1. Britain’s Tightening Control
Reading Review
Chapter 8

2. Problems in the Colonies
There were serious disagreements between the 13 British colonies and the British government.
No colonists were allowed to be elected to the British Parliament in London.

3. Parliament passed many taxes that the colonists had to pay
Parliament passed many taxes that the colonists had to pay. Colonists called this “no taxation without representation”.
The British believed that they had the right to tax the colonists because they paid to defend the colonies in the French and Indian War. The Declaratory Act stated that Parliament did have the right to tax the colonies.

4. Some American colonists did not like the British government interfering in their lives.
Colonists believed that the British government did not understand colonial life or the hardships (difficulties) brought about by heavy taxation.
Instead of giving the colonists more independence, the British government passed more laws.

5. Royal Proclamation of 1763
Parliament issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which ordered colonists NOT to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British government believed this would keep peace with Native Americans. The colonists thought the British government SHOULD NOT interfere.

7. Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 placed taxes on molasses, coffee, sugar, wine, and silk.

8. Stamp Act
In 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act. This act was designed to raise more money to pay for the French and Indian War.
The Stamp Act forced colonists to pay a tax on almost everything printed on paper – newspapers, legal documents, pamphlets – even playing cards.
The colonists reacted so strongly against this tax that Parliament repealed (withdrawn) it 1 year later.

9. Townshend Acts
In 1767, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which taxed lead, glass, paper, wine and tea imported to the colonies. Colonists resisted by boycotting these items. Finally, the tax was repealed (withdrawn) on everything except tea.

10. Boston Tea Party
In December 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place. Massachusetts patriots dumped 340 chests of tea into the Boston harbor to protest the British East India Company’s monopoly (control) on tea trade.

11. Coercive Acts
To punish the colonists for dumping the tea, the British passed even stricter laws. The colonists called these laws the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts, because the colonists decided they would not tolerate (accept) the laws.

12. The Coercive (Intolerable) Acts closed the port of Boston.

13. Steps Leading to Rebellion
Legislation
Date
What it Did
Royal Proclamation of 1763
1763
Set boundaries for western expansion
Sugar Act
1764
Tightened customs reinforcement on sugar and molasses; lowered prices
Stamp Act
1765
Taxed certain documents
Declaratory Act
1766
Stated that Britain could tax the colonists
Townshend Acts
1767
Taxed glass, lead, paint, paper, tea
Tea Act
1773
East India Company given sole control of tea trade
“Intolerable” Acts
1774
Closed port of Boston