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America Revolution Book Report

¶ … Gage American Revolution

General Thomas Gage and the American Revolution

In 1774 Thomas Gage was chosen to succeed Thomas Hutchinson as governor of Massachusetts, where the most serious conflicts between the colonists and the British government existed at that time. Gage's appointment was initially well received by the colonists, who were happy to be rid of Hutchinson. However, Gage tried to put down the dissident forces in the colony and enforce the Intolerable Acts, a series of five laws designed to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party and the boycott against British goods and reestablish British rule. These acts included the Boston Port Act, legislation the dictated that the port of Boston was closed to shipping until restitution was made to the India Tea company and the King for the lost tea and taxes; The Massachusetts Government Act, designed to increase royal control over the colony's administration; The Administration of Justice Act, providing royal officials...

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While an early British raid on Somerville was successful, others were not due to the efforts of groups like the Sons of Liberty. Gage did not attempt to quash these groups because he was concerned about escalating the situation.
When the rebellion started Gage was criticized for being too lenient. Many speculated that this was due to the influence of his American wife. However, many British commanders had little interest in leading British soldiers against British citizens. General Jeffrey Amherst, commander in chief of the 1st Baron Amherst, had turned down the appointment because he did not wish to…

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