Today’s Topics

• The Origins of the American Revolution

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King George III

1760-1820

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• Quartering Act

• Proclamation Act of 1763

• The Sugar Act 1764 (Molasses Act)

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• Stamp Act 1765

– Internal tax on all legal documents.

– Argument over virtual representation versus direct representation

– British Govt. had not taxed colonies on internal products in the past.

– Parliament did not have the right to tax the colonies

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• When Parliament enacted the Stamp Tax of 1765, the government designed this special embossed tax stamp to be used on the items that came under the new law. These items included newspapers, most legal documents, playing cards, and dice. The Stamp Tax provoked the first major protest and boycott by colonists against the Mother Country.

Stamp Tax of 1765

The Granger Collection, New York. 6

• Whig Ideology in America

– Citizens have the right to revolt if the government is infringing on people’s rights

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• Colonial Response to Stamp Act 1765

– Loyal 9

• Put pressure on stamp distributors

– Sons of Liberty

• Protect private property • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrRcZT3pGgI

– Stamp Act Congress (NY)

• Deny Parliament right to tax

• Boycott

• Act repealed

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Stamp Act protest

A Boston crowd burns bundles of the

special watermarked paper intended for

use as stamps. (Library of Congress)

Stamp Act protest

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9

This tea pot protests the Stamp Act

• The Sons of Liberty first appeared in Boston, but this organization that united elite and working-class protesters spread quickly to other American cities. In 1765, the Boston Sons demanded the resignation of local stamp agent, Andrew Oliver. Ten years later, New York’s pro-British editor, James Rivington, used the illustration above while reporting that a New Brunswick mob had hanged him in effigy. The New York Sons promptly attacked his office, destroyed his press, and forced his paper to close.

Sons of Liberty

Mr. Rivington: Library of Congress; Sons of Liberty Broadside: Massachusetts Historical Society. 11

A warning by the Sons of Liberty

• Declaratory Act 1766

– Parliament has right to pass any law for the colonies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYAFVDc49tA

• Townshend Revenue Act 1767

– Tax to pay for colonial government

– New taxes on imported items: paper, glass

– Colonists began non-importation movements

• Women role

– Act repealed, tea tax was kept

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Boston Massacre 1770

Boston Massacre

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrRcZT3pGgI

• Tea Act 1773

– A tax to save the British East Indian Company

– Stop smuggling

• Boston Tea Party 1773

– Group dumped tea – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwEX_YVyAS4

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Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts 1774

• Boston Port Bill

• Administration of Justice Act

• Massachusetts Government Act

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Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts 1774

• Quartering Act

• Quebec Act

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–1774 First Continental Congress

• Suffolk Resolutions

–Repeal of the intolerable acts

–Reject declaratory act

–Plan for boycott: Continental Association to enforce boycott

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