2.  Size of Empire and Colonies  Why is this a Problem?  Pontiac’s Rebellion 1763  Indian uprising (1763-1766) led by Pontiac of the Ottawa's and Neolin of the Delawares.  Rebellion was put down and the British forced the Indians to give up some of their territory  Paxton Boys – Group of Pennsylvania colonist mad at government that massacred a group of Conestoga Indians.

3.  Britain’s financial crisis  Debt because of war (130 million Pounds)  National debt doubled and King George III chooses financial expert George Grenville to serve as Prime Minister in 1763 (Though colonists were smuggling goods, and pushed parliament to enact laws)  Enact laws to recoup those costs  They thought the colonists should pay because British helped them.

4.  Problems resulting from the war  British soldiers were stationed in the colonies and surrounding territories to control Natives and former French subjects (10,000 Troops)  Colonists saw this as a standing army – it was unheard of to have a standing army during peacetime

5.  Writs of assistance 1761  Allowed British customs officials to search a ship or building  Many merchants worked out of their homes – the writs enabled officials to search colonial homes  Merchants of Boston were outraged  Proclamation of 1763  Stopped westward expansion  Angered colonists because they were promised expansion if they aided Britain in war (French and Indian War)

6.  Quartering Acts  Acts of Parliament requiring colonial legislatures to provide supplies and quarters for the troops stationed in America  Why? What is the problem?

7.  American Revenue act (Prime Minister George Grenville)– commonly known as the Sugar Act 1764–Purpose was “for improving the revenue of this kingdom”  Halved duty on foreign made molasses – hoping colonists would pay lower tax instead of risking smuggling  Placed high duties on other products  Strengthened smuggling laws – prosecutors would try smugglers in vice admiral courts rather than sympathetic colonial courts

8.  By the end of 1764 the colonists and Britain were disagreeing more and more about how the colonies should be taxed and governed.  Stamp Act (March 1765)  Required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for every legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, almanac, and imposed special duties on playing cards and dice.  Problem?  Stamp Act was the First Internal tax (as apposed to an external trade duty)

9.  Raised the question – Did Parliament have the right to impose direct taxes on Americans when Americans had no elected representatives in Parliament? (Taxation with out Representation?)  Grenville said following the principle of virtual representation – members of Parliament served the interests of the nation as a whole not just the locality from which they came.

10.  Stamp Act Protests  Boston – Samuel Adams joined by merchants, shopkeepers,, and laborers, formed a secret resistance group called the Sons of Liberty.  Sons of Liberty harassed stamp agents and demonstrated/protested.  Stamp collectors quit before the law was to be enacted. No stamps were sold.  Sam Adams said, “when the People are oppressed,” they will be “discontented, and they are not to be blamed”  What does this mean?  Are they oppressed?

11.  Different views on the role of government  During 1765 and 1766 each colonial assemblies met and addressed the stamp issue.  Patrick Henry – Virginias could only be taxed by the Virginia assembly, no one else – other colonial assemblies passed the same law.

12.  Stamp Act Congress (October 1765 in New York) – Meeting of delegates sent by nine colonies, that adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and petitioned against the Stamp Act  Declaration of Rights and Grievances – Asserts that the Stamp Act and other taxes imposed on the colonists without their consent were unconstitutional

13.  Merchants in NY, Boston, and Philly boycott British goods until stamp act is repealed  This works and the Stamp Act is repealed in 1766, but Declaratory Act is issued  Declaratory Act – asserts Parliament’s full right to make laws “to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever”

14.  Townshend Acts – 1767 – indirect tax (tax levied on goods or services, as opposed to an individual – ultimately paid by the consumer in form of higher prices.) Taxes on imported goods such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea  Reaction  Colonists outraged, protested. “no taxation without representation”  Sam Adams calls for another Boycott.  Mery Otis Warren urged women to go with out their fine British furs, feathers, and satin.  Wealthy women stopped buying luxury British Items. Make their own clothing.

15.  Reaction  1768 – John Hancock’s ship accused of smuggling wine with out paying duty. Triggers riots and 2000 British soldiers had to be called in.

16.  Boston Massacre – March 5 th 1770 – Competition for jobs between colonists and poorly paid soldiers. Fist fight breaks out over jobs in the shipyard.  Mobs gathered outside the Custom House in Boston – mocked soldiers, calling them names and throwing tones and snowballs  Soldiers fire killing five including Crispus Attucks (African and Native descent, Sailor, Laborer)  Sam Adams and other colonial agitators label incident the Boston Massacre – slaying of defenseless citizens.

17.  Quiet Period  1774 Committees of Correspondence – communication network linking the colonies, tell each other of threats to American liberties  Tea was Boycotted  Colonists instead got their tea from the Dutch.

18.  Boston Tea Party – December 16 th,1773  British East India company held a monopoly of tea imports and had been hit hard by the boycotts and was nearing bankruptcy  Parliament passes the Tea Act 1773  Granted company the right to sell tea to the colonies free of tax. Means colonial merchants cut out because tea company could sell for less, directly to the consumers.  Colonists protest  Sam Adams reportedly told a large gathering at Old South Meeting House the signal to start the party.  12/16/1773 in the evening, colonists dressed as Native Americans dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. (Ship was the Dartmouth)

19.  King George III was outraged by the colonists actions. In response the English passed the Coercive Acts (First was the Boston Port Act)  Then passed the Quebec Act  These two acts together became known as the Intolerable Acts (1774)  1. One law shut down Boston Harbor  2. Quartering Act – Authorized British officers to house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings  3. General Thomas Gage, commander in chief of British forces in North America was appointed governor of Mass.  4. Boston was placed under Martial Law – Government by military force

20.  September 1774 – First Continental Congress  56 Delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights  Said colonists have the right to run their own affairs, supported protests in Boston and if British used force the colonists would use it right back.  Agreed to reconvene in May 1775 if demands were not met.