Committee of Sixty
Encyclopedia
The Committee of Sixty was an extra-legal group formed in New York City
, in 1775, by rebels to enforce the Continental Association, a boycott of British
goods enacted by the First Continental Congress
. It was the successor to the Committee of Fifty-one and was replaced by the Committee of One Hundred.
. Previous to this committee's formation, opposition to the British was organized through the informal leadership of the Sons of Liberty
and the Committee of Correspondence
. Isaac Low
was selected as chairman of the new Committee of Fifty. The Committee was the first formed for action, as opposed to the previous Committee of Correspondence
. On May 16, Francis Lewis
was added to make it the Committee of Fifty-One. From late 1774, the Committee exercised effective control of New York City, and declared that Boston was "suffering in the defense of the rights of America". On May 23, 1774 the Committee called for a Continental Congress. This congress, which became known as the First Continental Congress
, was convened on September 5, 1774. Isaac Low, James Duane
, Philip Livingston
, John Alsop
, and John Jay
attended as New York's delegates. The more radical Sons of Liberty
rejected these delegates and proposed their own slate. The First Continental Congress resolved to boycott British imports and the Committee of Fifty-One formed a sub-committee of Observation for enforcement of this boycott.
on March 15, 1775. This Committee issued a call to the counties of New York
to send delegates to a Provincial Convention in New York City on April 20, to elect delegates to the Second Continental Congress
. On April 23, news of the battle of Lexington and Concord arrived. On April 26, Isaac Low
called for the dismissal of the Committee of Sixty and the convening of a Provincial Congress
. Before such a congress could be formed a Committee of One Hundred was to be formed to perform the function of the Provincial Congress
. On April 29, 1775 a mass meeting of residents signed a "General Association" whereby they agreed to obey the Continental Congress, the Committee of Sixty, and New York's Provincial Convention.
, the construction of batteries in the Highlands
, and the arming and training of a militia.
The Committee of One Hundred still considered itself loyal to the British Crown, but was instead opposed to the laws of the Parliament of Great Britain
which they considered unconstitutional
because they had no representation in it. The committee wrote to Governor Cadwallader Colden
in May, 1775 "that though they are arming with the greatest diligence and industry; it is not with design to oppose, but to strengthen government in the due exercise of constitutional authority". In May, all inhabitants were asked to sign a Association. Anyone who refused to sign were to be called "enemies of this country". Some of the Loyalists were tarred and feathered
. The committee disarmed all loyalists
within its jurisdiction. The Committee of One Hundred was officially replaced by the New York Provincial Congress
which first convened on May 23, 1775, but the committee continued to meet for a while.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in 1775, by rebels to enforce the Continental Association, a boycott of British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
goods enacted by the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
. It was the successor to the Committee of Fifty-one and was replaced by the Committee of One Hundred.
Committee of Fifty (and fifty-one)
The Committee of Fifty was formed May 16, 1774 in response to the news that the port of Boston would be closed under the Boston Port ActBoston Port Act
The Boston Port Act is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which became law on March 30, 1774, and is one of the measures that were designed to secure Great Britain's jurisdictions over her American dominions.A response to the Boston Tea Party, it outlawed the use...
. Previous to this committee's formation, opposition to the British was organized through the informal leadership of the Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
and the Committee of Correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
. Isaac Low
Isaac Low
Isaac Low was an American merchant in New York City.-Biography:He was born on April 13, 1735 at Raritan Landing, New Jersey...
was selected as chairman of the new Committee of Fifty. The Committee was the first formed for action, as opposed to the previous Committee of Correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
. On May 16, Francis Lewis
Francis Lewis
Francis Lewis was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New York....
was added to make it the Committee of Fifty-One. From late 1774, the Committee exercised effective control of New York City, and declared that Boston was "suffering in the defense of the rights of America". On May 23, 1774 the Committee called for a Continental Congress. This congress, which became known as the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
, was convened on September 5, 1774. Isaac Low, James Duane
James Duane
James Duane was an American lawyer, jurist, and Revolutionary leader from New York. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, New York state senator, Mayor of New York, and a U.S...
, Philip Livingston
Philip Livingston
Philip Livingston was an American merchant and statesman from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778, and signed the Declaration of Independence.-Family history:...
, John Alsop
John Alsop
John Alsop was an American merchant and politician from New York City during the American Revolution. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776.-Early life and career:...
, and John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
attended as New York's delegates. The more radical Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
rejected these delegates and proposed their own slate. The First Continental Congress resolved to boycott British imports and the Committee of Fifty-One formed a sub-committee of Observation for enforcement of this boycott.
Committee of Sixty
The committee was replaced by the Committee of Sixty which was elected in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 15, 1775. This Committee issued a call to the counties of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
to send delegates to a Provincial Convention in New York City on April 20, to elect delegates to the Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...
. On April 23, news of the battle of Lexington and Concord arrived. On April 26, Isaac Low
Isaac Low
Isaac Low was an American merchant in New York City.-Biography:He was born on April 13, 1735 at Raritan Landing, New Jersey...
called for the dismissal of the Committee of Sixty and the convening of a Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
. Before such a congress could be formed a Committee of One Hundred was to be formed to perform the function of the Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
. On April 29, 1775 a mass meeting of residents signed a "General Association" whereby they agreed to obey the Continental Congress, the Committee of Sixty, and New York's Provincial Convention.
Committee of One Hundred
The Committee of Sixty was replaced by a more representative Committee of One Hundred on May 1, 1775. By May 4, the city had four companies of volunteers. On May 15, the Continental Congress ordered the construction of a fort at Kings BridgeKingsbridge, Bronx
Kingsbridge is a working class residential neighborhood geographically located in the northwest Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 8. Its boundaries are Van Cortlandt Park to the north, Goulden Avenue to the east, West 225th Street to the south, and Irwin...
, the construction of batteries in the Highlands
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
, and the arming and training of a militia.
The Committee of One Hundred still considered itself loyal to the British Crown, but was instead opposed to the laws of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
which they considered unconstitutional
Rights of Englishmen
The rights of Englishmen are the perceived traditional rights of British subjects. The notion refers to various constitutional documents that were created throughout various stages of English history, such as Magna Carta, the Declaration of Right , and others...
because they had no representation in it. The committee wrote to Governor Cadwallader Colden
Cadwallader Colden
Cadwallader Colden was a physician, farmer, surveyor, botanist, and a lieutenant governor for the Province of New York.-Biography:...
in May, 1775 "that though they are arming with the greatest diligence and industry; it is not with design to oppose, but to strengthen government in the due exercise of constitutional authority". In May, all inhabitants were asked to sign a Association. Anyone who refused to sign were to be called "enemies of this country". Some of the Loyalists were tarred and feathered
Tarred and Feathered
"Tarred and Feathered" is a song by English punk rock band Dogs and is featured on their debut album, Turn Against This Land. Released on November 28, 2005, it was the fifth and final single taken from the album....
. The committee disarmed all loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
within its jurisdiction. The Committee of One Hundred was officially replaced by the New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
which first convened on May 23, 1775, but the committee continued to meet for a while.
See also
- Committee of SafetyCommittee of Safety (American Revolution)Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
- Committee of CorrespondenceCommittee of correspondenceThe Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...