Samuel Adams knew the goal of the 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia was colonial unity, not independence, and it was beyond-crucial to come to an agreement on mutual assistance. While Adams was silent in session, he worked tirelessly out of session. On 6 September 1774, Adams addressed the congress for the first time, solving the problem of who and how a prayer would be given to officially start the proceedings, given the different denominations of the delegates. Adams’ solution was to recommend that an Episcopalian minister give the prayer, knowing that would please VA and NY, and appease PA and enough of the other delegations.
That same day came news that British ships had shelled Boston, and six had been killed. The resulting chaos was so great that it was agreed to adjourn congress to the next day. The MA delegation in particular wondered if Boston acted in self-defense or if the city had provoked the artillery barrage, as well as wondering about the safety of the family and friends. On 8 September 1774 the 1st Continental Congress learned that the bombardment of Boston did not occur; rather, it was an exaggerated account of a raid ordered by General Gage on Charlestown to confiscate gunpowder and artillery. Gage was pleased by the confiscations, but was astounded by the reaction of the countryside, which quickly assembled on the road. Revere delivered the long-awaited information to Adams of what happened in Boston, and eventually the 1st Continental Congress endorsed 19 resolutions, all adopted as Dr. Warren had written them ahead of time with Samuel Adams. In effect, the 1st Continental Congress agreed to support or go down the drain with Massachusetts.
That same day came news that British ships had shelled Boston, and six had been killed. The resulting chaos was so great that it was agreed to adjourn congress to the next day. The MA delegation in particular wondered if Boston acted in self-defense or if the city had provoked the artillery barrage, as well as wondering about the safety of the family and friends. On 8 September 1774 the 1st Continental Congress learned that the bombardment of Boston did not occur; rather, it was an exaggerated account of a raid ordered by General Gage on Charlestown to confiscate gunpowder and artillery. Gage was pleased by the confiscations, but was astounded by the reaction of the countryside, which quickly assembled on the road. Revere delivered the long-awaited information to Adams of what happened in Boston, and eventually the 1st Continental Congress endorsed 19 resolutions, all adopted as Dr. Warren had written them ahead of time with Samuel Adams. In effect, the 1st Continental Congress agreed to support or go down the drain with Massachusetts.
Conservative proposals met with defeat in the next days in Philadelphia, and by October 1774 a Continental Association was formed, imposing far wider sanctions where the Solemn League had failed in MA. On 20 October 1774 every delegate signed on to the newly created Continental Association. The 1st Continental Congress worked in secret, so Adams kept things close to his vest, and much is still not known today about the proceedings in Philadelphia. Adams, combined with the firebrand delegates of the Southern delegations, basically controlled and steered the proceedings. On 26 October 1774, the 1st Continental Congress adjourned, agreeing to reconvene if necessary in May 1775. The MA delegation returned to Boston on 9 November 1774.
General Gage’s best sources informed him that the losses of the British East India Tea Company (BEITC) would be reimbursed at long last. Gage informed London that every colony had agreed to contribute to pay off that debt, believing all that to be true for many weeks. As time went by, Gage wondered why the other colonies were still supporting MA.
Boston resisted British authority in many ways, such as piles of straw starting on fire, bricks sinking off a pier, labor vanishing (e.g. carpenters, masons, bakers), and 2000 sheep disappeared, which meant there was a shortage of wool. Sedition flowed like waterfalls from pulpits, with almost all New England ministers railing against British oppression. Soon enough, Gage’s frustration turned to unease, with the Committees of Correspondence (C of C) being very effective at turning grievances into something of a crusade. By that time, Gage wasn’t alone as the only British official that figured out that closing the Port of Boston backfired. Gage called for reinforcement, knowing that he could not carry out his orders with only 3000 men. By November 1774, Gage’s force totaled 20,000, but at the same time, desertions started to mount.
General Gage’s best sources informed him that the losses of the British East India Tea Company (BEITC) would be reimbursed at long last. Gage informed London that every colony had agreed to contribute to pay off that debt, believing all that to be true for many weeks. As time went by, Gage wondered why the other colonies were still supporting MA.
Boston resisted British authority in many ways, such as piles of straw starting on fire, bricks sinking off a pier, labor vanishing (e.g. carpenters, masons, bakers), and 2000 sheep disappeared, which meant there was a shortage of wool. Sedition flowed like waterfalls from pulpits, with almost all New England ministers railing against British oppression. Soon enough, Gage’s frustration turned to unease, with the Committees of Correspondence (C of C) being very effective at turning grievances into something of a crusade. By that time, Gage wasn’t alone as the only British official that figured out that closing the Port of Boston backfired. Gage called for reinforcement, knowing that he could not carry out his orders with only 3000 men. By November 1774, Gage’s force totaled 20,000, but at the same time, desertions started to mount.
The MA delegates from the 1st Continental Congress were nationally known, and they were welcomed back in Boston as heroes. In his absence, Adams had been elected to the extralegal provincial congress, which was no in place due to the MA House being disbanded by General Gage. Very soon, every man in MA between the ages of 16 and 60 were armed and/or in training to be “Minutemen”, but the MA provincial congress resolved to not be the aggressors in any way. During January 1775, Adams noted that Britain still didn’t understand that hammering-down on MA amounted to conflict with the other 12 Colonies.
Adams kept up communications with Quebec, Montreal, and the Mohawk Nation, trying to get each to be at least sympathetic to the cause, if not actually entering the fray. By early-1775, every notable Tory (Loyalist) had left Boston, and the behavior and intimidation tactics of the redcoats increased and intensified. Gage wore himself out making sure that none of those instances involving his soldiers flashed into a full-blown crisis.
As the fourth anniversary of the Boston Massacre approached, Adams found out that King George III believed that MA was not just hostile, but in revolt. Dr. Warren delivered the oration for the fourth commemoration of the Boston Massacre for a second time with 20,000 British redcoats in immediate proximity, with many British officers in attendance. Adams personally greeted 40 or so British officers, making sure that hey had the best seats in the Old South Church. As Adams and Hancock took their places up front, additional British officers entered the church in the now standing-room-only available space.
Adams kept up communications with Quebec, Montreal, and the Mohawk Nation, trying to get each to be at least sympathetic to the cause, if not actually entering the fray. By early-1775, every notable Tory (Loyalist) had left Boston, and the behavior and intimidation tactics of the redcoats increased and intensified. Gage wore himself out making sure that none of those instances involving his soldiers flashed into a full-blown crisis.
As the fourth anniversary of the Boston Massacre approached, Adams found out that King George III believed that MA was not just hostile, but in revolt. Dr. Warren delivered the oration for the fourth commemoration of the Boston Massacre for a second time with 20,000 British redcoats in immediate proximity, with many British officers in attendance. Adams personally greeted 40 or so British officers, making sure that hey had the best seats in the Old South Church. As Adams and Hancock took their places up front, additional British officers entered the church in the now standing-room-only available space.
Dr. Warren appeared, most likely in grandiose fashion, and during his speech stated that independence was not on the table in any way, but if Britain was not to return to her senses, MA was prepared for conflict. While Warren spoke, there were groans, hisses, laughter, etc., and as he finished, several things happened at once. Adams started the process of recruiting a speaker for the 1776 commemoration, using the phrase “Bloody Massacre” (which Warren had avoided), which led to the British soldiers and sailors responding with “Fire, Fire”, and almost immediately drums and fifes sounded outside the church, where a regiment had paused its march; thankfully, the tensions from the gathering dissipated.
On 10 April 1775, the Gazette published a letter from NY which contended that Gage’s soldiers were hellbent on provoking MA to start an armed conflict. The author of the letter urged MA to be on their best and most patient, cautious conduct. By then, Adams had left Boston for the safety of a parsonage in Lexington, about eight miles west of Boston. However, Adams still traveled almost every day to participate in the provincial congress, which was moving from town-to-town for obvious security reasons.
It wasn’t until early-April 1775 that Gage received a letter from Lord Dartmouth, which had been posted in January 1775. Dartmouth was still certain that only a few rabble-rousers were responsible for all the trouble in MA, and he ordered Gage to imprison them, since the patience of King George III was at an end. Dartmouth acknowledged that the arrests would probably trigger the conflict, but he told Gate that it was wise to strike before the MA opposition solidified and organized.
On 10 April 1775, the Gazette published a letter from NY which contended that Gage’s soldiers were hellbent on provoking MA to start an armed conflict. The author of the letter urged MA to be on their best and most patient, cautious conduct. By then, Adams had left Boston for the safety of a parsonage in Lexington, about eight miles west of Boston. However, Adams still traveled almost every day to participate in the provincial congress, which was moving from town-to-town for obvious security reasons.
It wasn’t until early-April 1775 that Gage received a letter from Lord Dartmouth, which had been posted in January 1775. Dartmouth was still certain that only a few rabble-rousers were responsible for all the trouble in MA, and he ordered Gage to imprison them, since the patience of King George III was at an end. Dartmouth acknowledged that the arrests would probably trigger the conflict, but he told Gate that it was wise to strike before the MA opposition solidified and organized.
General Gage must have been at least somewhat thunderstruck at Lord Dartmouth’s lack of knowledge of what was really happening in MA. On 16 April 1775, a second copy of that letter reached Gage, which led (forced) him to prepare a late-night march towards Concord, of which he believed would be accomplished in absolute secrecy. Gage’s orders concerning Concord were very specific, in that soldiers were to destroy kegs of gunpowder, dismantle carriages, scatter musketballs into ponds/rivers, etc., but there were to be no arrests. Some of Gage’s officers took it upon themselves to try and find and then arrest Adams and Hancock, as Revere and those in-and-around Lexington in particular well knew. To Gage, the timing and circumstances seemed to align, in that he knew roughly where Adams and Hancock were located, that the provincial congress was set to adjourn, and that the 2nd Continental Congress would soon convene in Philadelphia.
Gage hoped that Lord Dartmouth’s orders to arrest Adams and Hancock (and others) would be revoked, since arresting Adams would almost certainly be the spark that set off MA against his regiments, and they would be overwhelmed. During June of 1774, Gate envisioned making the arrests, but by December of 1774, he knew that if those arrests occurred, they would ignite the powder keg that was MA, with Britain being viewed as the aggressor. Gage believed that his secret/surprise early-morning raid on Concord to be a fine compromise between doing nothing and starting a colonial conflict.
Gage hoped that Lord Dartmouth’s orders to arrest Adams and Hancock (and others) would be revoked, since arresting Adams would almost certainly be the spark that set off MA against his regiments, and they would be overwhelmed. During June of 1774, Gate envisioned making the arrests, but by December of 1774, he knew that if those arrests occurred, they would ignite the powder keg that was MA, with Britain being viewed as the aggressor. Gage believed that his secret/surprise early-morning raid on Concord to be a fine compromise between doing nothing and starting a colonial conflict.