1. Ch. 5, Sec. 1 Notes – Taxation without Representation

5. Britain halts American expansion
Estimated population of over 500,000 Natives
Britain stations 10,000 soldiers in colonies, on frontier
Proclamation Line of 1763 prohibits colonists from moving west of Appalachians

6. Britain needs Cash
After the French & Indian War, Britain had has huge debts
1764, George Grenville, British Finance Minister targets American smuggling
Allows customs officers to receive general writs of assistance, legal documents that enabled officers to search the homes and warehouses for smuggled goods.

7. The Sugar Act 1764, Parliament passes the Sugar Act
Lowered the tax on molasses imported by the American colonists
British hoped this would reduce smuggling
Also set up special courts to hear smuggling cases. Cases heard and decided by British appointed judges, not juries.

8. “Taxation without representation is tyranny”

9. The Stamp Act 1765, Parliament passes the Stamp Act
Placed a tax on almost all printed materials – including newspapers, pamphlets, wills, playing cards
American opposition focused on two points:
Parliament interfered in colonial affairs by taxing them directly
Taxed the colonists without their consent

10. American Response & Repeal
Virginia House of Burgesses passes a resolution, or formal declaration of opinion, declaring it only had the right to lay taxes on citizens
Colonists hang effigies, or rag figures, representing un-popular tax collectors
In Boston, Samuel Adams helps to form the Sons of Liberty, which led protests in the streets, burned and ransacked houses
Merchants boycott, or refuse to buy, British and European goods
People refuse to use the stamps – thousands sign nonimportation agreements in which they pledged to not import goods from Britain
British merchants beg Parliament to repeal, or cancel, the Act
February 1766, Parliament repeals the Act

11. New Taxes
Britain passes Declaratory Act of 1766 declaring Parliament has the right to tax and make decisions in the American colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
Charles Townshend, Britain’s new Finance Minister, passes Townshend Acts in 1767, taxing all imports (common items such as glass, tea, paper, lead)
Specifically targets goods Americans do not make

12. British use tax revenue
British used tax revenue from Acts to pay for new courts and the salaries of British governors
Britain replaces colonial assemblies as source of wages for governors, reducing American control over British governors
Americans continue to boycott goods taxed by the Townshend Act

13. Daughters of Liberty
Women organized groups to boycott British goods, sometimes calling themselves the Daughters of Liberty
Urged Americans to wear homemade fabrics, produce their own goods
Encouraged people to be economically independent