Taxation without

Representation Daughters of Liberty

Proclamation of 1763

Issued by the British to limit the settlement of the territory won in the French and Indian War in the Treaty of Paris of 1763.

Money Problems after French and Indian War

• The French and Indian War left the British government with a huge public debt.

• The King and Parliament planned to create new revenue by taxing the colonists.

• The new prime minister, George Greenville, believed that he could reduce Britain’s debt by stopping smuggling.

Actions to Stop Smuggling

• Writs of Assistance were issued that enabled officers to search homes and warehouses for goods that may be smuggled

• Greenville still needed to increase revenue, so in 1764, Parliament passed The Sugar Act. The purpose of this act was to stop people from smuggling sugar.

The Sugar Act

Stamp Act

• The Stamp Act was passed in 1765

• It placed a tax on all printed materials

Colonial Reaction

• They felt that Parliament was ignoring their tradition of self government.

• They felt that their rights were being violated and being taken away unjustly

– Right to be secure in their home

– Right to a jury trial

– They had to prove themselves innocent

Sons of Liberty

• The Sons of Liberty was started by Samuel Adams in Boston, Massachusetts.

• The members participated in activities such as protesting the Stamp Act in the streets, burning effigies, and raiding and destroying homes belonging to tax collectors

Samuel Adams

Flag of Sons of Liberty

Tar and feathering a government

official

Effigy of a tax collector

An effigy hanging

Stamp Act Congress

• In October, delegates from 9 colonies met in New York. This assembly was called the Stamp Act Congress.

• They drafted a petition that stated that they could not be taxed except by their own assemblies.

• The British Government refused to acknowledge this meeting.

Boycott Britain

• Merchants were encouraged to boycott British and European goods.

• Non Importation agreements were signed in which people pledged not to buy or use goods from Great Britain.

• Boycotts were successful because British merchants lost so much business, they asked Parliament to repeal the act.

Britain Reacts to the Colonists

• In an effort to mend the relationship with the colonists, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act.

• Things did not improve because the Declaratory Act was passed in 1766. It stated Parliament had the right to tax and make all decisions for the British Colonies.

• In 1767, the Townsend Acts were passed. They were designed to collect revenue from the colonists in America by putting customs duties on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea.

Colonists Bring Back the Boycotts

• The Townsend Acts still affected negatively because it targeted basic items the colonists had to import.

• The angry colonists brought back the boycott of British goods.

• The Daughters of Liberty encouraged people to wear homemade fabric and produce other goods that had only been available from Britain