Revolution in ThoughtRevolution in Thought England did all it could to stop the smugglingsmuggling of Colonials by enforcing the Navigation ActsNavigation Acts with a series of unrestricted search warrants.

England kept British troopsBritish troops in North America to stop Indian attacks and protect the Colonies.

England passed a law restrictinglaw restricting colonists from moving westward into and settling the Northwest Territory.

England passed a series of laws taxingtaxing the colonies for the debts incurred by the French & Indian War

England did all it could to stop the smugglingsmuggling of Colonials by enforcing the Navigation ActsNavigation Acts with a series of unrestricted search warrants.

England kept British troopsBritish troops in North America to stop Indian attacks and protect the Colonies.

England passed a law restrictinglaw restricting colonists from moving westward into and settling the Northwest Territory.

England passed a series of laws taxingtaxing the colonies for the debts incurred by the French & Indian War

“Once vigorous measures appear to be the only means

left of bringing the Americans to a due submission to the

mother country, the colonies will submit.”

•King of England. King of England.

•Instrumental in ending the Instrumental in ending the French and Indian War in 1763. French and Indian War in 1763.

•Strong supporter of taxing the Strong supporter of taxing the colonies to pay for the debt. colonies to pay for the debt.

•He opposed any compromise He opposed any compromise with the colonial government in with the colonial government in

America. America.

George

Q->Q-> What was the extent of Parliament’sWhat was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies?? authority over the colonies??

Absolute?Absolute? OR OR Limited?Limited?

Q->Q-> How could the colonies give or How could the colonies give or withhold consent for withhold consent for parliamentaryparliamentary legislation when they did not legislation when they did not havehave representation in that body?? representation in that body??

Theories of Theories of RepresentationRepresentation

Theories of Theories of RepresentationRepresentation

• The 13 Colonies were The 13 Colonies were represented under the represented under the principle of principle of “virtual” “virtual” representation.representation.

• It did not matter if the It did not matter if the Colonists did not elect Colonists did not elect members from each colony to members from each colony to represent them in the British represent them in the British Parliament.Parliament.

• Not all citizens in Britain were Not all citizens in Britain were represented either.represented either.

• The British Parliament The British Parliament pledged to represent every pledged to represent every person in Britain and the person in Britain and the empireempire

• Americans resented “virtual” Americans resented “virtual” representation.representation.

• Colonists Colonists governed themselvesgoverned themselves since the early settlerssince the early settlers..

• They had They had direct representationdirect representation by electing colonial assembly by electing colonial assembly members to represent their members to represent their interests.interests.

• Colonists were not opposed to Colonists were not opposed to paying taxes because the paying taxes because the Colonies taxed their citizens.Colonies taxed their citizens.

• If the British Parliament was If the British Parliament was to tax them, they should be to tax them, they should be able to elect a able to elect a representativerepresentative from their colony to represent from their colony to represent their interests in Parliament.their interests in Parliament.

Virtual RepresentationVirtual Representation Actual RepresentationActual Representation

Tax w/out rep

Colonial mindset:

If there is no checkcheck upon the people who posses the “power to tax” then

they could destroy the people.

Colonists wanted an “actual” representative elected from them to

address their concerns to Parliament.

The Power to Tax is the Power to Destroy

If a politician wants to have power, (s)he needs votes of the people that elect him.

(S)he has to live among those people so he will not use his power to abuse them

In turn, the people may vote him out of power.

Man’s nature is greedy. Therefore, he cannot be trusted

with unchecked power.Absolute power corrupts,

absolutely.

The Power to Tax is the Power to Destroy

Northwest Territory

•Proclamation Line of 1763Proclamation Line of 1763Colonists were not allowed into the Northwest Territory

•Colonists defied order— American DreamAmerican Dream

•Writs of AssistanceWrits of Assistance---1763---unrestricted British search warrants to stop Colonial smuggling……

•Continued to smuggle

•Quartering ActQuartering Act---1763---Colonists were to house and feed British soldiers.

•Colonial resentment-why are soldiers here?

•Stamp Tax = legal documents, playing cards, newspapers, etc.•Sugar Tax = Foreign sugar & molasses

•Colonists hated the Stamp Tax = “taxation without representation”• Colonists feel left out of the political process

•British tax collectors were tarred and feathered…..•Stamp Act protests led by the Sons of Liberty…..

Stamp Tax

                         

    

                           

  

                    

      

“If our trade be taxed, why not our lands, or produce, in short, everything we possess? They

tax us without having legal representation.” Samuel Adams

•Sons of Liberty was a secret society formed in protest of

British rule. •They had a large role in the

repeal of the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party.

•9 original members which included the leaders Samuel

Adams and Paul RevereSamuel AdamsSamuel Adams

Paul Revere

Boycotts: Colonists refused to trade or buy British goods until Stamp Act was repealed.

BritishlawsBritishlaws

Stamp Act Protests: 1765 to 1766

• Between 1765 to 1766, the Sons of Liberty led over

40 protests up and down the colonial coastline.

• Most of the protests occur in the Middle Colonies up through the New England

Colonies.•The Virginia House of Burgesses declarations

resolutions condemning the Stamp Act

BritishlawsBritishlaws

Stamp Act of 1765Stamp Act of 1765

• Due to colonial outrage, Parliament repeals Stamp Act.

• Colonists celebrate. However, it is short-lived when England passes the:

Declaratory Act, 1766Declaratory Act, 1766• Parliament now has the power to tax the colonies both internally and externally and had absolute power over the colonial legislatures. 

1767 1767 William Pitt, P. M. & William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend pass the Charles Townshend pass the Townshend ActsTownshend Acts

A Taxed: Taxed: paper, paint, paper, paint, lead, glass, lead, glass, tea, & dyes tea, & dyes

Townshend Duties Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770Crisis: 1767-1770Townshend Duties Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770Crisis: 1767-1770

1.1. John Dickinson, 1768 John Dickinson, 1768 ** Letters from a Farmer inLetters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania..2.2. 1768: 1768: Daughters of LibertyDaughters of Liberty ** Women in Massachusetts Women in Massachusetts refuse to drink tearefuse to drink tea ** Spinning beesSpinning bees: They start : They start making their own clothesmaking their own clothes

3.3. Riots against customs agents: Riots against customs agents: ** John Hancock’s ship, the John Hancock’s ship, the LibertyLiberty.. ** 4000 British troops sent 4000 British troops sent to Boston. to Boston.

Colonial Response to Colonial Response to the Townshend the Townshend

DutiesDuties

Colonial Response to Colonial Response to the Townshend the Townshend

DutiesDuties

Costs of Costs of Colonial Colonial

ResistanceResistance

Costs of Costs of Colonial Colonial

ResistanceResistance

James Otis’James Otis’ was a lawyer. was a lawyer.

In an important case, he In an important case, he represented some colonials represented some colonials who challenged the legality who challenged the legality of the writs of assistanceof the writs of assistance

He believed that protection He believed that protection of a citizen’s private of a citizen’s private property must be held in property must be held in higher regard than a higher regard than a parliamentary law.parliamentary law.

He lost the case = He lost the case = parliamentary law and parliamentary law and custom was higher than custom was higher than private propertyprivate property

Rethinking Their Rethinking Their EmpireEmpire

Rethinking Their Rethinking Their EmpireEmpire

1768—1770, British soldiers arrived in Boston, MA to maintain order and enforce the taxes the colonists were asked to pay after the French and Indian.

The people of Boston resented the British soldiers and considered them a foreign presence.

1770

High tensions between British and Bostonians over enforcing British

policies.

March 1770, the British shed colonial blood for

first time blood.

Boston Mass.Boston Mass.

Boston Mass.Boston Mass.

Boston Mass.Boston Mass.

• The 5 colonists killed at the Boston Massacre would become martyrs for the colonial cause

• British soldiers were tried in court and 2 were found guilty of manslaughter.

• Colonists write songs & poems for the colonists that died.

• The event would be used as propaganda to convince people that the relationship between England & the colonies would never improve.

Massachusetts governors are put on the payroll by decree of King George

• This is an attempt to gain control of the colonial governments• This way, governors will have more incentives to crack down on colonists who did not follow British laws

Committees of Correspondence is formed: • Colonies kept in contact with one another and described British actions through letters exchanged by carriers on horseback.• Included 21 members from all over the colonies

Tea Act•Made it illegal for the colonies to buy non-

British tea and forced the colonies to pay the tea tax of 3 cents/pound.

•The Colonists had to buy tea from the East India Tea Company----gave them a monopolymonopoly•Colonists claimed it was “taxation without “taxation without

representation”representation”•Sons of LibertySons of Liberty protested against the Tea ActTea Act in

Dec. 1773 by dumping 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor

Boston Tea Party

•To the British, the Boston Tea Party represented a crucial change

in the relationship with the Colonies, an act of defiance.

•The Colonists refusal to buy tea from the British and dumping it overboard was a “gesture” to the British that the Colonists were saying, “we do not want your tea because we are forced to buy it”.

Boston Tea Party

Placed Massachusetts under martial law until

Colonists paid for the tea.

Colonists referred to these as the Intolerable Acts or

Coercive Acts

Exports & Imports: 1768-1783

The Intolerable Acts:

1) Closed the port of

Boston from Colonial

trade

2) Revoked Massachuset

ts charter

3) Forbade town

meetings

Patrick HenryPatrick Henry(1736-1799)(1736-1799) Revolutionary War Revolutionary War orator, radical and orator, radical and

statesman. In a statesman. In a speech urging armed speech urging armed resistance against the resistance against the British. Speech was British. Speech was given in March of given in March of

1775.1775.

PHenry

There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the

plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it,

sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace -- but there is no

peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the

north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!

Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?

What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty

God!         

I know not what course others may take but as for me:

““Give me liberty or give Give me liberty or give me death”.me death”.

PHenry

                        

  

•Moderates argue with Radicals whether or not to go to war.•Representatives send a document “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” in 1774 to King George and Parliament•In the meantime, Congress ordered militias to prepare for war.

•Colonies send their representatives to

Philadelphia to form a Congress in response to the Intolerable Acts

in 1774•Main goal was to try

and negotiate with King George and

Parliament

In 1774, all colonies except Georgia sent delegates to the First Continental Congress

• Results of the Congress’ meeting: • 1) Formulated a set of parameters within which it considered

Parliamentary interference in colonial affairs justified• 2) In all other spheres, the colonists stated that they should be

left to themselves• 3) Towns set up committees of observation to enforce the

boycott• In time, these committees became their towns’ de facto

governments• Led acts of insubordination by collecting taxes, disrupting

court sessions, organizing militias, & stockpiling weapons