England tightens control over the

colonies

After the French and Indian War, Britain wanted to govern all its landholdings in North America equally

Parliament began to impose new laws and restrictions on colonists

After the period of Salutary Neglect, many colonists felt their freedoms were being limited

Forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains

England wanted to prevent further conflict with the Natives, especially after Pontiac’s Rebellion

Colonists wanted to move into the fertile valley of the Ohio River and many felt they had earned the right by helping to win the war

England knew it would have to enforce the Proclamation and needed troops in the colonies to do that.

Quartering Act (1765) –Required colonists to house British soldiers and provide them with supplies

Most of the troops were stationed in New York with General Thomas Gage

England had a huge debt from the war, and the quartering act required even more money.

Colonial assemblies had been responsible for creating taxes to support the colonial military

Sugar Act (1765) – tax on sugar, molasses and other products shipped to colonies; included a harsh punishment for smuggling

Many colonial merchants had been trading smuggled goods and reacted angrily to the new enforcement

Colonial leaders decried the direct taxation by Parliament

James Otis argued that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies because they had no direct representation in Parliament

England argued that since colonists benefited from English laws they were subject to be taxed.

Required that all legal and commercial documents have an official stamp showing a tax had been paid for them

New type of tax – not on imported goods, but applied to items within the colonies.It was a tax directly on

colonists

Colonial leaders continued to question the legality of being taxed without representation

Met in New York City; first time colonies met to act together in protest

Created petition to King protesting the act

Declared right to tax the colonies rested with colonial legislatures

Colonial merchants boycotted British goods

Colonists formed secret societies to oppose British policies

Most were people whose businesses were most affected by the tax

Many groups staged protests against the taxes; some were violent with fires set and tax collectors tarred and feathered

•The protests had an effect on British Merchants. They were scared their trade with the colonies would be hurt•William Pitt agreed with colonists about taxation and representation and criticized the Stamp Act•Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766•Declaratory Act (1766) – Parliament declared it had supreme power over the colonies