1. Coach Kuntz United States History
Turmoil Over Taxation
Coach Kuntz
United States History

2. Attacked Against English Colonists
-In 1763, an Ottawa Native America Chief named Pontiac led an attack on Fort Detroit, a British Fort. Pontiac and his supporters captured most British Forts in the Ohio area. This conflict became known as Pontiac’s War.
-Pontiac was angry because the British were taking Native American lands, including their hunting grounds.
-The war ended in 1763, after the Treaty of Paris was signed. Pontiac and his men knew they could no longer count on the French to protect them from the British.

3. After the War…
-Pontiac’s War convinced the British government to issue the Proclamation of The law stated that:
1. colonists were not allowed to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.
2. Colonists or colonial governments could not buy land from or make agreements with Native Americans.
-10,000 British troops were sent to the colonies to enforce this law.
-This law was one of the first attempts by the British government to exert control over the 13 colonies that were slowly becoming more independent.

4. Taxing the Colonies Begins
-The French and Indian War plunged Britain deeply into debt.
-Because Britain spent so much money to protect the colonists from the French and Native Americans, the British Government believed the 13 colonies should help pay these expenses. That passed a series of taxes to accomplish this.
-Sugar Act- A 1764 law that put a new tax on molasses.
-The Stamp Act- a 1765 law that taxed legal documents as well as newspapers, almanacs, playing cards, and dice. These items had a stamp on them showing that the tax had been paid.
-Protests broke out over these acts: colonists threw rocks at agents who were responsible for collecting the tax and other agents were tarred and feathered.

5. “No Taxation Without Representation”
-The colonists insisted that only they or their elected representatives had the right to tax the colonies. -The colonies said that because they were not allowed to elect representatives to British Parliament, Parliament had no right to tax them. -Delegates from 9 of the 13 colonies met in New York City and drew up a petition to King George III and British Parliament. Parliament paid little attention. -The colonists then joined together to boycott British goods. -In 1766, Parliament repealed the “Stamp Act” but then passed a law stating that they could raise taxes in “all cases whatsoever”.

6. The British Tax Them Again
-In 1767, Parliament again tried to tax the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War.
-Townshend Acts- A 1767 law that placed a tax on glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea.
-The law also allowed British officials to use legal documents called writs of assistance to inspect a ships cargo without giving a reason. This was meant to stop smuggling.
-Colonists were angry: colonial merchants and planters signed agreements promising to stop importing goods taxed by the Townshend Acts.

7. Colonial Protests Widen
-The Sons of Liberty was a organization that formed in the 13 colonies to fight taxation by the British Government. They staged mock hangings of British officials and urged colonists not to buy British goods.
-Samuel Adams was a Boston resident who attended Sons of Liberty rallies and arranged protests in the colonies.
-Mercy Otis Warren wrote plays that made fun of British officials and called on colonists to oppose British taxation.
-Patrick Henry was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and he often gave fiery speeches opposing British taxation.

8. To Be Continued…