Chapter 5 Turmoil Over Taxation

Britain now had a huge national debt George III insisted on keeping the largest peacetime army in British history –on active duty supposedly to protect the Native Americans from frontiersman and to preserve order in the newly acquired territories of Florida and Quebec –helped to fuel the financial crisis

Britain didn’t even leave enough troops to maintain peace on the frontier and the natives began to rebel against the incursions by colonial settlers

Pontiac’s War Chief Pontiac led attack on British troops at Fort Detroit after several skirmishes, Indians cannot count on help from French Indians stop fighting and leave

Proclamation of 1763 because of Pontiac’s War – British should not settle on western frontier imaginary line along crest of Appalachian Mountains forbid colonists to settle west of line meant to bring order to western lands 10,000 troops to enforce law

colonists are angry –the land is theirs, why not settle it –must pay for additional troops many settlers ignore the proclamation and moved west anyway one colonist – Daniel Boone – crossed the Cumberland Gap, settled in Louisville, KY

New TAXES French and Indian War – costly – put Britain deeply in debt To pay for war – English Parliament approves new taxes

Sugar Act new tax on molasses (valuable in triangular trade) colonists avoided it by smuggling molasses into the colonies colonists bribed tax collectors tax was lowered to make it easier for British officials to bring smugglers to trial

Stamp Act Parliament passed another tax legal documents – wills, diplomas, marriage papers, newspapers, almanacs, playing cards, dice all items had to carry a stamp showing that tax had been paid tax used in Britain and other countries to raise money

MA – Lt. Gov Hutchinson – angered by taxes threw rocks at agents tarred and feathered agents riots in Boston, New York City, Newport, Charleston Britain – angry spent a great deal of money to protect colonies against the French British at home paying much higher taxes than the colonists

“NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION” colonists claimed the taxes went against the principle of no taxation without representation – based upon the Magna Carta only colonial representatives had the right to pass taxes colonists did not elect representatives to Parliament Parliament had no right to tax them colonists willing to pay taxes if taxes were passed by their own colonial legislature

Nine colonies sent delegates to NYC – Stamp Act Congress drew up petitions to King George III and to Parliament delegates rejected Stamp Act and stated that Parliament had no right to tax colonies Parliament ignored petition colonists boycotted British goods trade fell off by 14%, Parliament repealed (canceled) the Stamp Act

Townshend Acts Charles Townshend – in charge of British treasury taxed glass, paper, paint, lead, tea taxes were low – colonists still objected Parliament did not have the right to tax them without their consent new ways to collect taxes

Writs of Assistance officers allowed to inspect ship’s cargo without giving a reason colonists protested – violated their rights as British citizens under British law, gov’t officials could not search a person’s property without a good reason for suspecting a crime had been committed

Colonists signed agreements to stop importing goods taxed by Townshend Acts Sons of Liberty – mock hangings, burn effigies – meant to threaten tax collectors Daughters of Liberty – paraded, signed petitions, organized a boycott of British cloth

Key Players in the Colonies Samuel Adams – Boston, MA – against British John Adams (cousin) important MA leader – skilled lawyer

Mercy Otis Warren – wrote plays making fun of British officials Abigail Adams (wife of John) - wrote letter supporting colonists and for greater rights for women

George Washington – VA – protested Townshend Acts Patrick Henry – VA – speeches in House of Burgesses

Thomas Jefferson – VA – supported colonists

Quartering Act colonists had to provide housing, candles, bedding, beverages, to soldiers stationed in the colonies

Boston Massacre British troops in Boston protest customs officers night, March 5, 1770 – outside a Boston customs house colonists shouted insults at “lobsterbacks” –threw snowballs, oyster shells, chunks of ice at soldiers

soldiers panicked – fired into crowd five people lay dead –Samuel Maverick – 17 yr. old white youth –Crispus Attucks – African American sailor colonists protest incident – called it a massacre

Paul Revere – Boston silversmith created engraving showing British soldiers firing on unarmed colonists Sam Adams – wrote letters to build outrage about shooting soldiers arrested – tried in court John Adams – defended soldiers – they deserved a fair trial –show the world that the colonists believed in justice heaviest punishment – branding on the hand

Committee of Correspondence wrote letters and pamphlets reporting to other colonies on events in Massachusetts major tool of protest in every colony

Parliament repealed most of the Townshend Acts repealed Quartering Act retained tax on tea – British still had power to tax colonies