose of raising
a revenue, and raised instead a storm of indignation. The
Massachusetts House of Representatives said: “If we are taxed
and not represented, we are slaves.”

1765.

Feb. 27—Was passed the obnoxious Stamp Act. Also the military
law was made to authorize the ministry to send any number of
troops to the colonies, for whom the colonists were to find
“quarters, fire-wood, bedding, drink, soap, and candles.”

May 29—Patrick Henry introduced five “Resolutions” into
the Virginia House of Burgesses, claiming for Virginians
the rights of British subjects; that only their own
representatives could lawfully tax them; declaring the
attempt to vest that power in any other hands subversive of
both British and American liberty.

Sept. 1—The Pennsylvania Assembly passed similar resolutions.

Oct. 7—A congress of delegates, or committees, from nine
colonies, met in New York. It was the first Continental
Congress. Its spirit harmonized with that of Massachusetts,
Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and its “Declaration of Rights
and Grievances” was cordially approved by all the colonial
assemblies.

1766.

Mar. 29—The Stamp Act could not be enforced in America, and
it was repealed by Parliament; but the repeal was followed by
another act asserting the power and right of Parliament “to
bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever.” Thus yielding the
_thing_ and asserting the _principle_, they both strengthened
the colonies by a sense of their power, and exasperated them
by a total denial of their Declaration of Rights.

May—Yet their triumph filled the colonies with joy, and
gratitude toward the King and their English friends. Virginia
voted the King a statue.

1767.

June—But their exultation was short-lived. In this year taxes
were levied on tea, paints, paper, glass, and lead. This led
to the determination, on the part of the colonies, to pay no
more taxes or duties at all.

Oct. 28—The Governor of Massachusetts having refused to
call the General Court (or legislative body of the colony)
together, a public meeting was held and resolutions passed
to encourage “economy, industry, and manufactures,” and a
committee appointed to get subscribers to an agreement to
discontinue the importation of British goods not absolute
necessaries. This was imitated in other colonies.

1768.

Feb. 11—Massachusetts General Court issues a general circular
to other colonial assemblies, inviting coöperation for the
defense of colonial rights. Those bodies mostly gave cordial
replies. This General Court having

July—been dissolved, the new one being called on to rescind
this circular, refused by a vote of ninety-two to seventeen.
These seventeen became the butt of public scorn.

Sept. 12—Four regiments of British troops ordered to Boston.

” 22—The governor had been desired, by a Boston “town
meeting,” to call a General Court. He refused, and the
“meeting” issued a call for delegates from the towns to
a colonial convention. More than a hundred towns were
represented in the convention meeting this day. Their main
effort was to vindicate the

” 28—colony from the charge of a rebellious spirit. The day
after this meeting adjourned two regiments of British troops
arrived in Boston.

1769.

Jan’y—Parliament severely censures all the colonial acts, and
directs that persons arrested in the colonies for treason be
sent to England, to be tried.

May—The Virginia Assembly take strong ground against this,
and agree with the Massachusetts Convention.

” 31—The Massachusetts General Court assembles, but refuses
to transact business in the midst of an armed force. After
long contest with them the Governor adjourned them to
Cambridge.

June 13—Required to support the troops, they respectfully
and temperately, but firmly, refuse, and decline to vote any
supplies for government till their grievances are redressed.

July 15—All the colonies manifest the same spirit.

1770.

Mar. 5—The indignation of Boston at the presence of troops
breaks out into an affray. The troops fire on the citizens.
Three are killed and five wounded. It was called the “Boston
Massacre.”

April—British Parliament repeals the last tax on all articles
but tea. The non-importation agreements had exerted a great
influence in promoting economy, encouraging manufactures, and
bringing “home-made” into fashion. The graduating class in
Harvard College took their degrees in “home-spun” this year.

1771.

Throughout this year the same disputes were maintained
between the governors and colonial legislatures as formerly;
but as the home government did not push the struggle to an
issue, there was comparative quiet, but no yielding.

1772.

June 10—The Gaspe, a British revenue schooner, burned by a
party from Providence, Rhode Island. Parliament offers six
hundred pounds sterling and a pardon to any accomplice who
will confess and give up the offenders. They were well known
by colonists, but no legal evidence could ever be obtained.

Oct. 28—A committee appointed in Boston to state the rights
of the colonists and correspond with other sections on this
subject. They publish an address, which is extensively
circulated. Franklin, agent for the colonies in England,
republishes it there.

1773.

March—This address led to the first measures for a political
union of the colonies.

July—The British ministry attempt to import tea into the
colonies.

Oct. 2—The people of Philadelphia declare that any one who
shall “aid or abet in unloading, receiving, or vending the
tea is an enemy to his country.”

Nov. 3—The Boston consignees required by the people to
resign. They refuse.

” 5-19—A legal town meeting takes them in hand, and at length
they resign.

Dec’r—Three ships loaded with tea having arrived, the
people labor for near a month to have them sent back. Not
succeeding, the cargoes are all emptied into the sea.

1774.

Mar. 25—Parliament retaliated by the “Boston Port Bill,”
closing it to commerce.

May 13-20—Meetings held in the principal cities to consider
the state of affairs, recommended the assembly of a
Continental Congress. This body was appointed in all the
provinces but Georgia. There were fifty-three delegates.

Sept. 4—These assemble at Philadelphia, and Peyton Randolph,
of Virginia, is chosen President. They publish a “Declaration
of Colonial Rights.” They agree on fourteen articles as the
basis of an “American Association” to support these rights.
This body was henceforth the real government, all their
directions being obeyed by the people. They completed the
organization of the Union and took preliminary measures for
defense in case of attack.

1775.

Feb. 1—Lord Chatham introduced a bill in Parliament which
might have accommodated all differences, but it was treated
with great discourtesy. Parliament determines to humble and
subdue the colonies.

April 19—Battle of Lexington. General Gage sends eight
hundred British troops to destroy some colonial military
stores at Concord, twenty miles from Boston. The “minute
men” assembled at Lexington, are fired on and dispersed. The
troops march to Concord, destroy the stores, and hastily
retreat before the gathering minute men, who assail them on
all sides. They would have been completely destroyed but for
a timely reinforcement at Lexington of nine hundred men and
two cannon. The loss of British killed and wounded was nearly
three hundred; of the provincials eighty-five. Boston is
immediately beleagured by some twenty thousand minute men.

” 22—Massachusetts Legislature assembles. It sends
depositions, proving that the soldiers fired first, to
England, with an address to the English people, declaring
that they will “die or be free.” This body voted a levy of
thirteen thousand men for the protection of the colony.

May 10—The second Continental Congress assembled at
Philadelphia.

Colonels Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold surprise the
fortress of Ticonderoga, on Lake George, New York. Its small
force of three officers and forty-four privates cannot defend
it, and they surrender without fighting. Crown Point, on Lake
Champlain, is occupied without resistance.

Peyton Randolph again chosen President of Congress.

” 24—Peyton Randolph being called home, John Hancock, of
Massachusetts, is chosen President of Congress.

” 25—Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne, with large British
reinforcements, arrived at Boston.

June 15—George Washington unanimously chosen
commander-in-chief of the Continental forces.

” 17—The battle of Bunker Hill (or Breed’s Hill), near
Boston. The British were twice repulsed, with great loss,
when the ammunition of the Americans failing, they retreated
in safety. British loss over one thousand; American, four
hundred and fifty. British forces engaged, three thousand;
American, less than fifteen hundred. The British commander
burned Charlestown during the battle. General Warren,
American, was killed.

” 23—Congress issue bills of credit for $2,000,000.

” 30—Articles of War are agreed to in Congress.

July 8—A last petition to the King is sent by Richard Penn,
grandson of William Penn.

” 17—Another million dollars in bills of credit is issued.
The liability for these was distributed among the Colonies.

” 26—Benjamin Franklin appointed first Postmaster General.

Aug. 30—General Schuyler embarks on Lake Champlain, for an
expedition against Canada. He leaves the command with General
Montgomery. Early in September General Arnold starts with
eleven hundred men to Canada by Maine.

Sept. 24—Ethan Allen is taken prisoner, near Montreal.

Oct. 18—Falmouth (now Portland, Maine) burned by the British.

” 22—Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, died. He was the first
President of Congress.

Nov. 3—Montgomery captures St. Johns, Canada.

” 13—Montreal surrendered to the Americans under Montgomery.

” 20—$3,000,000 more in bills of credit issued by Congress,
payable in eight years.

Dec. 7—Lord Dunmore, British Governor of Virginia, defeated
near Norfolk, Virginia.

” 13—A navy of thirteen vessels created by Congress. Letters
of marque and reprisal granted.

” 21—The British Parliament pass a bill declaring all
American vessels and goods, and those of all persons trading
with them, a lawful prize, and authorizing the impressment
of American sailors into the royal navy, where they might be
required to fight against their own cause and friends.

” 31—General Montgomery and Colonel Arnold make an
unsuccessful attack on Quebec. Montgomery is killed, Arnold
wounded, and four hundred men killed, wounded, or taken
prisoners. Arnold withdrew, but kept Quebec blockaded through
the winter.

1776.

Jan. 1—Lord Dunmore, Royal Governor of Virginia, ravages the
coast and burns Norfolk, but is obliged to fly to Bermuda.

” 20—Georgia prepares to join the other twelve colonies.

Feb. 4—McIntosh, with an American force, destroys several
vessels loading for England, near Savannah, Georgia.

” 17—Four millions more of paper money issued by Congress.

March 4—Washington fortifies Dorchester Heights, overlooking
Boston, which renders it untenable by the British.

” 10—The inhabitants and merchants of Boston plundered of
their lighter property by the British army.

” 17—The British embark for Halifax, and Washington occupies
the town.

” 18—Sir Archibald Campbell sails into Boston, and his whole
force of seventeen hundred men are taken prisoners.

” 23—Congress declares all British vessels a lawful prize.

April 26—Washington removes his army to New York.

May 3—Sir Peter Parker, with ten ships of war and seven
regiments, joins the force from Boston under General Clinton,
at Cape Fear.

” 15—Congress declared that all authority under the British
crown ought to be totally suppressed and government conducted
by colonial representatives alone. This was only an
expression of their sense of the danger to their interests
and liberties of allowing British agents to act.

June 7—Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, moved the Declaration
of Independence.

” 8—American army in Canada, under General Sullivan, make
an unsuccessful attack on the enemy. They are pressed by
superior numbers, and retreat in good order, though with a
loss of one thousand men prisoners, out of Canada, losing all
their conquests.

” 11—Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston a committee to
prepare the Declaration of Independence.

” 28—British fleet attack Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s
Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, but were defeated
with loss of two hundred men, one vessel, and death of Lord
Campbell, the ex-royal Governor.

July 4—_Declaration of Independence_ by the Congress at
Philadelphia.