What were the Causes of Dissatisfaction in the Colonies

1. What were the Causes of Dissatisfaction in the Colonies

2. Paying the Dept • The British government wanted the Americans to pay for the dept occurred during the 7 Years War • British politicians blamed the American colonists for causing trouble with the French and First Nations

3. Rich Rule the World • Europe was still ruled by the rich • Less than 5% of people could vote • Ordinary people have no political power The British needed money and wanted the colonies to provide

4. 1764 Sugar Act • British government passed the Sugar Act which changed taxation on sugar and its by-products such as molasses • The price of sugar and rum increased • Colonists protested by refusing to buy products with sugar

5. 1765 Stamp Act • Took the form of a stamp that had to be purchased and stuck on items bought and sold • Stamps had to be bought for documents ex. License • Affected everyone- made everything more expensive • Colonists responded with violence and anger

7. “No Taxation Without Representation” • American enraged at all of the taxes • American colonists had no representatives in British parliament • Felt like they were being taxed without their consent

8. Try to Make Me! • Officials sent out to enforce the Stamp Act were attacked • Public outraged!!! • Mobs destroyed houses of government officials • Tarred and feathered collectors Act was repealed in 1766 as most were afraid to enforce it

9. Townshend Acts of 1767 • Imposed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies. • Britain wanted to prove that it could tax the colonies as it saw fit

10. Townshend Acts Repealed • In 1770, Parliament repealed all the Townshend duties except the tax on tea • Tax on tea kept to support the British East India Company who controlled the supply of tea

11. Liberty The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. James Madison wrote the first drafts of the U.S. Constitution and 4th president of the US

12. Resistance Growing • British troops were stationed throughout the colonies • To combat growth of open resistance • Local families were forced to put soldiers up in their houses • Called quartering

13. Boston Massacre of 1770 • A street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770, between "patriot" protesters, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. • The soldiers fired into the mob, killing 3 on the spot and wounding 8 others

14. Boston Massacre Impact • It led directly to the Royal Governor evacuating the occupying army from the town of Boston. • It would soon bring the revolution to armed rebellion throughout the colonies. • It became an anti-British propaganda tool for the patriot colonists

15. Sons of Liberty • Organized groups of American Patriots who challenged the British government at every opportunity • Dedicated to resisting British taxes and trade restrictions • By the end 1765 the Sons of Liberty existed in every colony.

16. Boston Tea Party- Story Time • On the night of December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty boarded three ships in the Boston harbor • Dressed as Mohawks • Threw 342 chests of tea overboard. • This resulted in the Intolerable Acts of 1774 and pushed the two sides closer to war.

17. A political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. • Purpose was to: • protest against the Tea Act that still protected the British East India Company • Protest the Boston merchants because they refused to boycott shipments of tea coming into the harbour

18. Boston Tea Party Significance • This was a powerful message that colonists were tired of unfair taxation and would give up something they loved in order to standup to the government

19. Intolerable Acts 1774 • acts established by the British government created to punish Bostonians for their Tea Party and assert British dominance • American colonists believed that the acts violated their natural and constitutional rights and freedoms

20. The Boston Port Act: closed the port of Boston until the East India Company was paid for the lost tea.  • Massachusetts Government Act: modified the Massachusetts Charter of 1691, taking away many of its  rights of self-government.  Administration of Justice Act: provided that British officials accused of committing crimes in a colony might be taken to England for trial.  • The Quartering Act: allowed the British to quarter British soldiers in colonial buildings at the expense of the colonists, including colonists' homes, if there were insufficient space in other buildings. • The Quebec Act: extended the boundaries of the province of Quebec.

21. First Continental Congress September 1774 • all colonies except Georgia sent delegates to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia • met in reaction to the Intolerable Acts • Leaders demanded a boycott of British goods and began cutting economic ties with Britain • From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government for the colonies

22. Preparing for Conflict • The British react to the Continental Congress by reading thousands of British troops in Boston • In turn, patriotic colonists began to train and collect weapons and ammunition

23. Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds You American colony leaders found it difficult to organize opposition to the British • Most people had closer ties to Britain than the colonies • Many dependent on trade with Britain • Many owned property back in the home country

24. Join or Die