January 23 & 24, 2012

January 23 & 24, 2012 U.S. History

Chapter 8: Toward Independence • King George III became king of Great Britain in 1760 • He appointed George Grenville to be his Prime Minister • Conflict arose between Britain and its colonies over Britain’s attempt to tax the colonists • “No taxation without representation” became the cry of the colonists

Britain Needs Money • Britain spent money, resources, lives, and time to protect its colonies in the French and Indian War, which ended in 1763 • Britain needed to raise taxes to repay loans from the war • Citizens in Britain were already paying high taxes • So, Britain raised taxes on the colonies so they could share in the burden

1733 - Molasses Act • Trade law • Duty (tax on imported goods) on molasses bought from anywhere other than the British West Indies (Caribbean) • Colonists ignored this act and smuggled in molasses from the French

1764 - Sugar Act • Trade law • Cut in half the duty on molasses from the non-British West Indies • More strictly enforced than the Molasses Act • Set up new rules for trials for those accused of smuggling

1765 – Quartering Act • Said colonial assemblies had to supply British troops with food, drink, and sometimes shelter

1765 – Stamp Act* • Tax law • Taxed documents and printed matter such as deeds, wills, newspapers, playing cards, dice, and more. • Taxable items had to carry stamps that showed the tax had been paid

1765 – Virginia Resolves • Proposed by Patrick Henry* • Argued against the Stamp Act • Stated Virginians had all rights and privileges of the people of Great Britain, which includes representatives in Parliament • Inspired many other petitions* from other colonies

1765 – Stamp Act Congress • Meeting of delegates from nine colonies • Sent a petition to Parliament that said colonists had the same rights and liberties as the king’s subjects in England

Virtual Representation* vs. Direct Representation* • Britain argued the colonists and other non-voters had virtual representation • The meant members of Parliament defended not just the interests of those elected by them but also the interests of all British subjects • The colonists wanted direct representation • They wanted to directly elect representatives to speak, act, and vote on their behalf in Parliament

1765 - Stamp Act Uprisings • Boston’s plan was to force stamp distributors to resign so they wouldn’t have to buy stamps • Burned down their homes • Burned them in effigy (stuffed doll-like figures of the men) • Some colonies were more violent than others

1765 - Sons of Liberty* • Organized themselves to support their cause in a peaceful way • Boycotts* – refused to do business with anyone who favored the Stamp Act • Vowed to not even speak to Stamp Act supporters “except to inform them of their vileness” • Refused to buy goods made in Britain

1766 – Stamp Act Repealed • Colonists’ resistance was effective

1766 – Declaratory Act* • Said that Parliament had the right to “make Laws… to bind the Colonists and People of America… in all Cases whatsoever” • Parliament could pass any law it wished for the colonies

1767 – Townshend Act* • New duties on everyday items imported from Britain including glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea • Cut back power of colonial assemblies

1768 – Nonimportation Associations* • Colonists organized groups of merchants who promised not to order certain British goods • Sharply cut colonial imports from Britain

1768 – Daughters of Liberty • Groups of women met to spin thread and weave cloth so they would not need to buy those things from Britain

1768 – Troops stationed in Boston • Britain sent troops to control colonists and quell the rebellions

1770 – Boston Massacre* • Bostonians resented British soldiers in the colonies • Soldiers were usually angry as well • March 5, 1770 angry people attacked soldiers in the streets of Boston • That evening, a crowd of colonists threw snowballs at soldiers • Someone shouted “fire” and the troops shot into the crowd, killing 5 colonists

1770 – Boston Massacre • British troops were removed from Boston • All but 2 soldiers were found innocent • Two were convicted of manslaughter

January 23 & 24, 2012