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First

1. WE come now to trace the causes by which PT. III England lost her colonies, and America gained her P'D. I independer.ce. We should always remember that there, CH. L is a GREAT FIRST CAUSE, even God, our Creator and The Ruler. We should observe with thankfulness, by Great what steps, He led our forefathers, and how He made Cause. them a way across the deep, and gave them a place, wherein to plant a great nation. In His providence, the time was approaching, when the bonds were to be severed, which bound this country to the parent land.

CHAPTER I-1. In tracing the causes of things, what should we always remember? What should we observe with thankfulness? What in reference to the Great First Cause, can we say of the separation of our eountry from England?

176

P'T. III.

P'D. I.

causes.

CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.

2. But the First Cause, uses, as His agents, the opinions and wills of men, which guide their conduct. CH. I. The men in Great Britain, who took at this time, the Second lead in the government, had haughty and wrong notions, of the power, which England had a right to exercise over her distant colonies. They forgot, that the American people were children of the same forefathers with themselves, and heirs of the same political rights. Pride They held the Americans in comparative contempt, as ishness those whose labors and money, must, if they demanded, on one be given to them; without, or against their owner's

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On the other,

consent.

3. Had the rulers in England, undertaken to oppress the people there in the same manner, they would have rebelled; much more the Americans. They, as we have seen, had grown up in their new countries, with a deep sense of the rights of the people. Toil and danger had made them strong and brave. When they saw that the rulers in Great Britain, had determined on manly making them submit to their unrighteous will, they determi- became alarmed. They resolved, that they would first endeavor, by petitions, to bring them to a better mind. If after that, they persisted in their oppsions, they would refuse to submit; and if force was employed against them, repel it by force; trusting, that a righteous God, would aid their cause.

nation.

Lord

4. During the French war, the English wanted the services of the Americans; and, besides, those were Gren in power, who opposed the high government party. But the war was no sooner at an end, than this party took the lead, with Lord Grenville at its head.

ville.

the

1764. 5. In 1764, Lord Grenville gave notice to the AmeriProposes can agents in London, that it was his intention to draw stampact a revenue from the colonies, and that he should, in the ensuing session of parliament, propose a duty on stamps

2. What does the First Cause use as his agents, or as second causes ? What opinions were held by the leading men in Great Britain? What did they forget? What did they hold concerning the Americans ? 3. Of what had the Americans a deep sense? What had made them strong and brave? When did they become alarmed? What did they resolve?-4. Why did the British oppress the Americans less, during the French war? What happened as soon as it was ended?-5. What notice was given by Lord Grenville ?

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DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT.

177

N. Y.

6. The colonial agents in London informed their PT. III respective colonies of the intended system of taxation. P'D. I. Massachusetts instructed her agents, to deny the right CH. I. of parliament to impose taxes upon those, who were not Mass., represented in the house of commons, The house of Va., and burgesses of Virginia appointed a committee to prepare take bold an address to the king and parliament. The assembly ground of New York also sent petitions, which, in a spirit more bold and decided, than those from any other colony, asserted their own rights, and the limitations of British

power.

Societies

the Brit

7. Associations were formed in all the colonies to encourage home manufactures, and prohibit, as much as possible, the use of British goods. The tendency of injure this judicious measure, was to make the colonists less dependent, and, by operating injuriously on the British merchants, to make them a party against the ministry.

ish trade.

Act

8. Notwithstanding the opposition, which, in truth, was not unexpected, Lord Grenville, introduced into 1765 the British parliament, his plan for taxing America, to Stamp commence with duties on stamps. In the house of opposed. commons, the project, though ably supported, met with ardent and animated opposition.

defense

9. "Children planted by your care!" exclaimed Colonel Barre, in answer to one who spoke against Colonel the Americans. "No! Your oppressions planted them Barre's in America! They fled from your tyranny to an uncultivated land, where they were exposed to all the Amerihardships to which human nature is liable.

of the

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their ser

suffer

10. They nourished by your indulgence! No! They grew by your neglect! When you began to Recount care about them, that care was exercised in sending vices and persons to rule over them, whose character and conduct has caused the blood of these sons of liberty to recoil within them. They protected by your arms! They have nobly taken up arms in your defense!

6. What was done by Massachusetts, on being informed of the intention of Lord Grenville? What by Virginia? What by New York? 7. What were formed? What was the tendency of the measure?-8. How, in the first place, was Lord Grenville's project received?-9. Repeat a part of Col. Barre's speech.-10. Relate the succeeding part.

ings.

178

MEASURES OF OFFENSER

PT. III. The people of America are loyal, but a people jealous of their liberties, and they will vindicate them."

P'D. I.
CH. I.

11. Neither the eloquence of Colonel Barre and 1765. others, nor the remonstrances of the colonists, could

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March prevent the passage of the stamp act. Of three hun-
dred, who voted in the house of commons, only fifty
Stamp
were against it; in the house of lords there was not
passed. a single dissenting voice; and the royal assent was
readily obtained.

Act

12. By this act, no written instrument could be legal, All law unless the paper was stamped on which it was drawn; papers and this stamped paper was to be purchased, at an examped. orbitant price, of the agents of the British govern

must be

Courts of

ment.

13. Provision was made for the recovery of penalties for the breach of this act, as of all others relating to trade and revenue, in any admiralty, or king's marine court, throughout the colonies. These courts admi-proceeded in trials, without the intervention of a jury. ralty. This act, suspending trial by jury, and making the colonists liable to be called to trial, for real or supTrial by posed offences, to distant provinces, was highly dispended. pleasing to the Americans.

Jury sus

14. Anticipating opposition to these measures, parliament passed laws for sending troops to America, Act for and obliging the inhabitants of those colonies to which they should be sent, to furnish them with quarters, troops. and all necessary supplies.

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tering

15. Great was the grief and indignation caused in America by the news of the stamp-act. The Virginia lePatrick gislature, called the house of burgesses, was in session. Henry's The eloquent PATRICK HENRY introduced the five celetions. brated resolutions, which constituted the first public op

resolu

position to the odious act. The last of these declared in

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11. Did the Stamp Act pass? At what time? With what
majority?-12. What was this stamped paper to be used for?
Of whom was it to be bought? At what kind of price?
If the law was violated, before what courts were offenders to be
tried? How did these courts proceed in trials? Why were
these laws offensive to the people?-14. What other act offen.
sive to them was passed?-15. What legislature was in ses
sion when news of the Stamp Act arrived? What was the first
public opposition to the Stamp Act?

7

THE UNION BEGINS.

179

express terms that they were not bound to obey any PT. 1 law imposing taxes, unless made by their representa- Pr I.

tives.

CH. II

CHAPTER II.

Congress at New York.-Repeal of the Stamp Act.

1. BEFORE the proceedings in Virginia had become known in Massachusetts, the general court of that colony had assembled and adopted measures to produce a combined opposition to the oppressive measures of parliament. Letters were addressed to the assemblies of the other colonies, proposing that a congress, composed of deputies from each should meet to consult on their common interest. Delegates were accordingly elected from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina.

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Oct. 7.

tal con

gress.

2. On the first Tuesday in October, the delegates met at New York. They drew up a declaration, in 1765 which they asserted that the colonists were entitled to First all the rights and privileges of natural born subjects continer of Great Britain; especially of an exclusive right to tax themselves, and the privilege of trial by jury; and that the late acts of parliament had a manifest tendency Petition to subvert these rights and liberties. The congress king and then prepared petitions to the king, and to both houses parlia of parliament.

to the

ment

3. As the day approached on which the stamp act was to take effect, the popular feeling against it in- Odious creased. This law was so framed, that the evil intended feature as a penalty for disobedience, was no less than the stamp suspension of the whole machinery of the social order,

CHAPTER II.-1. What was proposed in the legislature of Massachusetts ? What letters sent ? What colonies elected delegates? 2. When and where did the first continental congress meet? What account can you give of the "Bill of Rights,' or the declaration drawn up? What petitions did the congress prepare?-3. What evils did the British intend to bring upon the country, if the people refused to buy the stamped pape

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