Слике страница
PDF
ePub

1768]

CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.

81

claimed the right of taxation, and laid a duty on all tea, glass, paper, and painters' colors, imported into the colonies.

3. The colonists were still dissatisfied; and, when they heard that English soldiers had been ordered to Boston, to make them submit, they were more angry than ever. The soldiers, on their arrival, treated the people insolently, while their officers screened them from punishment. They soon had a collision with the citizens of Boston, in which three of the latter were killed. This was called "the Boston Massacre".

4. Parliament at last saw fit to take off the duties from every article but tea. The colonists then determined not to use any tea. When ships containing this article came over, they would not let them land, but sent them back to Eng

[graphic][merged small]

land. At Boston, three ships full of tea having arrived, the

Parliament obliged to do? On what did it lay a duty ?-3. What increased the dissatisfaction of the colonists? How did the soldiers behave on their arrival? What is meant by "the Boston Massacre "?-4. What concessions did Parliament finally make? Was this sufficient? What resolution did the colonists

governor insisted that they should not go back, but that their cargoes should be landed. So, after dark one night, a party of men disguised as Indians went on board of the ships, and threw the tea overboard into the harbor. This was done amid the cheers of a great crowd assembled on the wharf.

5. On their return, they passed a house where the British Admiral was spending the evening. Putting his head out of the window, he cried, "Well, boys, you've had a fine night for your Indian caper; but mind, you've got to pay the fiddler." "Oh! never mind," said one of the crowd; "just you come out here, and we'll settle the bill in two minutes." But the Admiral declined the invitation.

6. General Gage was now governor of Massachusetts. In stead of making friends of the people, he let his soldiers provoke

[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small]

form? Give an account of the riot at Boston.-5. What passed between the tea rioters and the British Admiral?-6. Who was now governor of Massachusetts? What course did he pursue? How were the Boston boys troubled!

1775]

COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION.

83

red-coats interfered with their sports, broke through their skating-ponds, and, when they complained, called them young rebels. At last they assembled in a body and went to General Gage. They boldly told him how his soldiers had ill-treated them, and that they would bear it no longer. The general could not help admiring them. "Go, my brave boys," he replied, "and be assured that if my troops trouble you again they shall be punished."

7. Parliament persisted in its claims; the colonies denied them. Neither would yield. In vain General Gage tried to bribe the leading patriots. The King had not money enough to buy them. Delegates from the different colonies met at Philadelphia in 1774, to agree upon measures of resistance. Bodies of militia were formed. Officers were appointed. "Minutemen," as they were called, agreed to shoulder their muskets at a moment's notice. Patrick Henry again raised his voice in Virginia. His thrilling words, "Give me liberty or give me death," were reëchoed far and wide throughout the colonies.

LESSON XXVIII.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION.

1. In 1775, the war, long foreseen, broke out. It is known as the Revolutionary War. Early in that year, the British Parliament declared that Massachusetts was in rebellion, and sent out more troops. General Gage had already fortified Boston Neck, which connects the city with the mainland. The patriots had some trouble in getting their ammunition out of Boston. They hid their cannon in loads of manure, and their powder and cartridges in market-baskets and candle-boxes. Thus they passed the sentinels unsuspected.

Give an account of their interview with General Gage.-7. What did General Gage try to do? With what success? What meeting was held in 1774? What measures were adopted? What famous words of Patrick Henry's were reechoed throughout the colonies?

1. When did the war break out? What was it called? What was done by the British Parliament in 1775? What had General Gage already done? How

2. The patriots collected most of their stores at Concord, a few miles from Boston. Hearing of this, General Gage one night sent a force of eight hundred men to destroy them. It was done very secretly; yet the patriots found out what was going on. The British, as they advanced towards Concord, heard bells ringing and guns firing in the surrounding country. These were signals for the minute-men to assemble.

3. A little more than half way between Boston and Concord was the village of Lexington. Here the British arrived shortly after daylight. They found a body of minute-men on the green. "Disperse, ye rebels!" said the British leader, riding up to them and discharging his pistol. His men then fired. Several of the Americans fell. The rest gave way. This was the first blood shed in the Revolution.

[graphic]

4. The British went on to Concord. Here some of them

did the patriots get their cannon and ammunition out of Boston ?-2. Where did the patriots collect most of their stores? What movement was made by General Gage? What did the British hear, as they advanced towards Concord: -3. What place did the British reach soon after daylight? What took place at Lexington ?-4. Where did the British then go? Give an account of the

1775]

RETREAT OF THE BRITISH.

85

held the bridge, while the rest went to destroy the stores. Meanwhile some American militia-men came up, and a skirmish took place at the bridge, which you see represented in the engraving. Several fell on both sides; and, as soon as their companions came back, the British were glad to commence their homeward march. They had destroyed two cannon, had thrown a great number of cannon-balls into the river and wells, and had broken to pieces about sixty barrels of flour. Most of the stores had been carried off to a place of safety before they arrived.

5. A large quantity of flour was saved by a miller named Wheeler. It was stored in his barn, along with some of his own. When the soldiers came to search the place, Wheeler told them that he was a miller, and made his living by grinding grain. Then putting his hand on a barrel which belonged to himself, he said: "This is my flour; surely you will not destroy private property." The soldiers thought from what he said that it was all his, and went away without doing any injury.

6. The British suffered sorely on their return. The alarm had spread, and the brave men of the surrounding country came up from all sides. Posting themselves behind barns and houses, trees and fences, they poured in a deadly fire on the retreating British. In vain the latter tried to return it. All the way to Boston, they were thus harassed. Their ranks kept thinning, and they were ready to sink with fatigue. They would never have reached the city, had not fresh troops been sent to their aid.

7. The news of the battle of Lexington was the signal for a general rising. The farmer left his plough, and the mechanic his workshop. Even old men and boys hastened to arm themselves. The wife girded the sword about her husband. The mother blessed her son, and bade him go strike a blow for his

skirmish at Concord Bridge. What did the British destroy? What had been done with most of the stores ?-5. How did Mr. Wheeler save a large quantity of flour?-6. Describe the retreat of the British to Boston. What alone enabled them to reach the city?-7. What effect did the news of the battle of Lexington

« ПретходнаНастави »