size of empire and colonies why is this a problem? pontiac’s rebellion 1763 indian uprising...

ROAD TO REVOLUTION

British Problems

Size of Empire and Colonies Why is this a Problem?

Pontiac’s Rebellion 1763 Indian uprising (1763-1766) led by Pontiac of

the Ottawa's and Neolin of the Delawares. Rebellion was put down and the British forced

the Indians to give up some of their territory Paxton Boys – Group of Pennsylvania colonist

mad at government that massacred a group of Conestoga Indians.

Britain's Problems

Britain’s financial crisis Debt because of war (130 million Pounds) National debt doubled and King George III

chooses financial expert George Grenville to serve as Prime Minister in 1763 (Though colonists were smuggling goods, and pushed parliament to enact laws)

Enact laws to recoup those costs They thought the colonists should pay

because British helped them.

Colonies and Britain begin to grow apart

Problems resulting from the war British soldiers were stationed in the colonies

and surrounding territories to control Natives and former French subjects (10,000 Troops)

Colonists saw this as a standing army – it was unheard of to have a standing army during peacetime


Writs of assistance 1761 Allowed British customs officials to search a

ship or building Many merchants worked out of their homes –

the writs enabled officials to search colonial homes

Merchants of Boston were outraged Proclamation of 1763

Stopped westward expansion Angered colonists because they were promised

expansion if they aided Britain in war (French and Indian War)


Quartering Acts Acts of Parliament requiring colonial

legislatures to provide supplies and quarters for the troops stationed in America

Why? What is the problem?


American Revenue act (Prime Minister George Grenville)– commonly known as the Sugar Act 1764–Purpose was “for improving the revenue of this kingdom” Halved duty on foreign made molasses –

hoping colonists would pay lower tax instead of risking smuggling

Placed high duties on other products Strengthened smuggling laws – prosecutors

would try smugglers in vice admiral courts rather than sympathetic colonial courts


By the end of 1764 the colonists and Britain were disagreeing more and more about how the colonies should be taxed and governed.

Stamp Act (March 1765) Required colonists to purchase special stamped

paper for every legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, almanac, and imposed special duties on playing cards and dice.

Problem? Stamp Act was the First Internal tax (as

apposed to an external trade duty)


Raised the question – Did Parliament have the right to impose direct taxes on Americans when Americans had no elected representatives in Parliament? (Taxation with out Representation?) Grenville said following the principle of virtual

representation – members of Parliament served the interests of the nation as a whole not just the locality from which they came.


Stamp Act Protests Boston – Samuel Adams joined by merchants,

shopkeepers, , and laborers, formed a secret resistance group called the Sons of Liberty.

Sons of Liberty harassed stamp agents and demonstrated/protested.

Stamp collectors quit before the law was to be enacted. No stamps were sold.

Sam Adams said, “when the People are oppressed,” they will be “discontented, and they are not to be blamed”

What does this mean? Are they oppressed?


Different views on the role of government During 1765 and 1766 each colonial

assemblies met and addressed the stamp issue.

Patrick Henry – Virginias could only be taxed by the Virginia assembly, no one else – other colonial assemblies passed the same law.


Stamp Act Congress (October 1765 in New York) – Meeting of delegates sent by nine colonies, that adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and petitioned against the Stamp Act

Declaration of Rights and Grievances – Asserts that the Stamp Act and other taxes imposed on the colonists without their consent were unconstitutional


Merchants in NY, Boston, and Philly boycott British goods until stamp act is repealed

This works and the Stamp Act is repealed in 1766, but Declaratory Act is issued

Declaratory Act – asserts Parliament’s full right to make laws “to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever”


Townshend Acts – 1767 – indirect tax (tax levied on goods or services, as opposed to an individual – ultimately paid by the consumer in form of higher prices.) Taxes on imported goods such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea

Reaction Colonists outraged, protested. “no taxation without

representation” Sam Adams calls for another Boycott. Mery Otis Warren urged women to go with out their

fine British furs, feathers, and satin. Wealthy women stopped buying luxury British Items.

Make their own clothing.


Reaction 1768 – John Hancock’s ship accused of

smuggling wine with out paying duty. Triggers riots and 2000 British soldiers had to be called in.


Boston Massacre – March 5th 1770 – Competition for jobs between colonists and poorly paid soldiers. Fist fight breaks out over jobs in the shipyard. Mobs gathered outside the Custom House in

Boston – mocked soldiers, calling them names and throwing tones and snowballs

Soldiers fire killing five including Crispus Attucks (African and Native descent, Sailor, Laborer)

Sam Adams and other colonial agitators label incident the Boston Massacre – slaying of defenseless citizens.


Quiet Period 1774 Committees of Correspondence –

communication network linking the colonies, tell each other of threats to American liberties

Tea was Boycotted Colonists instead got their tea from the Dutch.


Boston Tea Party – December 16th,1773 British East India company held a monopoly of tea

imports and had been hit hard by the boycotts and was nearing bankruptcy

Parliament passes the Tea Act 1773 Granted company the right to sell tea to the colonies free

of tax. Means colonial merchants cut out because tea company could sell for less, directly to the consumers.

Colonists protest Sam Adams reportedly told a large gathering at Old

South Meeting House the signal to start the party. 12/16/1773 in the evening, colonists dressed as Native

Americans dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. (Ship was the Dartmouth)


King George III was outraged by the colonists actions. In response the English passed the Coercive Acts (First was the Boston Port Act)

Then passed the Quebec Act These two acts together became known as the

Intolerable Acts (1774) 1. One law shut down Boston Harbor 2. Quartering Act – Authorized British officers to house

soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings 3. General Thomas Gage, commander in chief of British

forces in North America was appointed governor of Mass. 4. Boston was placed under Martial Law – Government by

military force


September 1774 – First Continental Congress 56 Delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up

a declaration of colonial rights Said colonists have the right to run their own

affairs, supported protests in Boston and if British used force the colonists would use it right back.

Agreed to reconvene in May 1775 if demands were not met.

size of empire and colonies why is this a problem? pontiac’s rebellion 1763 indian uprising...

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