Causes of the Revolution Chapter 4; Section 1 Causes of the Revolution

British Government Executive power = king/queen (monarchs) Legislative power = divided between two houses (House of Lords and House of Commons) House of Lords were inherited positions House of Commons = elections but not many from England were allowed to vote.

Colonial politics were similar and different from British politics in many ways: Similarities Great Britain – two-house legislature House of Lords House of Commons American Colonies – two-house legislature Upper House or Council Lower House or Assembly

Colonial politics differed from British politics in many ways. British constitution is was not a formal document but a collection of laws and traditions accumulated over centuries; however, the colonist’s rights had been spelled out in formal legal documents Two-thirds (66%) of colonial men owned enough property to vote, compared to less than ¼ (25%) of British men.

Differences: King inherits executive power (Britain) Governor is appointed (Colonies) House of Lords is inherited titles (Britain) Upper House or Council are appointed; prominent colonists without inherited titles (Colonies) House of Commons: Elected by men who had significant amounts of property (Britain) Lower House or Assembly – Elected men who held property (Colonies)

New Taxes Upset Colonists The French and Indian War doubled Britain’s national debt; Parliament (Britain’s Government) needed to raise money to pay the debt and protect the colonies; Colonists must pay more taxes

The Sugar Act This act assigned custom officers and created courts to collect the taxes and prosecute smugglers, those who avoided the taxes illegally. Hoped these measures would encourage colonists to pay the tax.

The Quartering Act Required the colonies to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in the colonies

The Stamp Act Required colonists to pay a tax on almost all printed materials, including newspapers, books, court documents, contracts and land deeds. This was the first time that Britain imposed a direct tax within the colonies.

Taxation Without Representation Colonial leaders questioned Parliament’s right to tax the colonies directly. The colonists argued that the colonies had nor representation in Parliament, so Parliament had no right to tax them.

Taxation Without Representation The colonists arguments puzzled members of Parliament. After all, most Britons paid taxes even though they could not vote

Colonial protests intesify

Tax resistance among the colonists took 3 forms Intellectual protests Economic boycotts And violent intimidation

Patriot Leaders Emerge Those colonists who opposed the British taxes called themselves “Patriots.” Sons of Liberty a popular group of patriots who opposed British taxes Their most famous leader was Samuel Adams

Protests Turn Violent: In August 1765, a mob led by the Sons of Liberty tore down the office and damaged the house of the stamp collector By end of the year, every stamp collector in the colonies had quit, leaving no one to collect the taxes

Protests use Boycotts Nine colonies sent delegates to a Stamp Act Congress. Members of this congress encouraged a consumer boycott of goods imported from Britain – nonimportation agreements

Women played an important role in the boycotts: Protests use Boycotts Women played an important role in the boycotts: Women spin thread and weave cloth because the colonists did not allow goods to be imported from Britain These women were called the “Daughters of Liberty.”

New taxes lead to protests