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Chapter 5
Section 3
A Storm Over TaxesAfter the French and Indian War new British
policies toward the colonies angered the colonists
Despite differences colonists were moving toward unity
New Troubles on the FrontierWith the French gone, English colonists
eagerly headed west to farm the former French lands
Relations with Indians worsenAs British settlers moved into the Ohio Valley,
they often clashed with the Native AmericansThe French had always treated the natives
like friends offering them feasts and presentsBritish lord Jeffery Amherst refused to do this
Worsen contd.He raised the price on British goods traded to
the Indians and allowed English settlers to build forts on Native American lands
Pontiac: an Ottawa chief, in April 1763 he spoke out against the British calling them “dogs dressed in red who have come to rob us of our hunting grounds and drive away the game”
Fighting on the FrontierPontiac led an attack on the British at Fort
Detroit Other Indians joined the attack and they
captured most British forts on the frontierBritish and colonial troops struck back
regaining much of what they had lost
Proclamation of 1763Pontiac’s War convinced the British to close
western lands to settlersProclamation of 1763:
Drew and imaginary lien across the Appalachian Mountains
Colonists were forbidden to settle west of the line
It ordered all settlers west of the land to remove themselves at once
British sent 10,000 troops to the colonies to enforce
Proclamation contd. The proclamation angered the colonists
Some colonies including New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia claimed lands west of the line
Colonists had to pay for the troops sent by the British
Many settlers ignored the proclamation and moved west anyway
Stamp Act CrisisThe French and Indian War plunged Britain
deep into debtTaxes rose for citizen of BritainGeorge Grenville, British prime minister,
decided that the colonists should share the tax burden
New TaxesGrenville and Parliament passed two (2) new
laws1. Sugar Tax: placed a new tax on molasses2. Stamp Act: put a tax on legal documents
such as wills, diplomas, and marriage papers. It also taxed newspapers, almanacs, playing cards and dice
All items named in the law had to carry a stamp showing the tax had been paid
Taxes contd.When British officials tried to enforce the
Stamp Act they met stormy protestsRiots broke outColonists threw rocks at tax collecting agentsSome tarred and feathered the agents
No Taxation without RepresentationBritain did not understand why the colonies
were so angry about the Stamp Act. After all they had spent a lot of money protecting them against the French
English traditions dating back the to Magna Carta spearheaded the principle of no taxation without representation
Colonists insisted that they or only their elected representatives had the right to pass taxes on the colonies NOT Parliament
A Call for UnityCritics of the new British law called for
delegated to meet in New York City to consider actions against the Stamp Act
Stamp Act Congress: nine (9) colonies sent delegates. They drew up petition to King George III and Parliament asserting they had no right to tax the coloniesThe petitions were ignored
Unity contd.Boycott: to refuse to buy a certain goods or
serviceThe boycott of British goods took its toll with
a 14% fall in trade, British merchants suffered, British workers making the goods suffered1766 Parliament repealed the Stamp Act
More TaxesTownshend Acts: named after Charles Townshend
head of the British treasury: taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead and teaThe taxes were low but colonists rejected them
feeling the principle of no taxation without representation was at stake
Writes an assistance: legal documents allowing custom officials to inspect ship’s cargo without giving reason Colonists protested that the writs violated their
rights as British citizens British law stated that officials could not search a
person’s property without a reason for suspecting the owner of a crime
Colonists Fight BackNonimportant agreements: colonists promised to
stop importing goods taxed by the Townshend ActsColonists hoped the new boycott would lead to a repeal
of the Townshend ActsSons of Liberty: a group of angry male colonists
Daughters of Liberty: a group of angry women colonists In cities both groups would gather around hung lanterns
from trees. There they staged mock hangings of tax collectors
These groups visited merchants urging or threatening them to sign nonimportation agreements
Leaders in the StruggleLeaders emerged in all the colonies. Men and
Women in the New England colonies and Virginia were especially active in the colonial cause
In Massachusetts Samuel Adams of Boston stood firmly against
the BritishA failure in business and poor public speaker
but loved politicsA member of the Sons of Liberty
Struggle contd.He organized a committee of correspondence:
they wrote letters and pamphlets reporting on events in Massachusetts. Soon committees or correspondence were in every colony
Great at rallying public support and arranging protests
John Adams, Sam’s cousin, another leader in Massachusetts Skilled lawyerMore cautious then Sam, weighing evidence before acting Great knowledge of British Law
Struggle contd.
Struggle contd.Mercy Otis Warren
Published plays that made fun of British officials
Formed a close friendship with Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams
Struggle contd.In Virginia-
George Washington joined the Virginians to protests the Townshend Acts
Patrick Henry Gave speeches that moved listeners, bring them to
tears and anger
Centers of ProtestPort cities like Boston and New York were
centers of protestQuartering Act: colonists had to provide
housing, candles, bedding, and beverages to British soldiers stationed in the coloniesNew York sees this law as another way to tax
them without their consentNew York assembly refused to obey the lawIn 1767 Britain dismissed the assembly
Protest contd.Boston
Britain sent troops to protest custom officials Bostonians saw a daily reminder that Britain
was bullying them into paying unjust taxes
Boston MassacreMarch 5, 1770 a crowd threw snowballs,
oyster shells, and ice at the lobster backs as they called the recoated British
The soldiers panicked firing into the crowd, killing 5
Among the 5 was Crispus Attucks ,a black sailor and Sons of liberty Member
Sam Adams quickly wrote to other colonists about shooting which he called the Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre contd.The soldiers were arrested and tried in court,
defended by John Adams who wanted to ensure the colonist’s could hold a fair trial
The soldiers received light sentences because John Adams argued they were provoked
Repeal of the Townshend ActsParliament voted to repeal most of the
Townshend Acts on the request of suffering merchants
King George III asked to keep the tax on tea. He wanted to keep “one tax to keep up the right to tax”
Most colonists dismissed the tax on tea and for a few years the colonies were calm