Road to Revolution Part I

Political British model of government was the best – Due process, trial by jury, freedom of the press, no taxation without representation – 3 branches Executive: monarch Legislative: 2 houses of Parliament Judicial Colonial Governments: written “constitutions” or legal documents Majority of the men in the colonies were qualified to vote unlike in Britain

Political/Economic Britain wished to tax colonists to pay salaries of governors and judges – Alarmed colonists because of representation – Parliament argued that they “virtually” represented the colonies – Britain expected colonists to obey, while colonists felt that they were equal to members of the British political body. – Felt that only elected officials had the right to tax the colonies

New Taxes Parliament needed to raise money to pay off war debts Sugar Act: assigned customs officers and created courts to collect duties and prosecute smugglers in the colonies Quartering Act: required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British troops that remained in the area after the French and Indian War Stamp Act: required colonists to pay a tax on almost all printed materials – Newspapers, books, court documents, contract, land deeds, etc. – Direct tax on the colonies

Reaction to the Stamp Act Colonists were greatly angered by the Stamp Act – Felt that it threatened their prosperity and liberty Colonists argued that because they had no representation in Parliament, Parliament could not levy taxes against them. Parliament dismissed these arguments as selfish

Colonial Protests Protests occurred in three forms: – Intellectual protest, economic boycotts, and violent intimidation Pamphlets, resolutions, speeches, and sermons were all drafted to persuade defiance. John Adams, a Massachusetts lawyer, was amazed at the political activity caused by the Stamp Act.

Enlightenment Ideas at Work Life, Liberty, and Property & government exists for the good of the people – Bad government = protests Patrick Henry writes the Virginia Resolves – Argued that only colonial assemblies can tax the colonies – House of Burgesses accepted most of his resolves in May of 1765 but rejected 2 – 8 other colonies adopted resolves similar to his

Road to Revolution Part II

Stamp Act Colonists began to violently oppose the Stamp Act. – Unified the colonies Colonists that opposed the British tax became known as the “Patriots”

Sons of Liberty A group that formed to lead political protests in the colonies, led by Bostonian Samuel Adams.

Sons of Liberty Angry crowds at the protests began assaulting colonists that were in support of the taxes. – Tore down the office and damaged the house of a tax collector Protests were especially violent in Boston – Protests were denounced by colonial governments

Thomas Hutchinson Hutchinson, the Massachusetts lieutenant governor denounced the protests. Insisted that the colonists had the legal duty to pay Parliament’s taxes – In retaliation, a mob of colonists destroyed his home. After this incident, no one in Boston voiced their support of the stamp tax.

Attack on Tax Collectors The Sons of Liberty and other Bostonians would attack tax collectors. – Tarring and feathering Because of these attacks, all of the tax collectors had resigned by the end of the year – Left no one to collect the taxes

Stamp Act Congress Held in New York City in October of 1765 – 9 colonies sent delegates Encouraged a consumer boycott of British goods Noimportation Agreements: threated British merchants and manufacturers with economic ruin

Women & the Boycotts Women played a vital economic role in the colonies during the boycott – The need for “homespun” cloth increased Women gathered to spin and weave cloth – Received applause from spectators and the Patriot newspapers Women also gave up certain comforts when they agreed to give up manufactured and imported goods from Britain These women became known as the “Daughters of Liberty”

British Response Under pressure from the colonies, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 – British merchants and manufacturers However, Parliament also passed an act declaring its right to levy taxes on the colonists

British Taxes Continue Britain still needed to raise money to pay its debts. Charles Townshend: Crown’s chief financial officer – Felt that the colonies would accept an indirect tax on commerce Townshend Acts (1767) – levied new import duties (taxes) on items such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea Everyday items

Response from the Colonies Colonists insisted that they would NOT pay any new taxes from Parliament Resented the fact that the Townshend Act taxes would pay the salaries of colonial governments and judges

More Violence in Boston More boycotts, protests and violence were triggered by the Townshend Acts Customs officers, operating for the British, seized the ship Liberty for smuggling goods in June of 1768 – Belonged to John Hancock, wealthy merchant and successful colonial politician Seizure of the ship sparked even more protests

More Violence in Boston The Crown sent 4,000 troops to back up the customs officers by occupying Boston Troops remained there for over a year – Inflamed colonial anger

Boston Massacre March 1770: one night, a group of colonists hurled snowballs and rocks at British Soldiers outside of a Customs House – In response, soldiers fired shots into the crowd – Killed five colonists, including a man by the name of Crispus Attucks Killings became known as the Boston Massacre Led to the organization of local committees of correspondence – Provided leadership and encouraged cooperation and colonial unity

Boston Massacre Aftermath British Parliament backed down – Did away with most of the Townshend tax – Kept the tax on tea Way for Parliament to preserve their supremacy Colonists continued to boycott British tea and smuggled in Dutch tea

British East India Company Boycott on tea created financial problems for the British East India Company Company was given permission to sell directly to the colonists – Made British tea cheaper than the tea they smuggled Hoped it would encourage colonists to buy British Colonists felt that the British were trying to trick them into paying the tea tax, still refused to buy British tea.

Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773: – Boston Patriots dressed as Indians and boarded British ships in Boston Harbor – Dumped British tea into the Harbor at night

Colonial Punishment Britain passed the Coercive Acts & closed the port at Boston until colonists paid for the tea they destroyed Increased the power of the governors Britain sent warships and troops to Boston – Colonists were forced to house British troops Border of Canada extended southward – Cut off lands claimed by colonies These acts became known as the Intolerable Acts

First Continental Congress Fall of 1774: – Delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty, or give me death” – “The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American”

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First Continental Congress B oycott of all British imports Local committees and provincial congresses established to enforce the boycotts Established new governments to bypass British Crown and Parliament – Included shopkeepers, artisans, and farmers Expanded the ranks of the politically active

First Continental Congress “ They are all liberty mad.” – New immigrant to the colonies John Adams, a Patriot, decided that he already lived in a new country named America – Unite to defeat the British – Many did not agree with Adams, wanted to remain part of the British Empire if Britain revoked the Coercive Acts and didn’t tax them – They would not feel the same in just 2 years.