Chapter 6 The Road to Revolution

1. Chapter 6 The Road to Revolution England tightens control over the colonies

2. Tensions Arise With England • After the French and Indian War, Britain wanted to govern all its landholdings in North America equally • Parliament began to impose new laws and restrictions on colonists • After the period of Salutary Neglect, many colonists felt their freedoms were being limited

3. Proclamation of 1763 • Forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains • Prevent further conflict with the Natives, • After Pontiac’s Rebellion • Colonists wanted to move into the fertile valley of the Ohio River • Many felt they had earned the right by helping to win the war

4. England exerts its authority • Must enforce the Proclamation and needed troops in the colonies. • Quartering Act (1765) –Required colonists to house British soldiers and provide them with supplies • Most of the troops were stationed in New York with General Thomas Gage

5. England exerts its authority • England had a huge debt from the war, and the quartering act required even more money. • Colonial assemblies had been responsible for creating taxes to support the colonial military • Sugar Act – tax on sugar, molasses and other products shipped to colonies; included a harsh punishment for smuggling

6. “Taxation without representation is tyranny!” • Many colonial merchants had been trading smuggled goods and reacted angrily to the new enforcement • Colonial leaders criticized the direct taxation by Parliament • James Otis argued that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies because they had no direct representation in Parliament • England argued that since colonists benefited from English laws they were subject to be taxed.

7. Stamp Act (1765) • Required that all legal and commercial documents have an official stamp showing a tax had been paid for them • New type of tax – not on imported goods, but applied to items within the colonies. • It was a tax directly on colonists • Colonial leaders continued to question the legality of being taxed without representation

8. Stamp Act Congress • Met in New York City; first time colonies met to act together in protest • Created petition to King protesting the act • Declared right to tax the colonies rested with colonial legislatures • Colonial merchants boycotted British goods

9. Sons of Liberty • Colonists formed secret societies to oppose British policies • Most were people who’s businesses were most affected by the tax • Many groups staged protests against the taxes; some were violent with fires set and tax collectors tarred and feathered

10. Stamp Act Repealed • The protests had an effect on British Merchants. They were scared their trade with the colonies would be hurt • William Pitt agreed with colonists about taxation and representation and criticized the Stamp Act • Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 • Declaratory Act (1766) – Parliament declared it had supreme power over the colonies