Sources of ConflictContributing Factors to the American

RevolutionPre-Revolution Notes

King George III

King from October 1760 until 1820The Royal head of the government - often became the target of anger from the colonists

The French and Indian war

Class - Causes?Class - Effects?

Proclamation of 1763From the British Perspective To protect the colonists

from the Native Americans

To provide Native Americans with lands they were promised

To increase good relations and trade with the Native Americans

From the Colonial Perspective

• Limits ability to expand colonial borders

• Keeps colonists from exploring new western lands

• Confines colonists to established boundaries, even though population is increasing

PROCLAMATION ACT OF 1763

Colonists wanted to explore and settle new areas, but were prohibited from doing

so by new boundaries

- RAISE MONEY TO PAY FOR DEBT FROM THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR- PAY THE SALARIES OF COLONIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS- ESTABLISH PARLIAMENT’S RIGHT TO TAX THE COLONIES- LIMIT THE FREEDOM OF THE COLONIES

TAXATION BEGINS and RIGHTS ARE LIMITED

The Sugar Act - 1764

• A “revenue act” intended to raise money

• Placed on molasses – the primary source of sugar (and main ingredient in rum)

• Issued during a time of economic depression

• Repealed in 1766

Quartering Act - 1765

• British soldiers were to be housed in American barracks and “public houses” – sometimes in other areas

• Allowed for a “standing army”• Kept soldiers on

colonial soil permanently

Stamp Act - 1765

• A tax placed on all printed materials• Identifiable by an

embossed revenue stamp• Legal documents,

magazines, newspapers, playing cards

• Repealed 1766

Declaratory Act - 1766

• Parliament’s authority is the same in the American colonies as it is in Britain “in all cases whatsoever”• Foreshadow: that Parliament will be

passing more Acts/Taxes

Townshend Acts - 1767

• Revenue Act – tax on imports: paint, paper, lead, glass, tea• Items that colonists are only allowed to import from England

• Indemnity Act – makes tea of the East India Trading Company more competitive with smuggled tea• Allows for writs of assistance – search warrants to be

executed on ships transporting and importing goods (looking for smuggled goods like tea from the Dutch)

Tea Act - 1773• Keeps taxes on tea on the

colonists, but not on the East India Trading Company• Gives East India Trading

Company a monopoly on tea = they are the only ones providing it to the colonies

• Tea was a staple of daily life

• Difficult on merchants – had to pay tax up front• Price passed along to

customers

The Intolerable Acts - 1774

• Boston Port Act – closed Boston Harbor until the East India Company had been repaid for destroyed tea

• Massachusetts Government Act – limits town meetings to 1 per year; appointment of officials by king or governor

• Administration of Justice Act – governor can move trials to other colonies or England

• Quartering Act – re-established

INTOLERABLE ACTS

Reasons for Colonial Anger

• Taxation without Representation• Colonists had no elected representatives

in Parliament, but it was Parliament that was passing the Acts and Taxes

• Felt singled out for taxation