1. Chapter 4: Imperial Wars and Colonial Protest
Julia Pitino

2. Argument
American colonists saw harsher British policies as a threat to their liberties, resulting in deepened resentment for their motherland that eventually led to the American Revolution.

3. Why Harsher Policies? Original policy: salutary neglect
Little direct control
Many laws unenforced
Imperial wars lead to reorganization of the empire

4. Why Harsher Policies? (cont)
Imperial Wars: to gain control of colonial trade
First Three Wars
King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, King George’s War
Conflicts between British, Spain, France imperialists
French and Indian War
British & colonies defending land from French
Peace of Paris: Britain wins & gains supremacy in colonies

5. Why Harsher Policies? (cont)
After imperial wars, forceful policies are needed
British Empire needs $ to pay for cost of the wars & to maintain force in colonies
Whigs: colonies should bear most of the cost
Proclamation of 1763: colonial settling beyond Appalachians prohibited
Ignored by colonists

6. British Actions & Colonial Reactions
Britain’s forceful policies put upon the colonies following 1763 provoke protest and strong reactions.

7. British Actions & Colonial Actions (cont)
Sugar Act (1764):
Duties on foreign sugar
Navigation Acts strictly enforced
Quartering Act:
Required colonists to provide food/shelter for British soldiers

8. British Actions & Colonial Reactions (cont)
Stamp Act:
Tax on most printed paper to raise $ for military
First direct tax
Colonial Reaction to Stamp Act:
Patrick Henry demands no taxation while addressing House of Burgess
Stamp Act Congress decides only representatives can approve taxes
Sons & Daughters of Liberty turn violent
Boycott of British goods

10. British Actions & Colonial Reactions (cont)
Declaratory Act (1766)
Repeals Stamp Act but;
Parliament may tax & make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”
The Townshend Acts
Charles Townshend becomes British chancellor
New duties on imports to pay crown officials

11. British Actions & Colonial Reactions (cont)
Colonial Reaction to Townshend Acts
John Dickinson: “no taxation without representation”
Circular Letter (1768)
Eventually Townshend Acts are repealed: damaged trade & generated little revenue

12. “Those who are taxed without their own consent, expressed by themselves or their representatives, are slaves. We are taxed without our own consent, expressed by ourselves or our representatives. We are therefore--Slaves.”

13. “the Acts made there [in Parliament], imposing duties on the people of this province, with the sole and express purpose of raising a revenue, are infringements of their natural and constitutional rights; because, as they are not represented in the British Parliament, his Majesty's commons in Britain, by those Acts, grant their property without their consent.”

14. British Actions & Colonial Reactions (cont)
Boston Massacre
Reaction to presence of British soldiers
Colonists harass guards who shoot back
Colonists acquitted, incident used to inflame anti-British sentiment
Boston Tea Party:
British East India Company suffers due to boycott of British goods
Tea Act passes (1773) making British tea cheaper than Dutch smuggled tea
Bostonians board a ship (carrying tea) arriving at harbor & dump tea

15. British Actions & Colonial Reactions (cont)
Intolerable Acts:
Parliament, king, Lord North angered by Boston Tea Party
Retaliate with a series of harsh acts
Coercive Acts (1774): aimed to punish MA colonists & control dissidents
Quebec Act (1774): British enforces Roman Catholicism & non-representational government in its Canadian lands
Colonial anger: view act as an attack on colonial land & resent new enforcements

17. New Philosophy deepens divisions
The Enlightenment
European movement in literature & philosophy
Attracts many educated Americans
John Locke: “natural laws,” says citizens should revolt against a government that doesn’t protect their rights
British policies are seen are seen as denying “natural laws,” giving colonies reason to revolt