Chapter 5

Section 3

A Storm Over TaxesAfter the French and Indian War new British

policies toward the colonies angered the colonists

Despite differences colonists were moving toward unity

New Troubles on the FrontierWith the French gone, English colonists

eagerly headed west to farm the former French lands

Relations with Indians worsenAs British settlers moved into the Ohio Valley,

they often clashed with the Native AmericansThe French had always treated the natives

like friends offering them feasts and presentsBritish lord Jeffery Amherst refused to do this

Worsen contd.He raised the price on British goods traded to

the Indians and allowed English settlers to build forts on Native American lands

Pontiac: an Ottawa chief, in April 1763 he spoke out against the British calling them “dogs dressed in red who have come to rob us of our hunting grounds and drive away the game”

Fighting on the FrontierPontiac led an attack on the British at Fort

Detroit Other Indians joined the attack and they

captured most British forts on the frontierBritish and colonial troops struck back

regaining much of what they had lost

Proclamation of 1763Pontiac’s War convinced the British to close

western lands to settlersProclamation of 1763:

Drew and imaginary lien across the Appalachian Mountains

Colonists were forbidden to settle west of the line

It ordered all settlers west of the land to remove themselves at once

British sent 10,000 troops to the colonies to enforce

Proclamation contd. The proclamation angered the colonists

Some colonies including New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia claimed lands west of the line

Colonists had to pay for the troops sent by the British

Many settlers ignored the proclamation and moved west anyway

Stamp Act CrisisThe French and Indian War plunged Britain

deep into debtTaxes rose for citizen of BritainGeorge Grenville, British prime minister,

decided that the colonists should share the tax burden

New TaxesGrenville and Parliament passed two (2) new

laws1. Sugar Tax: placed a new tax on molasses2. Stamp Act: put a tax on legal documents

such as wills, diplomas, and marriage papers. It also taxed newspapers, almanacs, playing cards and dice

All items named in the law had to carry a stamp showing the tax had been paid

Taxes contd.When British officials tried to enforce the

Stamp Act they met stormy protestsRiots broke outColonists threw rocks at tax collecting agentsSome tarred and feathered the agents

No Taxation without RepresentationBritain did not understand why the colonies

were so angry about the Stamp Act. After all they had spent a lot of money protecting them against the French

English traditions dating back the to Magna Carta spearheaded the principle of no taxation without representation

Colonists insisted that they or only their elected representatives had the right to pass taxes on the colonies NOT Parliament

A Call for UnityCritics of the new British law called for

delegated to meet in New York City to consider actions against the Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress: nine (9) colonies sent delegates. They drew up petition to King George III and Parliament asserting they had no right to tax the coloniesThe petitions were ignored

Unity contd.Boycott: to refuse to buy a certain goods or

serviceThe boycott of British goods took its toll with

a 14% fall in trade, British merchants suffered, British workers making the goods suffered1766 Parliament repealed the Stamp Act

More TaxesTownshend Acts: named after Charles Townshend

head of the British treasury: taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead and teaThe taxes were low but colonists rejected them

feeling the principle of no taxation without representation was at stake

Writes an assistance: legal documents allowing custom officials to inspect ship’s cargo without giving reason Colonists protested that the writs violated their

rights as British citizens British law stated that officials could not search a

person’s property without a reason for suspecting the owner of a crime

Colonists Fight BackNonimportant agreements: colonists promised to

stop importing goods taxed by the Townshend ActsColonists hoped the new boycott would lead to a repeal

of the Townshend ActsSons of Liberty: a group of angry male colonists

Daughters of Liberty: a group of angry women colonists In cities both groups would gather around hung lanterns

from trees. There they staged mock hangings of tax collectors

These groups visited merchants urging or threatening them to sign nonimportation agreements

Leaders in the StruggleLeaders emerged in all the colonies. Men and

Women in the New England colonies and Virginia were especially active in the colonial cause

In Massachusetts Samuel Adams of Boston stood firmly against

the BritishA failure in business and poor public speaker

but loved politicsA member of the Sons of Liberty

Struggle contd.He organized a committee of correspondence:

they wrote letters and pamphlets reporting on events in Massachusetts. Soon committees or correspondence were in every colony

Great at rallying public support and arranging protests

John Adams, Sam’s cousin, another leader in Massachusetts Skilled lawyerMore cautious then Sam, weighing evidence before acting Great knowledge of British Law

Struggle contd.

Struggle contd.Mercy Otis Warren

Published plays that made fun of British officials

Formed a close friendship with Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams

Struggle contd.In Virginia-

George Washington joined the Virginians to protests the Townshend Acts

Patrick Henry Gave speeches that moved listeners, bring them to

tears and anger

Centers of ProtestPort cities like Boston and New York were

centers of protestQuartering Act: colonists had to provide

housing, candles, bedding, and beverages to British soldiers stationed in the coloniesNew York sees this law as another way to tax

them without their consentNew York assembly refused to obey the lawIn 1767 Britain dismissed the assembly

Protest contd.Boston

Britain sent troops to protest custom officials Bostonians saw a daily reminder that Britain

was bullying them into paying unjust taxes

Boston MassacreMarch 5, 1770 a crowd threw snowballs,

oyster shells, and ice at the lobster backs as they called the recoated British

The soldiers panicked firing into the crowd, killing 5

Among the 5 was Crispus Attucks ,a black sailor and Sons of liberty Member

Sam Adams quickly wrote to other colonists about shooting which he called the Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre contd.The soldiers were arrested and tried in court,

defended by John Adams who wanted to ensure the colonist’s could hold a fair trial

The soldiers received light sentences because John Adams argued they were provoked

Repeal of the Townshend ActsParliament voted to repeal most of the

Townshend Acts on the request of suffering merchants

King George III asked to keep the tax on tea. He wanted to keep “one tax to keep up the right to tax”

Most colonists dismissed the tax on tea and for a few years the colonies were calm