1. Topic: The Imperial Crisis and Resistance to Britain: Was Revolution “inevitable”?

2. Colonial Thought and Philosophy
Growth of inter-colonial unity
Relatively Free Press
Rights as Englishmen
Self-government
Circulation of Enlightenment thought (Montesquieu, Rousseau)
“Republican Virtue”
Fear of Arbitrary Power (King George III)

3. British begin “Revenue Taxes”
Lord Grenville
Payment of war debts
“fair share” of imperial expenses
Navigation Acts enforced
Colonial resentment
Illegal smuggling rises
Sugar Act (1764)
Quartering Act 1765

4. The Stamp Act Controversy
Tax on paper goods
Admiralty courts
Representation debate
Direct vs. Virtual
Reaction against Stamp Act:
NYC Stamp Act Congress
Non-importation Agreements
Sons & Daughters of Liberty
Parliament repeals Stamp Act, passes Declaratory Act (1766)
“Binding” the colonies

5. Townshend Acts and the Boston Massacre
Townshend Taxes (1767):
Lead, paint, tea
Smuggling, resistance  more British troops in America
Boston Massacre (1770)
Townshend Acts repealed (except Tea)
Committees of Correspondence
Samuel Adams

6. The Boston Tea Party Colonists still annoyed by tea taxes
December 1773: Boston Tea Party
British Response: The Intolerable Acts
Boston Port Act
Massachusetts Government Act
The Quebec Act

7. Conclusion
1) Who do you think is responsible for the crisis between Britain and the Colonies?
2) Was this conflict “inevitable”?