Unit 3: Revolutionary War

Ch. 5 Deciding Where Loyalties Lie 1763-

1776

Dealing with Indian & French Canadian Resistance

British P.M. George Grenville set out to solve the empire’s new problemsIssued the Proclamation of

1763Colonists violated it

Allowed the French-speaking Catholic Canadians to preserve their religious & cultural ways

Revenue Taxes

Passed acts designed to raise tax revenues in the colonies to pay for F/I WarSugar Act 1764Quartering Act 1765Stamp Act 1765

First direct tax on the colonistsRequired the use of govt-stamped paper,

signifying the payment of the tax, on almost 50 different documents

Would affect everyone

American Reaction to the Taxes

Sons of LibertySamuel AdamsStages public

demonstrations & protests

American Reaction to the Taxes

Patrick Henry introduced 7 resolutions denouncing the Stamp Act“no taxation without

representation” Most colonial assemblies

followed VA’s lead & issued statements condemning the Stamp Act

“virtual representation”

American Reaction to the Taxes

Oct. 1765 delegates from 9 colonies met at the Stamp Act Congress in New York CityClaimed that only

colonial legislatures had the authority to tax the colonists

Significance – break down sectional divisions

American Reaction to the Taxes

Colonists agreed to boycott British goods, leading to the spread of the non-importation movementArtisans & laborers saw the chance to sell

their own goodsWomen agreed to make homespun cloth as

a replacement to British textiles

Repeal of the Stamp Act

Stamp Act was repealed (March 1766), but then replaced with the Declaratory ActReaffirmed Parliament’s

right to pass legislation for & raise taxes from the colonies

Lord Rockingham replaced Grenville.

The Townshend Acts & Colonial Protest

New P.M. Charles Townshend imposed new indirect taxes on the colonies through the Townshend ActsTaxed imported items including

glass, paper, paint, & lead products

Also placed a three-penny tax on tea

Ordered new customs boards to collect the taxes

Relocated “redcoats” to port cities to keep the peace

The Townshend Acts & Colonial Protest

John Dickinson wrote a pamphlet titled “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania”Claimed the T.A. violated the

principle of “no taxation w/o representation”

Criticized “virtual representation”

Another massive boycott of British goods began in 1768

Boston Massacre

Facing the breakdown of law & order in Boston, the governor requested the support of British soldiers (1768)

Boston Massacre

The Crisis Renewed

Disturbing the Peace of the Early 1770s

In March 1770, the new P.M. Lord North repealed all taxes, except that on teaPeriod of relative peace set in,

but only temporarily

Disturbing the Peace of the Early 1770s

June 1772, Rhode Island merchants sought revenge on customs operationsLocal men boarded the Gaspee, looted it, & torched itColonists viewed this as an

act of political resistanceRepresented a shift toward

more militant tactics

Disturbing the Peace of the Early 1770s

Colonies organized the Committees of Correspondence to keep alive opposition to British policies by spreading ideas & info