Section 3

A Storm Over Taxes After the French and Indian War new British policies toward the colonies angered the colonists Despite differences colonists were moving toward unity

New Troubles on the Frontier With the French gone, English colonists eagerly headed west to farm the former French lands

Relations with Indians worsen As British settlers moved into the Ohio Valley, they often clashed with the Native Americans The French had always treated the natives like friends offering them feasts and presents British lord Jeffery Amherst refused to do this

Worsen contd. He raised the price on British goods traded to the Indians and allowed English settlers to build forts on Native American lands Pontiac: an Ottawa chief, in April 1763 he spoke out against the British calling them “dogs dressed in red who have come to rob us of our hunting grounds and drive away the game”

Fighting on the Frontier Pontiac led an attack on the British at Fort Detroit Other Indians joined the attack and they captured most British forts on the frontier British and colonial troops struck back regaining much of what they had lost

Proclamation of 1763 Pontiac’s War convinced the British to close western lands to settlers Proclamation of 1763: Drew and imaginary lien across the Appalachian Mountains Colonists were forbidden to settle west of the line It ordered all settlers west of the land to remove themselves at once British sent 10,000 troops to the colonies to enforce

Proclamation contd. The proclamation angered the colonists Some colonies including New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia claimed lands west of the line Colonists had to pay for the troops sent by the British Many settlers ignored the proclamation and moved west anyway

Stamp Act Crisis The French and Indian War plunged Britain deep into debt Taxes rose for citizen of Britain George Grenville, British prime minister, decided that the colonists should share the tax burden

New Taxes Grenville and Parliament passed two (2) new laws 1. Sugar Tax: placed a new tax on molasses 2. Stamp Act: put a tax on legal documents such as wills, diplomas, and marriage papers. It also taxed newspapers, almanacs, playing cards and dice All items named in the law had to carry a stamp showing the tax had been paid

Taxes contd. When British officials tried to enforce the Stamp Act they met stormy protests Riots broke out Colonists threw rocks at tax collecting agents Some tarred and feathered the agents

No Taxation without Representation Britain did not understand why the colonies were so angry about the Stamp Act. After all they had spent a lot of money protecting them against the French English traditions dating back the to Magna Carta spearheaded the principle of no taxation without representation Colonists insisted that they or only their elected representatives had the right to pass taxes on the colonies NOT Parliament

A Call for Unity Critics of the new British law called for delegated to meet in New York City to consider actions against the Stamp Act Stamp Act Congress: nine (9) colonies sent delegates. They drew up petition to King George III and Parliament asserting they had no right to tax the colonies The petitions were ignored

Unity contd. Boycott: to refuse to buy a certain goods or service The boycott of British goods took its toll with a 14% fall in trade, British merchants suffered, British workers making the goods suffered 1766 Parliament repealed the Stamp Act

More Taxes Townshend Acts: named after Charles Townshend head of the British treasury: taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead and tea The taxes were low but colonists rejected them feeling the principle of no taxation without representation was at stake Writes an assistance: legal documents allowing custom officials to inspect ship’s cargo without giving reason Colonists protested that the writs violated their rights as British citizens British law stated that officials could not search a person’s property without a reason for suspecting the owner of a crime

Colonists Fight Back Nonimportant agreements: colonists promised to stop importing goods taxed by the Townshend Acts Colonists hoped the new boycott would lead to a repeal of the Townshend Acts Sons of Liberty: a group of angry male colonists Daughters of Liberty: a group of angry women colonists In cities both groups would gather around hung lanterns from trees. There they staged mock hangings of tax collectors These groups visited merchants urging or threatening them to sign nonimportation agreements

Leaders in the Struggle Leaders emerged in all the colonies. Men and Women in the New England colonies and Virginia were especially active in the colonial cause In Massachusetts Samuel Adams of Boston stood firmly against the British A failure in business and poor public speaker but loved politics A member of the Sons of Liberty

Struggle contd. He organized a committee of correspondence: they wrote letters and pamphlets reporting on events in Massachusetts. Soon committees or correspondence were in every colony Great at rallying public support and arranging protests John Adams, Sam’s cousin, another leader in Massachusetts Skilled lawyer More cautious then Sam, weighing evidence before acting Great knowledge of British Law

Struggle contd.

Mercy Otis Warren Published plays that made fun of British officials Formed a close friendship with Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams

Struggle contd. In Virginia- George Washington joined the Virginians to protests the Townshend Acts Patrick Henry Gave speeches that moved listeners, bring them to tears and anger

Centers of Protest Port cities like Boston and New York were centers of protest Quartering Act: colonists had to provide housing, candles, bedding, and beverages to British soldiers stationed in the colonies New York sees this law as another way to tax them without their consent New York assembly refused to obey the law In 1767 Britain dismissed the assembly

Protest contd. Boston Britain sent troops to protest custom officials Bostonians saw a daily reminder that Britain was bullying them into paying unjust taxes

Boston Massacre March 5, 1770 a crowd threw snowballs, oyster shells, and ice at the lobster backs as they called the recoated British The soldiers panicked firing into the crowd, killing 5 Among the 5 was Crispus Attucks,a black sailor and Sons of liberty Member Sam Adams quickly wrote to other colonists about shooting which he called the Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre contd. The soldiers were arrested and tried in court, defended by John Adams who wanted to ensure the colonist’s could hold a fair trial The soldiers received light sentences because John Adams argued they were provoked

Repeal of the Townshend Acts Parliament voted to repeal most of the Townshend Acts on the request of suffering merchants King George III asked to keep the tax on tea. He wanted to keep “one tax to keep up the right to tax” Most colonists dismissed the tax on tea and for a few years the colonies were calm