HIS 2151 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Tea Act, Continental Association, First Continental Congress
Document Summary
By the revolution, aristocracy was no longer a part of america. People were in difficult economic times, but there was not as much widespread poverty among the american colonies: people could subsist by farming unless they were slaves. The presence of slavery did make white men aware of the dependence slaves had on them. Many people were upset about what was happening but were social revolutionists. Passed the same day stamp act was repealed: stated colonists were subordinate, parliament could enact any law it wished. Americans saw this is as unconstitutional assertion of authority. Constitution : british: the totality of laws that had developed over time, american: specific documents that spelled out and limited the powers of government. 1768: massachusetts general court sent letter to other colonies state the townshend acts were an infringement of their natural and constitutional rights . Samuel adams believed parliament had no right to legislate for the colonies.