British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Proclamation
of 1763
Gain time to
devise plan for
Indian conflict
with colonies
(did it 5 years
later)
Writs of
Assistance
Pontiac’s
Rebellion
Resentment
Failure to
Comply
Attempt to
“hem in”
colonists and
keep under
British control
Paxton Boys
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Sugar Act of 1764
Tax colonists for amount comparable to those in England
Grenville
Virtual Representation
Boston experiments with boycotts
British have no right to tax for revenue w/out representation
Admiralty Courts
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Currency Act of 1764
Pay British merchants in gold & silver rather than in colonial scrip which was inflated
Smoldering resentment
Resources drained by mercantilism
Limited gold & silver
Valueless Currency
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Stamp Act of 1764
Tax for protection
Internal vs. External Tax
Grenville
Petitions
Boycotts
Violence
Sons of Liberty
No taxation w/out representation
No juryless trials
S&D of Liberty
Guy Fawkes Day
Virginia Resolves
Stamp Act Congress
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Repeal of Stamp Act and
Passage of Declaratory Act of 1765
Backed off a hated tax but maintained British Supremacy
Rejoice repeal
Ignore Declaratory Act
Forced British to back down but overlooked Declaratory Act
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Townshend Duties of 1767
Lead
Paper
Paint
Glass
Tea
Had a legitimate right to collect tax for protection
Used indirect taxes, but gave in to colonists in this way to meet standards before 1763
Nav. Acts – tax on goods from Britain
Townshend Acts – tax on goods from Britain
Boston Massacre
Boycotts
Petitions
Newspaper Attacks
Letters
Believed indirect tax they accepted earlier was being used for revenue
James Otis
John Dickinson
Mass. Circular Letter
Non-Importation
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Tea Act of 1773
To save British E. India Company, which was dying due to repeal of Townshend Duties, tried to hide tax on transport costs and lower prices
Governor Thomas Hutchinson
Protest
Boston (and other) Tea Party(s)
Boycott
Although tea is cheaper, still taxed w/out representation
Committee’s of Correspondence
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Quartering Act of 1774
Colonists help to provide for their own protection
Protests in Colonial Assemblies
Indirect Taxation without representation
Why send troops if there is no war?
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts of 1774
Quartering
Port
Mass Gov’t
Quebec
Justice
Punish for losses in Boston Tea Party
Boycott
Convene 1st
Continental Congress
Unjustified denial of liberties
Boston Port Act
Mass. Gov’t Act
Non-Consumption
Gaspee Incident
Quebec Act
Suffolk Resolves
British Action Rationale Colonial
Reaction
Rationale
Lexington and Concord 1776
Attempt to capture colonial leaders and war supplies before a colonial revolt
Paine’s Common Sense
Provided rationale for freeing America from tyranny
British had not killed colonists, but used force
Provided cause for further resistance
Summary of Events and Impact
By 1760, biggest colonial economic issue – balance of trade deficit (Mercantilism)
British clamp down; impose taxes to pay for army & war
Colonists-Feel secure without protection (experience in battle)-Mercantilism = Monopoly-Feel British are not concerned with colonists needs-Many regulations in a short amount of time – more resentment-May legal and non-violent measures before revolution-Distance makes communication difficult between England and colonies-Repeals give colonists “sense” of the upper hand