As we approach the 250th anniversary of our country’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, we can look back at the events that led up to that moment through the reporting done in newspapers. How did the colonists feel about the events taking place around them? What led up to that pivotal moment in United States history? Our Chronicling America* historic newspaper collection goes back to 1756 and lets us read firsthand accounts of these events.
The Intolerable Acts
By 1774, the colonists had suffered through the taxes of the British Parliament for years as tensions grew. In December 1773, a group in Boston had rebelled by dumping tea into the Boston Harbor in what would be known as the Boston Tea Party. But when Parliament retaliated by shutting down the port of Boston, taking away the rights of local governments in Massachusetts, and allowing British soldiers to be housed anywhere, the colonies had had enough. These so called “Intolerable Acts” were passed throughout the beginning of 1774.
As Parliament tightened its rule over the colonies through force, the colonists began thinking about how to defend their interests through force. The language used in newspapers turned noticeably toward battles and war. The New Hampshire Gazette and Historical Chronicle wrote about a member of Parliament who compared Boston to the ancient city of Carthage, and the newspaper offered a look at that history, concluding with a warning: “Had the Carthagenians preserved their Youth, their Navy and their Arms; had they united the Neighboring Nations against the common Oppressor, and immediately prepared for their Defence [sic], they might perhaps have defeated the Romans and preserved their City entirely….Take Warning my dear Countrymen by this terrible Example.”
Not every member of Parliament agreed with the acts. On August 18, 1774, the Massachusetts Spy quoted the Honorable William Dowdeswell, MP, as saying “if parliament continually passes bills, sometimes to punish the persons at other times the places, you will, by and by, have your hands fully employed; you will soon inflame all America, and stir up a contention you will not be able to pacify and quiet.” His prophetic words sit on the page next to news of the delegates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire already on their way to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress.
Boycott
Most of the colonies were not yet ready for war. To counter the Intolerable Acts, the colonies agreed to arrange for a boycott of British goods and other diplomatic measures. Each colony was to send representatives to a meeting, or a congress, to be held in the town of Philadelphia to determine the details of the boycott.
Support for the boycott was shown by merchants and farmers. One article signed “A Connecticut Farmer” emphasized the importance of joining together to support the boycott and the people of Boston: “For as our pious ancestors purchased this land of liberty at the expence [sic] of their precious blood and treasure, God forbid that we should part with it at a cheaper rate.”
First Continental Congress
One of the final resolutions made was for the Congress to meet again on May 10, 1775, “unless the redress of grievances, which we have desired, be obtained before that time.” But rather than a redress of grievances before that next meeting, the Battles of Lexington and Concord would take place on April 19, 1775.
Additional Resources:
- Search for more articles about the First Continental Congress in Chronicling America
- Read the Journals of the Continental Congress
- Read about colonial newspapers, including how to search with the “long s” in our previous blog posts: “Exploring New Hampshire Newspapers in Chronicling America” and “Introducing Massachusetts Newspapers on Chronicling America.”
*The Chronicling America historic newspapers online collection is a product of the National Digital Newspaper Program and jointly sponsored by the Library and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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