Road to Independence Main Idea Chapter 5 Road to Independence Main Idea

Road to Independence The Proclamation of 1763 was designed to keep the peace with Native Americans, keep colonists near British authority, and control expansion and trade. British colonists did NOT like this new law because it prevented them from farming and settling in the valley that they just won control over. They were also becoming tired of having the British soldiers around, living among them. French and Indian War cost a lot of money. King George III and Parliament decided to tax the colonies to help pay the costs of the French and Indian War.

Taxes The Sugar Act The Stamp Act The Declaratory Act The Townshend Acts The Intolerable Acts

Sugar Act 1764 Taxes The first tax was the Sugar Act of 1764. It placed a tax on imported sugar products. It actually reduced the tax on these sugar products such as molasses in an attempt to reduce smuggling. For example, the tax was $6.00 but was not being enforced. Now the tax is $3.00 but it is being enforced. So in actuality it was a tax increase. British officers began searching for smuggled items even in colonist homes. British officers were empowered by the writs of assistance. (invasion of privacy) If caught, smugglers were guilty until proven innocent. In addition, they were taken to admiralty courts (juryless courts) not with a jury of its peers. (protective right since the Magna Carta)

Stamp Act of 1765 Stamp Act of 1765 placed a tax on all printed material, such as newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and even playing cards. This tax upset the colonists even more. Colonist began boycotting British goods. The sons of Liberty was formed (secret society led by Samuel Adams) to protest the Stamp Act. They sons of liberty began using violence to scare off tax collectors. (Tar and feathering) The colonists claimed “no taxation without representation” because they were being taxed but had no vote in Parliament and had no say in how the colonies were being governed. They were being taxed without their consent. The Stamp Act was repealed (removed) due to all the protest.

The Declaratory Act Britain stated that it had the right to tax and make decisions for the British colonies “in all cases”

The Townshend Acts of 1767 The Townshend Acts were passed in 1767 and taxed various imported goods such as glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonist viewed it as an abuse of power! The sons of Liberty came out again to scare off the tax collectors. However, Britain sent more British troops to maintain order (and protect the tax collectors) Boston Massacre occurred. The colonists called the event the “Boston Massacre.” A massacre is when a large number of people are killed. Colonists used the killings as propaganda. Propaganda is using information to make people think or feel a certain way.

Boston Massacre

Townshend Acts of 1767 Cont. As a result of the Boston Massacre, Britain repealed the tax on all items except tea. Tea was the most important beverage in the colonies. There was a British company called the British East India Company. It was not doing well. The reason was that colonists were not importing their tea. They were nearly out of business. Parliament passed a law to help save the company. The law was the Tea Act. The Tea Act gave the company almost total control of the tea market in the colonies. The Tea Act also took away some, but not all, of the taxes on tea. Therefore, they had the ability to buy good, cheap tea. However, Colonists did not want to pay any taxes on tea. They also did not want Parliament telling them what tea to buy. The Boston Tea party occurred. Which was a dramatic act of definance.

Boston Tea Party

Boston Massacre The Daughters of Liberty put out a booklet. It said that rather than part with freedom, “We’ll part with our tea.” Still, the British East India Company kept on shipping tea to the colonies. Colonists in New York and Philadelphia made the ships turn back. In 1773, three tea ships arrived in Boston Harbor. On the night of December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty in Boston took action. They dressed up as Native Americans and boarded the ships. They threw 342 large boxes of tea overboard (90,000 pounds of tea). Close to 1 million dollars today.

Intolerable Acts As a result of the Boston Tea Party, the British passed a series of laws aimed to punish the colonist for the Boston Tea Party called the Coercive Acts. The colonist called them the Intolerable Acts (unbearable) There could be no more town meetings in Massachusetts. Boston Harbor was closed until colonists paid for the tea they had thrown overboard. (no food or supplies could get into Boston) The colonist were forced to quarter even more soldiers. Quebec was allowed to create their own government and practice the Catholic religion. (upset the colonist in Massachusetts)

Recap Sugar Act – tax on sugar products. It actually reduced the tax on sugar products such as molasses. Writs of Assistance – document given to British officials to search the colonist for smuggled goods. Stamp Act – tax on printed materials. Colonist started boycotting “no taxation without representation.” (they felt they were being taxed without their consent) Declaratory Act- Declared that Britain could tax the colonist Townshend Acts – tax on imported goods such as paper, lead, tea. This Act lead to the Boston Massacre. Boston Massacre- when British soldiers killed five colonist who were protesting the taxes. Boston Tea Part – act of defiance by the colonist – they dumped chests of tea in the Boston Harbor (to protest the Tea act) Intolerable Acts- aimed to punish the colonist for the Boston Tea Part. No town meetings,, they closed the Boston Harbor, and more troops.