English Acts & American Rebellion….

1. English Acts & American Rebellion…. The Old School Tea Party

2. 9/9/2013 • Goal: • List two ways that American Colonists rebelled against British Taxes.

3. The problem….. • The French and Indian War left England with a huge debt • The British felt the Colonists should pay the debt since the expenses came as a result of their protection. • The Colonists felt that the British should pay the debt since England was their “mother” country. In addition, colonists felt they were able to defend themselves.

4. The solution…. • Prime Minister George Grenville decided that the colonists should be taxed to raise the money.

6. The Colonial Reaction • Colonists gathered in town hall meetings to protest these taxes • Others formed a protest group called the Sons of Liberty. At first the SOL organized peacefully by boycotting British goods and boycotting merchants who sold British goods. As the injustices from England continued, the SOL grew violent in their tactics, including attacking British tax collectors. • “We are changed from being free subjects to the miserable state of tributary slaves” – Samuel Adams

7. The Boston Massacre • Seeing British soldiers on the street angered Colonists both because they were a reminder of British arrogance, and because poorly paid soldiers took part time jobs away from Colonists. • On March 5, 1770 a crowd of Colonists began to throw snowballs at the British soldiers, causing the soldiers to respond with gunfire. In the end, five Americans were killed.

8. Committees of Correspondence • Colonial leaders played it up as a deliberate attack on civilians • Samuel Adams and 8,000 other radicals began spreading the news door to door – rallying opposition to common complaints. • Examined merchants good and published who was buying boycotted goods • Promoted home manufacturing of goods (particularly clothes)