1. Tighter British Controls

2. Roots of American Democracy Magna Carta – 1215 King John signed this document stating that he was not above the law. Parliament – England’s law-making body (served as model for colonists’ representative govt.) English Bill of Rights – (1689) stated govt. was to be based on laws settled by Parliament, not the desires of a single ruler.

3. Colonies & Britain Grow Apart Proclamation of 1763 angered colonists who had hoped to speculate – or buy western lands as an investment. King George III decided to keep 10,000 soldiers in the colonies to enforce – Housing the troops was expensive. Parliament passed the Quartering Act – colonists required to house all British soldiers.

4. Britain now owed massive debts due to F&I War – Sugar Act – 1765, law passed tax on sugar, molasses, and other gods shipped to colonies – Stamp Act – 1766, all documents had to carry an official stamp showing that the tax had been paid. Colonists had two main concerns – (1) Parliament had no right to tax (should be colonial assemblies jobs) and (2) no tax should be created without their consent

5. Colonists Defy Parliament “No taxation without representation” was the cry of the colonists. Stamp Act Congress meets in NY in 1765 – delegates from 9 colonies meet to draft a petition to the king protesting the law. This was the first time the colonies had united in opposition to British Policy.

6. Some colonists formed secret opposition societies, like the Sons of Liberty, that encouraged citizens to attack customs officials and burn the stamps. Most effective form of complaint was a boycott – widespread refusal to buy good from Britain. Colonists hoped the British merchants declining profits would make them argue the colonists’ side with the king.