Page 22 - ASM Book 9/2020

16
American Resistance Increased
1769
• MARCH - AMERICAN ACTION: Philadelphia merchants joined the boycott of British goods.
• MAY 17 - BRITISH ACTION: In retaliation to the House of Burgesses adopting the Virginia Resolves, Royal Governor Baron de Botetourt dissolved the House of Burgesses. AMERICAN ACTION: Members of the House of Burgesses immediately moved to the Apollo Room in Williamsburg’s Raleigh Tavern and resumed their meeting.
• OCTOBER - AMERICAN ACTION: Merchants in New Jersey, Rhode Island and North Carolina joined the boycott of British goods.
V GovernorDissolvedHouseofBurgesses
irginia Royal Governor Baron de Botetourt dissolved the Virginia House of Burgesses on May 17, 1769. He was unhappy that the House had protested so strongly against the Townshend Acts. The burgesses were not disturbed by his action. The 89 members adjourned and calmly walked down the street to the Raleigh Tavern where they reconvened their meeting in the Apollo Room.
Raleigh Tavern in Willamsburg, Virginia, was a center of activity in the colonial era. Washington and Jefferson were patrons. Today the restoration is so complete one can almost hear the strains of music, the click of dice and the clank of pewter tankards.
While at the Raleigh Tavern, among other business, they adopted
a Non-Importation Agreement and created a standing Committee of Correspondence. The Non- Importation Agreement was a voluntary accord to stop the purchase of goods from British merchants until the royal government changed its policies.
Patriot merchants in New Jersey, Rhode Island and North Carolina joined the boycott.
The Governor reconvened the House of Burgesses later that year in
November.