Understanding Historical Conflicts: The Spirit of Independence in Colonial America

1. Section 1-Polling Question • A • B • C What do you typically do when you feel you are being treated unfairly? A.Just accept it and say nothing B.Calmly present your grievances to the person treating you unfairly C.Angrily confront the person treating you unfairly

2. Section 2-Polling Question • A • B • C • D How would you most likely respond to taunting? A.Ignore it B.Cry C.Respond verbally D.Respond violently

3. Section 3-Polling Question • A • B Have you ever disagreed with a policy enacted by the government? A.Yes B.No

4. Section 4-Polling Question • A • B • C • D Rate your agreement with the following statement: The media influences your opinion about important issues. A.Strongly agree B.Somewhat agree C.Somewhat disagree D.Strongly disagree

5. The Spirit of Independence (1763-1776) Section 1 Taxation Without Representation

6. Proclamation of 1763 • Britain gained territory after the French and Indian War • The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonists to move west of the Appalachian Mountains • Britain did this to protect its citizens from Native American attacks • Also the Proclamation kept settlers near the coast where there would be more trade of British goods • The Proclamation also allowed Britain to control the fur trade on the frontier

7. Britain’s Interests • Britain planned on stationing 10,000 troops in the colonies to protect these interests (Quartering Act) • Britain needed new revenue (incoming money) to pay troop expenses • Also the French and Indian War left Britain with a huge debt • The king and Parliament believed the colonists should pay for part of the cost • New taxes on the colonies were introduced along with enforcing existing taxes more strictly

8. The Sugar Act (1764) • Lowered the tax on imported molasses • Prime Minister Grenville hoped the lower tax would convince the colonists to pay the tax instead of smuggling • The act also let officers seize goods from smugglers without going to court • Colonists felt these actions violated their rights as English citizens

9. The Stamp Act (1765) • Tax on almost all printed materials • Newspapers, wills, and playing cards • All printed materials had to have a stamp • British officials applied the stamp after the tax was paid • Opposition to the Stamp Act centered on two points • 1. Parliament had interfered in colonial affairs by taxing the colonies directly • 2. It taxed colonists without their consent

10. Protesting the Stamp Act • Patrick Henry, a member of Virginia’s House of Burgesses, persuaded the Burgesses to take action against the Stamp Act • The Virginia assembly passed a resolution (a formal expression of opinion) • Declared that Virginia’s assembly had “the only and sole exclusive right and power to lay taxes” on it citizens

11. Protesting the Stamp Act in Boston • Samuel Adams started the Sons of Liberty • People in other cities also organize the Sons of Liberty groups • Protesters burned effigies (rag figures) • Effigies represented tax collectors • Protestors also destroyed houses belonging to royal officials

12. Stamp Act Congress • In October 1765 • Nine colonies sent delegates to New York • Drafted a petition to the king and Parliament • Declared that the colonist could only be taxed by their own assemblies

13. More Protests Against The Stamp Act • People refused to use the stamps • Urged merchants to boycott (refuse to buy) British and European goods • Thousands of merchants signed nonimportation agreements • British merchants lost business and begged Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act • March 1766- Stamp Act was repealed • The same day Parliament passed the Declaratory Act • Declaratory Act- Said the Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the British colonies “in all cases”

14. The Townshend Acts (1767) • British leaders knew that colonists would resist internal taxes • Charles Townshend had an idea to tax the colonists “without offense” • Townshend Acts put a tax on imported goods such as glass, tea, and paper • Tax was paid at the port of entry • By this time, any British taxes angered the colonists

15. Protesting the Townshend Acts • Colonists felt that only their own representatives had the right to tax them • The colonists organized another boycott • Women formed groups (Daughters of Liberty) • These women urged Americans to wear homemade fabrics • Also to produce other goods they needed rather than buy British goods

16. The Spirit of Independence (1763-1776) Section 2 Building Colonial Unity

17. Trouble in Boston • By 1768, protests by the colonists were making British colonial officials nervous • Colonies were on the brink of rebellion • Parliament sent troops to Boston • Colonists felt the British pushed them too far • First the British had passed laws that violated colonial rights • Now they sent an army to occupy (control) colonial cities

18. Making Matters Worse • The soldiers in Boston acted rudely • Sometimes even violently toward colonists • The Redcoats earned little pay • Some stole goods from local shops • Some fought with boys who taunted them • The soldiers often competed for jobs that Bostonians wanted

19. Problems Continue • March 5, 1770- A fight between Bostonians and the soldiers • A man shouts “We did not send for you. We will not have you here. We will get rid of you, we’ll drive you away!” • The angry townspeople move toward the customhouse, where taxes were collected • Picked up stones, sticks, clubs, and snowballs • The sentry panicked and called for help

20. The Crowd Grows • The crowd starts throwing snowballs and other objects • Yelling at the crowd “Fire you bloodybacks, you lobsters” • “You dare not fire.” • A soldier gets knocked down • The Soldiers got nervous

21. The Boston Massacre • The soldiers fired • Killed 5 colonists • One Bostonian cried: “Are the inhabitants to be knocked down in the streets?” • “Are they to be murdered?” • Among the dead was Crispus Attucks, a dockworker who was part African, part Native American • The tragic encounter (unexpected meeting) was called the Boston Massacre

22. The Word Spreads • The killings were used as propaganda by colonial leaders • Information made to influence public opinion • Paul Revere made an engraving of the event • Showed the British firing on an orderly crowd • Boycotts spread after this and Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts • Only the tax on tea remained • Trade with Britain continued • Some colonial leaders called for resistance to British rule • Committees of Correspondence were set up

23. A Crisis Over Tea • 1773- The British East India Company faced ruin • To save the company, Parliament passed the Tea Act • Gave the Company a monopoly on tea trade • Made tea cheaper than smuggled tea, but helped the British • Colonists vowed to stop the Company’s ships from unloading • People stopped drinking tea (Many started drinking coffee)

24. More Tea Crisis • Ships were sent away • Cargoes of tea was unloaded in damp cellars making it rot • Three tea ships arrived in Boston in late 1773 • The Royal governor refused to let them leave and ordered them to be unloaded

25. Unloading The Tea • The Sons of Liberty “helped” unload the tea • December 16th- Men disguised as Mohawks boarded the ships at midnight • Threw 342 chests of tea overboard • Became known as the Boston Tea Party • Colonists gathered to celebrate • No one wanted to break with Britain • Most saw themselves as British citizens

26. King George III • Heard the news of the Boston Tea Party • He realized he was losing control of the colonies • King George III said “We must master them or totally leave them alone” • British Government passed the Coercive Acts in 1774 • Intended to punish the colonists

27. Coercive Acts • Closed Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for • Town meetings were banned in New England • Bostonians had to shelter (Quarter) soldiers • Boston was isolated, but other colonies sent food and clothing to support Boston • Parliament then passed the Quebec Act

28. Quebec Act • Set up a government for Quebec • Gave Quebec the area west of the Appalachians and north of the Ohio River • This ignored colonial claims of this area • The colonists expressed their feelings in their name for the new laws • The Intolerable Acts