1. Revolutionary War
Taxes and Boycotts

2. I. Trouble on the Frontier
A. Most Native American groups in the Ohio Valley had supported the French in the French and Indian War. When the British won, British traders and colonists settled the region.

3. B. Chief Pontiac, leader of the Ottawa tribe, began an uprising against the British. This is called Pontiac’s Rebellion. He was aided by almost every Native American group from Lake Superior to the Mississippi River Valley.

4. C. Pontiac’s forces captured many British forts and were successful, but when he heard that the French surrendered, he quit fighting.

5. D. This led to the Proclamation of 1763 issued by King George III which forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachians.
1. Many colonists ignored this, so the British put troops in the frontier. The colonists were expected to pay for this.

6. II. Money, Money, Money
A. From the British point of view, the French and Indian War had made the colonists safe from attack by the French, and it had cost them little.

7. B. From the Colonists point of view, the war had been fought to protect British trade. Naturally, the British should pay the cost of protecting its’ empire.

8. C. Regardless, Britain needed money, and Parliament looked to the colonies for a solution.

9. D. Sugar Act of 1764
1. Parliament put a tax on foreign molasses and sugar, but it was a reduction from the previous tax. This hurt many New England industries. The colonists refused to pay it.

10. E. Stamp Act (1765)
1. This law forced colonists to pay taxes on everyday items like newspapers, playing cards, legal documents, licenses and diplomas.
2. For the first time, Parliament was taxing the colonies directly.

11. 3. NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
a. The colonists knew that one basic right of British citizens was to be taxed only by the representatives they had elected. Yet NO American voted in elections to Parliament.
The Stamp Act, then, clearly violated the cherished idea of No Taxation Without Representation.

12. 4. Colonists began to protest against this, and an angry group of colonists formed a group called The Sons of Liberty.

13. a. Many colonists formed a boycott where they agreed not to buy or sell any British goods.

14. 5. Stamp Act Congress
a. Delegates from 9 colonies met in New York City to write a protest to King George III.
b. It was respectful because they were still loyal British subjects.

15. 6. British merchants were being hurt by the boycott, so they pressured Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.
a. George Grenville, the British Prime Minister did repeal it.

16. 7. Declaratory Act
a. When Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, they also passed the Declaratory Act.
b. The Declaratory Act stated that Parliament had the right to rule and tax the colonies.

17. III. Conflict with Britain Increases.
A. Parliament wanted to raise money from the colonies, so they passed the Townshend Acts (1767). They placed import taxes on tea, paint, glass, and paper coming into America.
1. The Townshend Acts also allowed the British to search anywhere without a search warrant for smuggled goods.

18. B. Merchants again boycotted British goods
B. Merchants again boycotted British goods. The Sons of Liberty helped to carry it out. Colonial women also formed the Daughters of Liberty, and they boycotted British tea and cloth.
1. Samuel Adams, the leader of the Sons of Liberty, kept giving speeches and writing letters about Parliament hurting American rights and liberties.

19. C. The Boston Massacre
1. On March 5, 1770, a group from Boston began insulting Hugh White, a British guard, and started throwing snowballs at him.
2. When more soldiers arrived, an angry mob surrounded them. Thomas Preston, a British captain, tried to keep his men calm, but they began firing into the crowd.

20. 3. Five men were killed including Crispus Attucks, an African-American sailor.

22. 5. Samuel Adams and other colonists called the incident The Boston Massacre.
4. Preston and his men were put on trial. John Adams, a fierce patriot, helped to defend them on trial.