Taxation Without Representation

Taxation Without Representation
5.1

Relations with Britain -French and Indian war finished. -Great Britain controlled a vast territory in N.A. -Britain issued the proclamation of 1763. -Prohibited colonist from moving west of the Appalachian Mts. -Advantages allowed British government to control westward movement. -closing westward settlement protected the interests of British officials. -they wanted to control the lucrative fur trade

Relations with Britain (cont.) -planned to keep 10,000 troops in America to protect their interests some feared to many troops might interfere with their liberties -the French and Indian War left Britain with huge public debt. -desperate for incoming money -king and parliament thought the colonist should pay part of the cost they began plans to tax them. -this event enraged the American colonist and surprised British authorities.

Relations with Britain Britain’s Trade Laws 1763-George Grenville is prime minister Wanted to reduce Br. Debt Wanted to stop smuggling People smuggled to avoid taxes. THEREFORE.. Br. gets no revenue to pay debt. Most smugglers are innocent in a jury court SO… Parliament passes a law that smugglers go to vice-admiralty courts.

Relations With Britain (con’t) Vice - admiralty courts Are run by officers. Had no juries. 1767-writs of assistance was authorized Officers are allowed to search any location for smuggled goods.

Relations with Britain The Sugar Act Lowered the tax on molasses Q - Why lower tax if you want to make more money? A – So people would stop smuggling and pay taxes Also let officers take goods from smugglers without going to court

Relations with Britain Laws that controlled smuggling angered the colonists -Thought their rights were being violated Violated by -Writs of assistance -Vice-Admiralty courts Vice-Admiralty Courts contradicted the British law: “Innocent until proven guilty” James Otis was against The Sugar Act

He argued that “no parts of England’s colonies can be taxed without their consent…every part has a right to be represented.” He was a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the patriot views against British injustice that led to the American Revolution. He died in 1783 at the age of 58. He was standing in his friends doorway and then he was struck by lighting.

The Stamp Act March 22 1765- Parliament passed a law called the Stamp Act. Put taxes on printed materials in colonies: Includes: -newspapers -Playing cards -Pamphlets

The Stamp Act It was a effort to raise money The money earned from the Stamp Act was used to help pay the costs of protecting and defending the American frontier near the Appalachian Mount. Centered on 2 points: parliament had interested in colonial affairs by taxing the colonies directly. Also taxed colonist without telling them in the passing of the stamp act without consulting the colonial legislatures the parliament ignored the colonial tradition of self-government

The Stamp Act Protesting the Stamp Act - Patrick Henry a. Members of the Virginia House of Burgesses b. Persuaded the Burgesses to take action against the Stamp Act c. he was accused of treason, and replied “ If this be treason, make the most of it!” - VA assembly declared it had “ The only and sole exclusive right and power to lay taxes.”

The Stamp Act Protesting the Stamp Act cont. - Only the could give taxes for the people -Samuel Adams a. Helped start Sons of Liberty. b. Members took to the streets to protest. Sons of Liberty groups were started in other cities.

The Stamp Act Protesting the Stamp Act cont. -Summer of 1765 a. Protestors burned effigies representing unpopular tax collectors b. Raided and houses belonging to officials c. Marched the streets shouting “ Only America have the right to tax Americans.”

The Stamp Act The Stamp Act Congress In October delegates met in New York Created petition saying: -colonies could not be taxed, but only by their own assemblies People refused to use stamps

The Stamp Act Merchants boycotted British and European goods Signed nonimportation -Merchants -Artisans -Farmers Pledged not to buy or use goods imported goods from Great Britain -Merchants lost business -Begged Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act

The Stamp Act The Stamp Act is Repealed March 1766 Parliament save into the colonist’s demands and repealed the Stamp Act. Colonists trust in the king was never fully restored. The colonists celebrated their victory for a while.

The Stamp Act The Declaratory Act It was signed the same day the Stamp Act was repealed. It stated that the Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for British colonies. The colonists might’ve won one battle but the war over decision making had just begun.

New Taxes Townshend Acts Now however, colonists didn’t like any taxes They again boycotted, but even more people boycotted Daughters of liberty joined in Encouraged people to use “home” made goods Held quilting bees to produce cloth instead of buying it from England Why are boycotts so effective against the British?

New Taxes Townshend Acts Britain tried to show they learned from the Stamp Act Colonists did not like internal So they only taxed imported items Tea, glass, and other items the colonies could not produce

Taxation Without Representation