conflict in the colonies

Conflict in the ColoniesConflict in the Colonies

Tensions developed as the British Tensions developed as the British government placed tax on the colonies government placed tax on the colonies following the French and Indian War.following the French and Indian War.

As the British colonies grew and became wealthy, the colonists got As the British colonies grew and became wealthy, the colonists got used to running their own lives. Britain began to seem very far used to running their own lives. Britain began to seem very far

away. At the same time, officials in Britain still expected the colonies away. At the same time, officials in Britain still expected the colonies to obey them and to earn money for Britain. Parliament passed new to obey them and to earn money for Britain. Parliament passed new laws and imposed new taxes. But the colonists found various ways laws and imposed new taxes. But the colonists found various ways

to challenge them.to challenge them.


Building VocabularyBuilding Vocabulary boycottboycott refusal to buy a particular good refusal to buy a particular good

or service.or service. coercivecoercive forceful. forceful. propagandapropaganda a story giving only one side a story giving only one side

in an argument.in an argument. repealrepeal do away with. do away with. resolutionsresolutions something to be voted on. something to be voted on.


Key Terms and PeopleKey Terms and People Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams Committees of CorrespondenceCommittees of Correspondence Stamp Act of 1765Stamp Act of 1765 Boston MassacreBoston Massacre Tea ActTea Act Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts

Great Britain Raises TaxesGreat Britain Raises TaxesGreat Britain had won the Great Britain had won the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War, but Parliament still had to , but Parliament still had to pay for it. The British continued to keep a standing, or permanent, army in pay for it. The British continued to keep a standing, or permanent, army in North America to protect the colonists against Indian attacks…remember North America to protect the colonists against Indian attacks…remember PontiacPontiac! To help pay for this army, ! To help pay for this army, Prime Minister George GreenvillePrime Minister George Greenville asked Parliament to tax the colonists. In 1764 Parliament passed the asked Parliament to tax the colonists. In 1764 Parliament passed the Sugar Sugar ActAct, , which set duties on molasses and sugar imported by colonistswhich set duties on molasses and sugar imported by colonists. This . This was the 1was the 1stst act passed specifically to raise money in the colonies! act passed specifically to raise money in the colonies!

British official also tried harder to arrest smugglers. Colonial merchants were British official also tried harder to arrest smugglers. Colonial merchants were required to list all the trade goods they carried aboard ships. Those lists had required to list all the trade goods they carried aboard ships. Those lists had to be approved before the ship could leave colonial ports. This made it to be approved before the ship could leave colonial ports. This made it difficult for traders to avoid paying difficult for traders to avoid paying dutiesduties (Taxes). The British navy also (Taxes). The British navy also began to stop and search ships for smuggled goods.began to stop and search ships for smuggled goods.

Parliament also changed the colonies’ legal system by giving greater power Parliament also changed the colonies’ legal system by giving greater power to their courts. These courts had NO juries, and the judges treated to their courts. These courts had NO juries, and the judges treated suspected smugglers as guilty until proven innocent. In regular British suspected smugglers as guilty until proven innocent. In regular British courts, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.courts, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.

Key Early People in the ConflictKey Early People in the Conflict

King George II

Although Parliament was in control, George was a very

powerful king.

George Greenville

The English Parliament was the real power after the English Bill of Rights

were signed. The Magna Carts in 1275 also limited the power of the king.

Taxation Without Representation!Taxation Without Representation!

Parliament’s actions upset many colonists who had grown used to being Parliament’s actions upset many colonists who had grown used to being independent. Merchants thought the taxes were unfair and hurt independent. Merchants thought the taxes were unfair and hurt business. business. Many believed that Great Britain had NO right to tax the Many believed that Great Britain had NO right to tax the colonists at all without their consentcolonists at all without their consent. James Otis argued that the . James Otis argued that the power of the crown and Parliament was limited. Otis said they could not power of the crown and Parliament was limited. Otis said they could not ““take from any man any part of his property without his consent in take from any man any part of his property without his consent in person or by representationperson or by representation.” No one in Britain had asked them if they .” No one in Britain had asked them if they wanted to be taxed. In addition, the colonists had NO direct wanted to be taxed. In addition, the colonists had NO direct representatives in Parliament. Colonial assemblies had little influence representatives in Parliament. Colonial assemblies had little influence on Parliament’s decisions.on Parliament’s decisions.

Think about something…If Parliament is supposed to be made up of the Think about something…If Parliament is supposed to be made up of the people…shouldn’t the colonists be a part of Parliament since they were people…shouldn’t the colonists be a part of Parliament since they were a member of the crown of Englanda member of the crown of England? ?

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATIONNO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION means the colonists thought they means the colonists thought they should have a say so in their government by having a colonists in Parliament…should have a say so in their government by having a colonists in Parliament…at least then, they would have a vote.at least then, they would have a vote.

Taxation Without RepresentationTaxation Without Representation

At a Boston town meeting in may At a Boston town meeting in may 1764, local leader 1764, local leader Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams agreed with Otis. He believed that agreed with Otis. He believed that Parliament could NOT tax the Parliament could NOT tax the colonists without their permission. colonists without their permission. The slogan “The slogan “No Taxation without No Taxation without RepresentationRepresentation,” spread ,” spread throughout the colonies.throughout the colonies.

Adams helped found the helped found the Committees of CorrespondenceCommittees of Correspondence. . Each committee got in touch with Each committee got in touch with other towns and colonies. Its other towns and colonies. Its members shared ideas and members shared ideas and information about new Britishinformation about new British laws laws and ways to challenge themand ways to challenge them..

Taxation Without RepresentationTaxation Without Representation

A popular method of protest was to A popular method of protest was to boycottboycott, , in which people refused in which people refused to buy British goodsto buy British goods. The first . The first colonial boycott started in New York colonial boycott started in New York in 1765. It soon spread to other in 1765. It soon spread to other colonies…remember how the colonies…remember how the Great Great AwakeningAwakening bonded everyone bonded everyone together in the 1740s…together in the 1740s…now was the now was the time to act. Colonists hoped that time to act. Colonists hoped that their efforts would hurt the British their efforts would hurt the British economy and might convince economy and might convince Parliament to end the new taxes.Parliament to end the new taxes.

Do you think Parliament had the Do you think Parliament had the right to tax the colonies without their right to tax the colonies without their consent?consent?

The Stamp Act 1765The Stamp Act 1765

The British government continued to search for new ways to tax the The British government continued to search for new ways to tax the American colonies, further angering many colonists. For example, American colonies, further angering many colonists. For example, British Prime Minister George GreenvilleBritish Prime Minister George Greenville proposed the proposed the Stamp Stamp ActAct of 1766of 1766. This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, . This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal, when they bought paper items. The tax had to be paid on or seal, when they bought paper items. The tax had to be paid on legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and playing cards. legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and playing cards. Colonists who refused to pay the tax could be put in jail or fined.Colonists who refused to pay the tax could be put in jail or fined.

Protests against the Stamp Act began almost immediately. Protests against the Stamp Act began almost immediately. Colonists formed a secret society called the Sons of Liberty. Samuel Colonists formed a secret society called the Sons of Liberty. Samuel Adams helped organize the group in Boston. This group sometimes Adams helped organize the group in Boston. This group sometimes used violence to get their point across but most of the time it was used violence to get their point across but most of the time it was through protest or boycotts.through protest or boycotts.

The Stamp Act of 1765The Stamp Act of 1765

Repealing the Stamp ActRepealing the Stamp Act

In Boston, members of the In Boston, members of the Massachusetts legislature called for a Massachusetts legislature called for a Stamp Act CongressStamp Act Congress. In October . In October 1765, delegates from nine colonies 1765, delegates from nine colonies met in New York. They issued a met in New York. They issued a declaration that the declaration that the Stamp ActStamp Act was a was a violation of their rights and liberties. violation of their rights and liberties.

Pressure on Parliament to Pressure on Parliament to repealrepeal, or , or do away with the Stamp Act grew do away with the Stamp Act grew quickly. Boycotts were working and quickly. Boycotts were working and Parliament changed the law to repeal Parliament changed the law to repeal the Stamp Act…the Stamp Act…but Parliament was but Parliament was upset when their power was upset when their power was challengedchallenged…they will get even.…they will get even.

Repealing the Stamp Act 1765Repealing the Stamp Act 1765

Members of Parliament were upset that Members of Parliament were upset that the colonists had challenged their the colonists had challenged their authority. Thus, Parliament issued the authority. Thus, Parliament issued the Declaratory ActDeclaratory Act, , which stated that which stated that Parliament had the power to make laws for Parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoeverthe colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” The .” The Declaratory ActDeclaratory Act further worried the further worried the colonists. The act further stripped away colonists. The act further stripped away their independence!their independence!

conflict in the colonies

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