Causes of the Revolution 4.1

Objectives Describe the colonists’ political heritage. Explain the colonists’ reaction to new taxes. Describe the methods the colonists used to protest British taxes. Understand the significance of the First Continental Congress in 1774.

Key Parts The Colonist Political Heritage New Taxes Upset Colonists Colonial Protests Intensify New Taxes Lead to New Protests Colonists Unite Against Harsh Measures

The Colonist Political Heritage The colonists believed that Great Britain enjoyed the best government on Earth. British Liberty included the due process of law, trial by jury, and freedom of the press from prior censorship. Initially the colonial governments followed the British model; but in the 1760s this began to change.

The British Model The British government had three branches. Executive power belonged to the monarch Legislative power was divided between two houses of Parliament House of Lords and the House of Commons. Aristocrats inherited seats in the House of Lords. Only the House of Commons had elected officials voted on by a small percentage of the people.

Cont. Despite the similarities in government the British and the Colonists governments differed. Instead of Aristocrats in the council of prominent colonists, there were wealthy plantation owners and merchants. This gave the colonists too much influence according to the British, so they planned to increase taxes.

New Taxes Upset Colonists After the Seven Years War Britain’s National debt double and now there was more land to control and maintain as well. The crown was heavily taxing the British citizens. The government felt it was appropriate to charge the colonist the same tax because the war was fought primarily to ensure their stability.

Sugar Act/Stamp Act The Sugar Act was made to reinforce the laws that were already in place for imported goods, and actually lowered the tax on molasses. The Quartering Act was to provide housing and food for British Soldiers after the French and Indian War. The Stamp Act was the one that angered colonist the most because it was a direct tax and it was put on any published document.

Cont. The Stamp Act was protested by the colonist because they felt it was an infringement on their rights as colonial citizens. They also believed that there was a conspiracy that the British were trying to take the colonists liberty away. The colonist tried to appeal the tax stating that there can’t be “Taxation Without Representation.” (the crown denied the appeal)

Colonial Protests Intensify Tax resistance among the colonists took three forms: Intellectual protest, economic boycotts, violent intimidation. All three forms combined to force the British to back down. Colonial leaders wrote pamphlets, drafted resolutions and gave speeches trying to persuade colonist to go against the taxes.

Patriot Leaders Emerge Colonists violently opposed the Stamp Act. Those who protest the British taxes called themselves “Patriots.” To lead the popular protests some men formed associations known as the Sons of Liberty. Their most famous leader was Boston’s Samuel Adams.

New Taxes lead to New Protests The colonists would not accept a direct tax, but the chief financial advisor to the crown Charles Townshend thought the colonies would accept an indirect tax like they did in the past. Townshend taxed tea, glass, lead, paint, and paper. To Townshend’s surprise, the colonists insisted they would pay no new taxes of any sort to Parliament.

Violence Erupts in Boston In response to the Townshend Acts the colonists revived their protests, boycotts, and street violence. March 1770 a group of colonists hurled snowballs and rocks at British soldiers guarding the Customs House. The nervous soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. This was called the Boston Massacre by Samuel Adams and his Patriots.

Boston Tea Party The colonists continued to boycott the tea from the British East India Company. So the British decided to lower the cost of tea by selling directly to the colonist. The price was cheaper than the smuggled tea even with the tax. (the British were trying to get the colonist to still pay the tax)

Cont. The colonist still would not buy the tea, they continued to use the smugglers. On December 16, 1773, a group of colonist dressed as Indians boarded three British ships and dumped all the tea into the harbor calling this the Boston Tea Party.

Colonist Unite Under Harsh Measures The acts of the Boston Tea Party angered the British Parliament and so they created the coercive acts. These acts omitted trade from Boston until the tea was paid for including the tax. Also adjusted the Canadian Border further south limiting the colonists land. The colonists called this the Intolerable acts.

Cont. The colonies take action. In the fall of 1774 delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. This is where Patrick Henry says “Give me liberty or give me death.” Also the first time you really hear the colonies unite in saying they are Americans.