THE TOWNSHEND ACTS Bringing Britain and the Colonies Closer to War

REVIEW:  Write down 2 important facts about the Sugar Act.  How did the colonies react?  Write down 2 important facts about the Stamp Act.  How did the colonies react?

The Stamp Act Fails!  Parliament is forced to repeal the Stamp Act in March of 1766…Success!  BUT they issue the Declaratory Act:  Asserted Parliament’s right to make laws to “Bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever.”  What key word sticks out here?

Bind  “ Bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever.”  To hold or restrain  To tie up or fasten something.  To be uncomfortably tight or restricting, as clothes.  Who is this really supposed to describe, according to colonists?

 Britain looks at us as property, upon which they can lay any laws they wish.

Townshend Acts ( )  Newly appointed minister, Charles Townshend, steps up to the plate.  Replaces Grenville; has a new taxation plan to gain revenue from the colonies  They were called, “The Townshend Acts” If we could tax one thing that colonists use every single day, what would it be?

Townshend Acts ( )  Unlike the Stamp Act, these were indirect taxes.  Three penny tax on tea! Unfair!  Also taxed glass, lead, paint, and paper.  Colonists reacted with rage  Well-organized resistance  The educated would speak to large crowds, gain support against Britain’s injustices.  Never-ending “taxation without representation”!

Townshend Acts ( ) Samuel Adams led radicals in urging a renewed boycott of British goods Every woman of society becomes unified  All Americans are linked as one under one cause Wealthy women stopped buying British luxury goods “Spinning bees”- public spinning and weaving of colonial made cloth

Conflict Intensifies June 1768 British customs agents in Boston seize John Hancock’s merchant ship Liberty Claimed that Hancock had smuggled wine and failed to pay taxes Riots erupted against customs agents British, in response to these uprisings, stationed 4,000 troops in Boston. One soldier: Four colonists Show of force to “control the people” HOW DOES THIS MAKE THEM FEEL???

British Action: Britain passes Stamp Act: A law requiring colonists to purchase special stamped paper for printed items. Colonists’ Reaction: 1.Colonists harass stamp distributors 2.Boycott British goods 3.Prepare the Declaration of Rights and Grievances 1765 STAMP ACT 1767 TOWNSHEND ACTS British Action: 1.Britain taxes colonial imports 2.Britain stations troops at major colonial ports to protect customs officers Colonists’ Reaction: 1.Colonists protest “Taxation without Representation” 2.Organize new boycott British goods 3.Demonstrations and unification

Bumper Stickers Create bumper stickers – #1: Townshend Acts (British) #2: Townshend Acts (Colonists) #3: Stamp Act (British) #4: Stamp Act (Colonists)