Colonies vs. England

Following the French and Indian War…•New British lands and the colonists desire to

expand led to…•Bad relationship with Indians which led to…

•Standing British military in colonies…

What do you need for

war?Let’s take a step back…

What are the costs of

war?

WAR = $When it comes down to

it…

Debt already accrued (GB Debt + results of the

F&I War) $40 million in 1774 = $1,120,000,000.00 (2011)$ 1,120,000,000.00 ≈ £717.7 million

Growing DebtPayment for the standing British military presence

So instead of making money off the colonies, Great Britain now has an increasing debt!

War Costs Money

Where was the money going to come

from?

TAXES

What are taxes?

*see tax worksheet

1. Raise money – every time a person buys a

good, the government then receives some money from the tax (ex. sales tax)

2. Protect domestic business (protective tariffs) – a tax/tariff on an imported good makes the price of it higher than goods made within the borders; people more likely to buy the lower priced item (domestic good)

3. Prove a point – that a government has the right/authority to impose taxes on its citizens

Why Tax?

Who was going to pay these

taxes? British King? British citizens?

Was it their war? Colonists?

Subjects of the Crown not English citizens

TAXES

Taxes/Tariffs

Indirect Tax King asked the

Colonial Assembly (colonists elected to a law making group) to pass taxes

Direct Tax Parliament (Great

Britain) voted to tax colonists directly

Colonists could not refuse the tax

Colonists could not vote or have representation in Parliament

How do the

colonists pay?

Road

to

the

Revolution

Road to the Revolution :

Sugar Act

Details 1764

Indirect tax on imported sugar, molasses, some wines(from West Indies) – tax money went to GB

Customers paid higher prices due to tax

Repealed by King

Colonists’ Response Unpopular in the colonies

Samuel Adams and James Otis two prime movers against the Act

Created the Committee of Correspondence to improve communication among the colonies (S. Adams)

"it is expedient that new provisions and regulations should be established for improving the revenue of this Kingdom ...

and ... it is just and necessary that a revenue should be raised ... for defraying the expenses of defending,

protecting, and securing the same."

Road to the Revolution :

Stamp Act

Details 1765

Tax on all paper items (licenses, newspapers, contracts, legal documents, etc.)

First attempt at direct taxation (raising money by directly taxing colonists)

Repealed; as an attempt to restore order

Colonists’ Response Unpopular in the colonies

Sons of Liberty; secret society created (S. Adams)

Boycotts and protests (hurting London merchants; cried over lost business)

Patrick Henry – VA House of Burgess (series of resolutions)

James Otis – “taxation without representation is tyranny."

• Without the official seal, documents were considered illegal

• Could only obtain the seal by paying the tax• Contracts• Playing cards• Newspapers• Pamphlets

Road to the Revolution :

Declaratory Act

Details

1766

Parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever” (raise money, protect domestic business, etc.)

Colonists’ Response Worried colonists…

what would come next?

Strips away colonial independence – reality check of who is boss

Road to the Revolution :

Townshend Act

Details

1767

Tax on glass, lead, paint, paper and tea

Unwarranted searches for smuggled goods (illegal search and seizure)

Repealed

Colonists’ Response Unpopular in the

colonies

Resentment towards British soldiers/rule

Boston Massacre (Paul Revere)

The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which

guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and

supported by probable cause.

The Fourth

Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.

British troops in colonial towns…Boston

To enforce the Townshend Act Tax collection and search for smuggled

goods March 5, 1770

British soldier engaged in a shouting/shoving match with a colonist Crowds drew near

Order! Order!

Raised voices and a dare (“Come on you

rascals…Fire if you dare!”) created more commotion and shots were fired (by soldiers) killing five

Townshend Acts repealed (except tax on tea)

Order! Order!

Road to the Revolution :

Tea Act

Details 1773

British East India company allowed exclusive rights to sell tea directly to the colonists Directly selling to

colonists would mean cheaper tea, less smuggling and more tax revenue

Colonists’ Response Unpopular in the colonies

High cost and no choice in tea

Continued to boycott goods, and smuggle tea

Boston Tea Party

Three ships arrive in Boston Harbor Sons of Liberty: ships must leave Governor: must pay tax for shipment December 16, 1773

Colonists disguised as Indians Dump 340 chests of tea

Boston harbor is a teapot tonight!

Road to the Revolution :

Coercive Act

Details

1774

Punishment for the Boston Tea Party

Colonists’ Response “Intolerable” Acts

First Continental Congress Ban trade with GB Formation and

preparation of militias

Spring 1774 In response to the Boston Tea Party and

to punish colonists… Boston Harbor was closed Massachusetts’ charter was canceled (no

colonial assembly) Royal officials accused of crimes were tried

in GB Quartering Act – requiring colonists to

house British soldiers Quebec Act – gave land to Quebec Appointed governor (General Thomas Gage)

Coercive Acts (aka Intolerable Acts)

Colonial Reaction

Colonists Speak OutJames Otis

Power of the Crown and Parliament was limited

“they can not take from any man any part of his property, without his consent in person or by representation”

=*absolute power

James Otis (taxation without representation

is tyranny) Samuel Adams (no taxation without

representation) Sons of Liberty “I look upon (British soldiers) as foreign enemies”

Patrick Henry (Stamp Act) Daughters of Liberty (Townsend Act) Paul Revere (Boston Massacre)

“The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street”

Who is speaking out?