Trouble Over Colonists' Rights

1. Who was George Grenville and why is he important? --Prime Minister of Great Britain --He asked Parliament to tax the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War and to pay to keep an army in the colonies.

2. What was the Sugar Act and why was it important to the colonists? --a tax on molasses and sugar imported by colonists --first act passed to raise money in colonies, rather than regulate trade

3. What was the difference between vice-admiralty courts and British courts? Vice-admiralty courts had: no jury -- guilty until proven innocent Regular British courts accused were innocent until proven guilty

4. describe what Parliament did to force the colonists to obey the new laws and pay taxes? --merchants had to give royal officials a list of their cargo --British stopped and searched ships --Smugglers could lose their ship and cargo.

5. Who was one of the first colonists to protest the new taxes passed by Parliament? James Otis, a lawyer from Boston

6. Who was Samuel Adams and why was he an important colonial leader? --believed Parliament couldn’t tax colonists without their consent --encouraged colonists

7. Leaders Samuel Adams and James Otis said that agreeing to British taxes could be dangerous and they helped spread the slogan: “No Taxation Without Representation”

8. What were Committees of Correspondence. a. What did they do 8. What were Committees of Correspondence? a. What did they do? How were they organized? Groups that contacted other towns and colonies to share ideas and information about new British laws and ways to challenge them

9. Define boycott and explain how the colonists used them. A boycott is:-- When people refuse to buy certain goods The colonists used them to: hurt British economy so Parliament would end new taxes

10. What was the Stamp Act. --Act passed in 1765. --Required colonists to pay for official stamp or seal when they bought paper items --It affected most colonists

11. List items that were taxed under the Stamp Act. Legal documents, licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards

12. Why did George Grenville think the Stamp Act was fair 12. Why did George Grenville think the Stamp Act was fair? Why did he believe the colonists should pay those taxes? Explain. In Britain, people paid similar taxes

13. Secret societies that protested against the British and met to discuss how to defend their colonial rights were called the Sons of Liberty

14. Who was a Virginian who believed strongly in freedom and rights and spoke about this in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Patrick Henry

15. What was the House of Burgesses? Colonial Virginia’s Representative Assembly

16. The colonists were upset with new taxes and they called for a ______________________ to meet in New York City on October 1765 to discuss how the Stamp Act violated their rights and liberties. Stamp Act Congress

17. Define repeal. To end

18. The Stamp Act was repealed and Parliament passed the Declaratory Acts in retaliation. Explain the Declaratory Acts. What kind of power did England say it had in the colonies? Stated Parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”