Chapter 6 - overview

1. Chapter 6 - overview So we now have British and Spain alone in America. British have all lands east of the Mississippi, and parts of Canada. Spanish has Florida, Louisiana and everything west of the Mississippi. British are trying to reconsolidate their gains in territory as well as paying off some of the huge debt they owed from fighting many wars over a long period of time. England turns to America and the colonist to start to contribute to paying off the debt. British felt debt was to be paid mostly by colonists. As you will see all acts are tailored toward colonists and not British subjects living in Britain. Why? Americans are several generations away from England now – people that lived at Jamestown are mostly dead and of the generation living in America most have never even visited England – there is far less loyalty toward England (remember growing American Identity, different class system, far more freedoms (i.e. religion, owning land, far better opportunity of making a success financially and socially in America. The split between America and England is growing larger

2. Ch 6 – England attempts to make colonists pay for F&I War Proclamation Act of 1763 – Prevented British colonists to move across the Appalachian Mountains – upset colonists because some were without land, others had invested land in this territory British wanted these lands to remain in the hands of the Native Americans as a reward for their alliance with them in the French and Indian War. Colonists felt their rights to expand and own land was being limited by this proclamation Quartering Act - Cost saving measure that required colonists to house British soldiers and provide them with needed supplies. This angered the colonists because they did not want or trust British soldiers in their house British considered this a cost saving measure. They still had a large debt from the French & Indian War that they felt the colonists must help pay. Colonists felt they were being spied on as well as having their privacy invaded

3. Chapter 6 – The Acts (taxes) keep rolling The Sugar Act placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other products shipped to the colonies. It also called for strict enforcement of the act and harsh punishment for smugglers British also imposed strict enforcement of law and harsh punishment for smugglers. Colonists were angry because they felt they could not be taxed by Parliament because they were not represented in Parliament. “No taxation without representation” became a familiar cry. The Stamp Act was a law that required all commercial documents to carry an official stamp showing that a tax was paid on that document. British wanted to control all legal documents as a way to control the colonists This got all colonists enraged and boycotted British goods. The big difference was sugar act mainly affected merchants (or so they thought). Worse yet – they had to pay for stamps in silver coins which were rare in colonies. Colonists protested and restated “No taxation without representation” What was the difference between the Stamp and Sugar Act was Stamp Act?

4. Chapter 6 – and rolling Declaratory Act – stated Parliament was supreme authority to govern the colonies. At the same time they repealed the Stamp act knowing it was a mistake. Why did they think this was a mistake? Hint - who were the members of the Sons of Liberty that were causing all the trouble. Parliament repealed Stamp Act after conceding it was a mistake. British tried to enforce Declaratory Act and impose their control over the colonies. The colonists elated Stamp Act repealed and tried to ignore Declaratory Act. Townsend Act – British still desperate for money. The boycotting, plain outright resistance by colonists led to drastic measures by England. Parliament passed Townsend acts that stated the following: New York’s assembly suspended until they provided housing for soldiers. Taxed certain imports before entering the colonies it would be better received by the colonists. Writs of Assistance - Used to enforce acts, gave British officers the right to search homes and businesses for smuggled goods. Townsend was wrong.

5. Chapter 6 – the acts keep rolling along….. until… 6.2 Samuel Adams - Leader of the Sons of Liberty Sons of Liberty was a secretive group formed of merchants, lawyers, craftspeople - why these occupations? One major leader was Sam Adams who was driving force behind protesting the Townsend Acts They protested peacefully and violently against British policies that they felt were unfair. Patrick Henry of Virginia was particularly vocal about the Stamp Act. One effective way was to boycott – refusing to buy British products – this was a peaceful protest. Some Americans resorted to making their own clothes rather than buying British manufactured clothing.

6. Rebellion in full swing Side note: Patrick Henry was a member of the House of Burgesses and called for resistance to the tax. One member yelled that not paying taxes was treason - Henry replied: “If this be treason, make the most of it!” His most famous quote: “Give me liberty or give me death!” was a 1765 speech he gave opposing the stamp tax. The acts as a whole angered the colonists. Removing their assemblies, taxing them was just too much. They began to protest. One form of peaceful protest that really hurt the British was a boycott.

7. Chapter 6

8. Chapter 6 England’s reaction – send more troops. This further angered the colonists. Samuel Adams was one of the leaders of the Son’s of Liberty stated: “We will destroy every soldier that dares to set his foot on shore… I look upon them as foreign enemies” Boston Massacre: Crispus Attucks and 4 other laborers were shot and killed by British soldiers during a protest that turned into a shouting/insult match. British soldiers were put on trial and found not guilty because they were acting in self-defense. This incident would stand as a clear example of British tyranny

9. Chapter 6 Tea Act – placed a tax on all tea products – and tea was very popular in the colonies. This opened new wounds of direct taxing of the colonists. Committees of correspondence were formed. They exchanged letters with different cities and addressed colonial affairs. They were starting to organize Protests, boycotts against tea escalated into blocking ships from pulling into port. Basically open defiance. Boston Tea Party – a group of men disguised as Native Americans boarded three tea ships and dumped the tea over the side. Colonists were happy when news of the Boston Tea party broke out and felt that now maybe the British will see how serious the colonists were about no taxation without representation. Please note none of these taxes were applied to British citizens in England – who did have representation in Parliament.

10. Chapter 6 Intolerable Acts – Were really the Coercive Acts but the colonists felt they were so harsh they renamed them the Intolerable Acts – 4 measures: 1) Closed the Port of Boston until colonists paid for destroyed tea 2) Banned committees of correspondence 3) Allowed British soldiers to be housed wherever necessary 4) Let British officials accused of crimes stand trial in England This act spurred the First Continental Congress who met in 1774 (all colonies were represented but Georgia – but they agreed to be part of the actions). They passed provisions to ban all trade with Britain until Intolerable Acts repealed. Called on all colonies to start training troops. The acts passed by this congress were important because it showed they were not ready to call for independence but were determined to stand up for colonial rights.

12. Chapter 6 Each side had spies as in all wars. One of the most effective was the American spy network built up by Sam Adams in Boston. The significance of Paul Revere’s midnight ride was:   1) British troops were surprised by American troops warned by a network of spies who passed the word by riding through the countryside 2) British troops were forced to retreat when they reached Concord because over 4,000 American troops were waiting for them between Lexington and Concord (the first battles of the Revolutionary War) Paul Revere and William Dawes got stopped by a patrol, but Dr. Samuel Prescott was able to ride on to Concord to warn the patriots. Those that supported the British were called Loyalist Those that supported the Americans were called Patriots

13. Chapter 6 2nd Continental Congress met May 10, 1775. It appointed George Washington commander of the Continental Army and also authorized the printing of paper money. he significance of the Second Continental Congress was it started to act like a government.(Q18) Battle of Bunker Hill – The British won but lost 1,000 men to the American’s 400. Significance: The Americans first real battle and they stood firm under the pressure of war and inflicted great causalities to the most powerful army in the world. Colonel Prescott famous for saying as the British were approaching Breeds Hill: “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes”. Why?

15. Chapter 6 The Olive Branch Petition was a petition signed by the colonists as a last attempt at peace. King’s reaction? Benedict Arnold – officer for American army who won significant battles early in the war, but married a loyalist who helped convince him to betray the Americans and he did – thus the phrase “Benedict Arnold” Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to convince colonists not sure which side to choose to side with the Patriots. It sold 100,000 copies in three months and became an instant success – and is still read today.

16. Chapter 6 The colonies were still not sure they should declare their independence outright. Things were still retrievable. However, Congress in May 1776 had each colony adopt it’s own government. They finally agreed to appoint a committee to write the Declaration of Independence. The committee consisted of was Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence was a document declaring the colonies free of England. A document written by a committee of people headed by Thomas Jefferson. The core of the document was based on the ideas of John Locke