Unit Three Creating a Nation 1763-1791
Objectives Explain how changes in British policies in North America caused dissatisfaction among colonists. Describe the outbreak of hostilities between Patriot and British forces. Discuss the preparation of & key points in the Declaration of Independence & the Constitution.
chapter 5 Section 1
Objectives Describe why the British had problems in North America after the French and Indian War. Explain how the colonists responded to unpopular British laws.
Relations With Britain Feelings of distrust grew between colonists & Britain due to: British soldiers being stationed in the colonies & frontier Proclamation of 1763 Passing of trade laws & the Sugar Act
Finance minister Grenville tried to catch smugglers. Writs of Assistance (1764) Used to search homes & warehouses for smuggled goods Colonists outraged!
Sugar Act (1764) Passed to stop molasses smuggling between colonies & French West Indies Lowered tax on imported molasses Allowed special courts (no juries) to hear smuggling cases
The Stamp Act Taxed almost printed material Newspapers Pamphlets Wills Playing cards
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act (1766) Colonists opposed Stamp Act because Parliament had passed it w/out their consent “No taxation without representation!” Protested law by: Virginia passed resolution claiming exclusive right to tax its citizens Sons of Liberty burned effigies, raided & destroying houses of British officials Boycotts Parliament repealed the Stamp Act (1766)
Declaratory Act of 1766 Passed same day Stamp Act repealed Allowed Parliament the right to tax & make decisions for colonies “in all cases”
New Taxes Townshend Acts (1767) Taxed imported goods at port of entry Taxed glass, tea, paper & lead Colonists boycotted British products again Daughters of Liberty urged colonists to wear homemade fabrics & produce other goods
Trouble in Boston Parliament sent two regiments of troops to Boston Called “Redcoats” Some soldiers were rude & violent toward colonists Fighting broke out between colonists & Redcoats
Boston Massacre Occurred on March 5, 1770 Townspeople armed themselves & marched toward customhouse Redcoats fired, killing five colonists Crispus Attucks, African American dockworker killed
Massacre led to call for stronger boycotts Colonial leaders used killings as propaganda against the British Parliament repealed Townshend Acts (except tax on tea) Committees of Correspondence brought colonial protesters together
Tea Act of 1773 Passed to keep British East India Company from going under East India Co. able to ship tea to colonies w/out paying most of tea taxes
East India Co. tea cheaper than other tea Created a monopoly Colonists boycotted British goods (again) Daughters of Liberty burned tea Colonists stopped East India Co. ships from unloading Forced ships to return to Britain
Royal governor ordered tea unloaded in Boston Sons of Liberty boarded ships & threw 342 chests of tea overboard December 16, 1773 Second “Tea Party” occurred March 1774 Both “Tea Parties” cost Britain about $3 million (today’s currency)
The Coercive Acts King & Parliament wanted to punish Boston Closed Boston Harbor until colonists paid for ruined tea Banned town meetings Forced Bostonians to house British soldiers Colonists called these laws the Intolerable Acts