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New Taxes and Tensions

New Taxes and Tensions. Section 4 Chapter 5. Focus Questions. How did the colonists respond to the Townshend Acts? Why were the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party significant events? What was the purpose of the intolerable Acts?. The Townshend Acts.

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New Taxes and Tensions

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  1. New Taxes and Tensions Section 4 Chapter 5

  2. Focus Questions • How did the colonists respond to the Townshend Acts? • Why were the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party significant events? • What was the purpose of the intolerable Acts?

  3. The Townshend Acts • Parliament passed the Townshend Acts in June of 1767 which placed duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea • To enforce the acts the British officials used writs of assistance– allowed tax collectors to search for smuggled goods (violated colonists’ constitutional rights) • Colonists boycotted these products and women formed the Daughters of Liberty to support these actions

  4. The Townshend Acts • Several colonial legislatures joined in the protest against the Townshend Acts • The Sons of Liberty began to attack the houses of custom (after John Hancock’s ship was seized) • Governor Francis Bernard broke up the Massachusetts legislature and British soldiers arrived in October of 1768 to occupy Boston

  5. The Boston Massacre • Many people of Boston felt the troops were there to silence critics (especially Sam Adams) • On March 5, 1770, a mob grew and threw snowballs at British soldiers, shots were fired and several colonists were killed (Crispus Attucks)

  6. The Boston Massacre • Sam Adams used the event for propaganda– information giving only one side of the argument • The shooting was called the Boston Massacre by the colonists

  7. The Boston Massacre • John Adams defended Thomas Preston and the soldiers • Jury found the soldiers not guilty first degree murder • Two soldiers were found guilty of accidental murder and were branded on the thumb

  8. A Tea Tax • Parliament repealed most of the Townshend Acts but it kept one tax on tea • The British East India Company was offered an opportunity to sell tea directly to colonists at a lower rate • This Tea Act was passed in 1773 • Colonial merchants and smugglers felt they would be put out of business

  9. A Tea Tax • Some felt the East India Tea Company would gain a monopoly in colonies • Colonists united under the protest of the Tea Act

  10. A Tea Tax • On the night of December 16, 1773 colonists disguised themselves as American Indians snuck onto the ships and dumped 342 tea chests into Boston Harbor • This would be known as the Boston Tea Party

  11. The Intolerable Acts • In the Spring of 1774, Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts to punish Boston • Boston Harbor was closed until tea was paid for • The Legislature was not to meet again • Royal officials charged with a crime were sent to Britain to stand trial • Colonists were forced to quarter (house and supply) British soldiers • General Thomas Gage became the new governor of Massachusetts

  12. The Intolerable Acts • Instead of making an example of Massachusetts it made more colonists angry • Mercy Otis Warren wrote plays that criticized the British soldiers and administration • Colonial leaders in Boston proposed a boycott of all British goods in the colonies and tried to bring together leaders to decide the best way to respond

  13. Focus Questions • How did the colonists respond to the Townshend Acts? • Why were the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party significant events? • What was the purpose of the intolerable Acts?

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