CAUSES OF THE

REVOLUTION

England and the Colonies…Rocky Relationship

Proclamation of 1763:Help relations with Native

Americans.Keep colonists by coast

where lucrative English markets were.

England sent 10,000 troops to help ensure this!

This made the colonists

England is broke as a joke! French and Indian War left

England in debt. They need cash quick so

they passed tax laws on colonists.

These laws made colonists

England’s Trade Laws: George Grenville (new Prime

Minister after F&I war):Upset that colonists were smuggling

goods to avoid taxes.People accused of smuggling rarely

found guilty.Grenville issued:

○ Writs of assistance: legal documents allowing customs officials to enter any location to find smuggled goods.

This made colonists !!!!!

The Sugar Act

Lowering tax on molasses to prevent colonists from smuggling.

Allowed officers to seize goods from smugglers without going to court.

This plus writs of assistance

were against colonists’

rights as Englishmen.

Stamp Act Parliament passed it in 1765 because they needed

mo’ money! Placed taxes on all printed goods:

Newspapers, pamphlets, wills, playing cardsMarked with a stamp by English officials.

This made colonists !!!

Stamp Act Congress Delegates met in New York to

write petition stating: colonists could only be taxed by their own govt’s.

They urged boycott (refusal to buy) on English goods.

English merchants lost mucho money. Begged Parliament to repeal

(cancel) the Stamp Act.

Protesting the Stamp Act!!In Virginia: Patrick Henry led the way! House of Burgesses passed

resolution (formal expression of opinion) against act.

In Boston: Samuel Adams formed Sons of

Liberty.Protested the Stamp Act in the streets.

People burned effigies (rag figures) all over the colonies in protest.

Parliament gives in...kind of Stamp Act repealed in 1766.

Colonists still don’t trust king and Parliament.

Declaratory ActPassed by Parliament same day Stamp Act was

repealed.States Parliament can tax colonists in any case.

More Taxes… Townshend Acts:

Placed taxes on colonies’ imported goods○ Glass, tea, paper and lead

Colonies didn’t produce these goods.Colonists mad so they brought back boycott!

Daughters of Liberty- women organization encouraging people to produce goods only available from England to help boycott.

VIDEO

Watch 2nd part of America Story of US (Start at minute 18)