6.4 New Taxes and Tensions

Goals:1. How did colonists respond to the

Townshend Acts?2. Why were the Boston Massacre and

the Boston Tea Party significant events?3. What was the purpose of the

Intolerable Acts?

Townshend Acts – June 1767

• Placed taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper and tea.• Paid for military costs & salaries for the

governors.• Writs of Assistance – Used to enforce the

Townshend Actso Allowed tax collectors to search for smuggled goods.o Colonists hated new laws- they violated their

constitutional rights.

• Tax collectors seized the ship Liberty on suspicion of smuggling.o Sons of Liberty attacked custom officials’ houses in

response.o Oct. 1768• British soldiers arrived in Boston to restore order.• British Governor broke up the Massachusetts legislature.

The Boston Massacre

• Shouting insults and throwing things common between colonists & soldiers.

• March 5, 1770 – tensions exploded.o Soldiers fired into an angry mob, killing 5 colonists.o Event was used as propaganda – only one side of

the story was told.• 2 of the 6 soldiers found guilty & branded.

A Tax on Tea

• Parliament repealed most of the Townshend Acts- except the tax on tea.

• British East India Co. asked to sell tea directly to the colonies- to keep prices low and still profit.

• Tea Act 1773o Colonists worried this Co. would have a monopoly –

they were against it.o Sons of Liberty demanded the tea ships leave the

harbor.

Boston Tea Party

• Colonists dressed as American Indians and threw all the ships’ tea chests into the Boston Harbor.

The Intolerable Acts

• Causes—o Continued protests by the colonistso Boston Tea Party

• Purpose—o To force the colonists to submit to British

authority.o Prevent any further protests.

• Results—o Closed Boston Harboro Massachusetts charter was cancelledo Royal officials allowed to be tried in Britaino Quartering Act – forced colonists to quarter, or

house and supply, British soldiers.o General Thomas Gage became governor of

Massachusetts.