Navigation Acts 1650-1696 Mercantilism – country must have more exports than imports Colonies could only trade with Britain Colonies were taxed on some imports from Britain Colonists smuggled goods to avoid taxes Colonists saw their rights as Englishmen being taken away
Causes of the Revolution Proclamation of 1763 British attempt to end troubles with Native Americans Colonists forbidden from settling west of the Appalachian Mts. 10,000 British soldiers on the frontier Speculators had already bought land
Causes of the Revolution Sugar Act (1764) To stop smuggling with the French W. Indies Writs of Assistance used Lowered tax on molasses Smugglers would be tried in front of a British judge Right to trial by jury was taken away
Causes of the Revolution Stamp Act (1765) Britain faced a huge war debt, needed $ Tax on all printed goods in the colonies A British stamp had to be applied to all printed items
British Stamps on Printed Material
Causes of the Revolution Stamp Act Protests Colonists had been taxed without a voice in Parliament Sons of Liberty formed in Boston Burning effigies and boycotts throughout the colonies Stamp Act Congress (9 colonies) claim that only the colonies can tax themselves
Sons of Liberty visit a Tax Collector
Causes of the Revolution Stamp Act Repealed Parliament repeals Stamp Act (1766) Parliament also passes Declaratory Act Parliament claims the right to tax the colonies
Causes of the Revolution Townshend Acts (1767) British tax on imported goods Included everyday items (glass, tea, paper) More boycotts Daughters of Liberty: “Produce goods at home”
Causes of the Revolution Boston Massacre (1770) British troops sent to Boston (redcoats) Arguments between Bostonians & redcoats Standoff between crowd & soldiers A soldier is hit by a rock, accidentally fires on crowd
Causes of the Revolution Boston Massacre (1770) Five colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks (African American, leader of the group) Anti-British propaganda spreads (Revere) John Adams defended the soldiers in court
Boston Massacre Propaganda
Causes of the Revolution Boston Tea Party (1773) Tea Act: British Tea Company would not pay same tax as colonial merchants Tea ships arrived in Boston in December Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawks and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor
Boston Tea Party
Causes of the Revolution Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774) To punish Boston for the Tea Party Closed Boston Harbor until tea was paid for Forced colonists to quarter (house) British soldiers Other colonies sent food & clothing as aid Britain prohibited town meetings Britain prohibited town meetings
The Road to War - Overview Proclamation of 1763 Britain taxes the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War Britain interference in the colonies right to self-government “Taxation without representation is tyranny!” James Otis