The Colonists Protest British Rule NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

Unfair Laws Molasses Act of 1733: limited the amount of molasses and sugar colonists could buy from the parts of the West Indies not under British rule; repealed in 1764 Sugar Act of 1764: taxed sugar; allowed those accused of breaking this law to be tried without a jury of their peers

Stamp Act of 1765: forced colonists to pay a tax when they bought a newspaper or signed a legal document; profits went to England Quartering Act: forced colonists to provide British soldiers in the colonies a place to live, food, and candles; denied colonists’ right as British not to have a standing army during peacetime

Important People Patrick Henry: member of the House of Burgesses who said that only Virginians could tax Virginians; England accused him of treason Sons of Liberty: a group of colonists who joined together to fight the Stamp Act and organize protests against other taxes Samuel Adams: a member of the Sons of Liberty who wrote newspaper articles attacking the Stamp Act

Townshend Acts Many members of the British government were unhappy about giving in to the colonists. Charles Townshend, the British treasurer, passed many tax laws to make money for the British government. The Townshend Acts taxed tea, paper, glass, lead, and paint imported from England. The Daughters of Liberty formed to support the boycott of British taxed goods by making goods themselves or doing without.

Boston Massacre In October 1768, British troops entered Boston to control colonists who were increasingly upset about the Townshend Acts. On March 6, 1770 a group of colonists met. In the confusion that followed, British soldiers fired, killing 5 men, including Crispus Attucks. This turned many colonists against Britain.

Committee of Correspondence In 1772, Samuel Adams asked members of the Boston town meeting to state the rights of the colonists. By 1774, all colonies except Pennsylvania had formed a Committee of Correspondence to keep in touch with other colonies about important political events.

Boston Tea Party Great Britain repealed the Townshend Acts, but kept the tax on tea. Britain sent tea into Boston Harbor to be sold to the colonists. Abigail Adams reported that colonists were planning to protest the tax on tea. Colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. Parliament closed Boston Harbor until all tea was paid for and banned all town meetings. These were known as the Intolerable Acts.

First Continental Congress In 1774, delegates from every colony but Georgia met in Philadelphia to discuss their response to the Intolerable Acts. Delegates decided to send a petition to the king, asking for the acts to be repealed. They also decided to stop trade with Britain. Each colony was asked to have minutemen ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Every able-bodied man had to join the militia. Congress decided to meet again in May 1775 if Britain refused their demands.