Causes of the Revolutionary War Section I

Proclamation of 1763 a. Said: colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains and all settlers had to leave the Ohio River Valley. b. Reason: King George didn’t want to have to pay for any more fights with the Indians c. Colonists reaction: ignored it and settled there anyway

Navigation Acts Colonists must export sugar, tobacco, indigo to England only. All goods from other countries going to the colonies must pass through England and get taxed. All goods must be carried on English ships. ¾ of the crew must be English

3. Sugar Act- 1764 A. Tax on: sugar and molasses

Reason: To pay for the French and Indian war and the soldiers now guarding the Appalachian mountains.

Reaction of colonial leader James Otis: It’s not fair to tax us without asking us. “Taxation without representation is tyranny.”

The British cut down on smuggling by making merchants list all trade goods they carried aboard ships and by having the Navy stop and search ships.

Parliament changed the colonial legal system by having smugglers appear before a judge, not a jury. The judges treated smugglers as if they were guilty until proven innocent.

Committees of Correspondence: Were formed for colonies to share about new British laws and how to challenge them.

To enforce the Proclamation

2. Quartering Act- 1765 Said: colonists had to house and feed English soldiers N.Y.’s reaction: NY’s assembly refused to house the troops

Stamp Act- 1765 A. Said: colonists had to pay for a stamp or seal when they bought paper items. B. Colonists were upset about it because this was Parliament’s first attempt at taxing the colonists directly.

Stamp Act Continued C. Reaction of the colonists: formed the The Sons of Liberty (burned stamps, tarred and feathered tax collectors, burned customs houses, threw stones at tax collector’s homes, hung tax collectors in effigy) and colonists ignored the law by refusing to buy stamps.

D. The Stamp Act Congress: delegates from 9 colonies met in NY and issued a declaration that the Stamp Act was a violation of their rights and liberties. In 1766 Parliament: repealed the Stamp Act

We thought we had won and the King would let us have representation

Declaratory Act- 1766 A. Said: Parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies in all cases. B. Colonist's reaction: worried about it, but would not do anything until Parliament acted