Samuel Johnson: “He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience Samuel Johnson: “He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans. We may, therefore, subject them to government.” If subjects enjoy the protection of the government, does that mean that the government has certain rights, including taxation to pay for that protection?

The Proclamation of 1763 After Pontiac’s War, British government declared that colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian mountains

Custom Duties Tax on imports and exports Smugglers were bringing goods in and out of the colonies Smugglers were tried in Nova Scotia, where the court had no jury and did not follow Common British law Colonists felt they were being denied their rights as British citizens

The Sugar Act Raised the tax rates on imports of raw sugar and molasses The property of merchants accused of smuggling was seized “No taxation without representation” Currency Act: to slow inflation, Britain banned the use of paper money in the colonies because it lost its value so quickly

The Stamp Act Taxed almost all printed materials in the colonies First direct tax on colonists: Sons of Liberty: group that held demonstrations Declaration of Rights and Grievances: Believed only colonial representatives had the rights to tax, asked Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act Nonimportation Agreement: pledged not to buy any British good until Parliament repealed the acts

The Townshend Acts Revenue Act: customs duties on glass, lead, paper, paint and tea imported by the colonies Writs of assistance Enabled customs officers to enter any location and search for evidence of smuggling

Reaction: Colonists write letters of protest; Virginia’s House of Burgesses passed the Virginia Resolves, saying only the House had the right to tax Virginians Boycott on imported British goods spreads; stopped buy British cloth and tea

The Boston Massacre People were attacking customs officials, British military fired shots and killed 3 people; Several weeks later the British repealed almost all of the Townshend Acts, but kept one tax on tea to maintain the right to tax the colonists Please read Section 2 up until “The Revolution Begins” 64-68