Chapter 4 – Road to Independence Activity: Laws/Acts/Actions with Colony and British Reactions

Stamp Act The Stamp Act required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for every legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, and almanac, and imposed special “stamp duties” on packages of playing cards and dice Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Colonists harass stamp distributors, boycott British goods, and prepare a Declaration of Rights and Grievances March 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but issued the Declaratory Act asserting Parliament’s full right to make laws “to bind the colonies and people of America…in all cases whatsoever”

Townshend Acts Indirect tax, or duties levied on imported materials – glass, lead, paint, and paper – as they came into the colonies from Britain Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Colonists protest “taxation without representation” and organize a new boycott on imported goods June 1768 the British seized the Liberty belonging to John Hancock saying he was smuggling in wine from Maderia and didn’t pay the customs taxes – triggered riots against customs agents

Intolerable Acts Britain tightens control over Massachusetts by closing Boston Harbor and making colonist quarter (house) troops Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Colonial leaders form the First continental Congress and draw up a declaration of colonial rights Kept Boston, Massachusetts under martial law (military rule)

Boston Massacre British troops stationed in Boston are taunted by an angry mob. The troops fire into the crowd, killing five colonists. Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Colonial agitators label the conflict a massacre and publish a dramatic engraving depicting the violence King George named a special commission to seek out the suspects and bring them to England for trial for the Massacre incident and burning a boat

Tea Act/Boston Tea Party Britain gives the East India Company special concessions in the colonial tea business and shuts out colonial tea merchants Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Colonists in Boston rebel, dumping 18,000 pounds of East India Company tea into Boston harbor Passed the Intolerable Acts and putting Boston under martial law

Lexington and Concord General Gage orders troops to march to Concord, Massachusetts, and seize colonial weapons Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Minutemen intercept the British and engage in battle – first at Lexington and then at Concord British troops continued from Lexington to Concord, but once they reached Concord they were outnumbered – retreated after shots were fired

Second Continental Congress May 1775 – John Adams suggested that each colony set up its own government and that the Congress declare the colonies independent Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Colonies continued to get ready for the war July 1775 – Olive Branch Petition – urging a return to “the former harmony” between Britain and the colonies Britain rejected the Olive Branch Petition and issued a proclamation stating that the colonies were in rebellion and urged Parliament to order a naval blockade of the American coast

Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson Wrote Drew on the concepts of the English philosopher John Locke, who maintained that people enjoy “natural rights” to life, liberty, and property Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Declared the American colonies were free and on July 4, 1776 adopted the Declaration of Independence Revolution began, Britain would not give up their colonies without a fight

Treaty of Paris September 1783 – confirmed US independence and set the boundaries of the new nation Colony ReactionBritish Reaction Now colonist needed to determine the best course of action to set up a new government Treaty did not specify when the British would evacuate their American forts – leading to a long road ahead trying to cut ties with Britian