Conflict in the Colonies. The Road to Revolution

Transcription

1 Conflict in the Colonies The Road to Revolution

2 As the British colonies grew and became more prosperous, the colonists got used to running their own lives. Britain began to seem very far away. At the same time, officials in Britain still expected the colonies to obey them and to earn money for Britain. Parliament passed new laws and imposed new taxes. But the colonists found various ways to challenge them (White & William, p. 98).

3 Great Britain Raises Taxes Britain had won the French and Indian War, but Parliament still had to pay for it. Britain kept a permanent army in the colonies to protect against Indian attacks. Parliament began to tax the colonists to help recoup costs of war Sugar Act (1764) - taxed molasses and sugar imported by colonists; meant to raise money in the colonies British officials tried harder to arrest smugglers Individuals treated as guilty until proven innocent

4 Taxation without Representation Colonists outraged Many believed Britain had no right to tax the colonies without popular consent. Colonies had no representation in Parliament Subjects of the crown instead of citizens of England Samuel Adams & James Otis - believed Parliament could not tax colonists without their permission No taxation without representation spread throughout colonies Helped found Committees of Correspondence - groups created to help towns and colonies share information about resisting British law Boycotting began - refusal to buy British goods Colonists hoped Parliament would end new taxes

5 Stamp Act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal, when they bought paper items Applied to legal documents, licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards Refusal to buy stamps could result in fine or jail Parliament s first attempt to tax colonists directly Colonists formed Sons of Liberty - a secret society that sometimes used violence to frighten the tax collectors; also organized by Samuel Adams

6 Repealing the Stamp Act Boston - members of MA legislature called for a Stamp Act Congress October delegates from 9 colonies met in NY Declared Stamp Act was a violation of their rights and liberties Pressure grew quickly leading Parliament to repeal, or do away with, Stamp Act in 1766 Parliament upset that colonists challenged their authority passed Declaratory Act - stated Parliament had power to make laws for colonies in all cases whatsoever

7 Townshend Acts June Parliament passed Townshend Acts placing duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea To enforce, British officials used writs of assistance allowing tax collectors to search for smuggled goods Colonists hated these laws because they took power away from colonial governments. Again, colonists boycotted many British goods.

8 Boston Massacre Bostonians saw presence of British troops as a threat & both sides resented one another - name calling, arguments, & fights common March 5, British soldier hit a colonist during an argument Crowd gathered throwing snowballs and shouting insults Soldiers fired into crowd instantly killing 3 people, 2 died later Crispus Attucks - sailor, best remembered casualty Samuel Adams and others quickly spread story of shootings o Propaganda - a story giving only one side in an argument Soldiers charged with murder but found not guilty - acted in self-defense

9 The Boston Tea Party Parliament repealed all but tea tax to help ease tension in colonies Tea Act allowed British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists with hopes to stop some of the smuggling and raise tax money collected Many merchants and smugglers feared they would be put out of business. Three ships loaded with tea arrived in Boston Harbor in Members of Sons of Liberty demanded the ships leave, but the governor refused without first paying the duty (tax). December 16, colonists disguised as Indians snuck onto 3 tea-filled ships and dumped tea into the harbor Later became known as an act of civil disobedience

10 The Intolerable Acts Parliament decided to punish the colonists in response to the Boston Tea Party. Spring Coercive Acts passed (colonists called them Intolerable Acts) resulting in: Boston Harbor closed until Boston paid for ruined tea Massachusetts charter canceled - governor would decide when legislature could meet Royal officials accused of crime sent to Britain for trial Quartering Act - required colonists to house British soldiers Quebec Act - gave large amount of land to colony of Quebec (Canada) New governor - General Thomas Gage

11 References Boston Massacre. Image. Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jun Accessed 21 Sep Boston Tea Party. Image. Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jun Accessed 21 Sep History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Photograph. Web. 20 Sept Otis, James. Image. Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jun Accessed 21 Sep Revolution, American. Image. Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jun Accessed 21 Sep Stamp Act: An Emblem of the Effects of the STAMP. Image. Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jun Accessed 21 Sep Townshend Acts. Image. Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jun Accessed 21 Sep White, Deborah G., and William Deverell. United States History: Early Colonial Period through Reconstruction. N.p.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Print.