American Revolution DBQ

Document 1

The consent of two houses of assembly in the colonies has till lately been thought requisite [required] for the taxation of his majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects. . . . We who are in the colonies, are by [British] common law . . . declared entitled to all the privileges of the subjects within the realm [of Great Britain]. Yet we are heavily taxed.

Document 3

[Last Tuesday] arrived here, in the Ship Britannia, Captain Samuel Ball, junior, from London. . . . The Committee of Observation [enforcing a nonimportation agreement] were informed, that he had SEVEN CHESTS OF TEA on board, subject to that Duty, which all America have denied to be constitutionally imposed; and the Minds of the People appeared to be very much agitated. . . . On Thursday at Noon. . . . [three local merchants] who going on board the ship . . . , with their own Hands respectively [broke open] the Chests belonging to each [of them], and emptied their Contents into the River, in the Presence of the Committee of Observation, . . . and in View of . . . a numerous Concourse of People, who gave three hearty Chears after the emptying of each Chest.

Document 4

The land of Liberty! How sweet the sound! . . . O! Americans . . . let not the blood of your brave countrymen . . . be spilt in vain. Pardon this digression, . . . I do not love to meddle with political matters; the men say we have no business with them, it is not in our sphere! . . . I won’t have it thought, that because we are the weaker sex as to bodily strength . . . we are capable of nothing more than . . . domestic concerns. . . . We can . . . have as just a sense of honor, glory, and great actions as these [men]. . . . They won’t even allow us the liberty of thought, and that is all I want.

Document 5

The want of a circulating medium [money] subjects the inhabitants [of Worcester] to the greatest inconveniences, the people in general are extremely embarrassed [burdened] with publick and private debts. . . . We humbly seek protection and redress from the wisdom of the honorable [legislature] and pray . . . that such prudent laws may be framed as shall . . . correct the evils arising from the present scarcity of cash.

Document 6

[The] Constitution, which, by the undefined meaning of some parts, and the ambiguities of expression in others . . . must soon terminate in the most uncontrolled despotism. . . .

. . . It is an undisputed fact that not one legislature in the United States had the most distant idea when they first appointed members for a convention . . . , or when they afterwards authorized them to consider on some amendments to the [Articles of Confederation], that they would without any warrant from their constituents, presume on so daring a stride, as ultimately to destroy the state governments, and offer a consolidated system [of government].

Document 7

I cannot but view with Abhorrence [disgust] all the arguments that have as yet been offered in favor of paying the whole sum [of the war debt] to the present holders [of these debts]. . . .

. . . It is Not only Implied But fully Expressed in almost all the [state] Constitutions . . . that all Men are born free and Equal . . . and that the Desires and Interests of the Majority of the Great body of the people ought to Control in all Matters of Government. . . . But on the Contrary . . . those that have got the public Securities [debt] for a trifle [of money] . . . will be a formidable body of powerful Men Combined in opposition [to the majority].