Unit Four: Road to Revolution

Colonial Tensions

Quartering Act of 1765• The Quartering Act stated that colonial

governments had to provide for the accommodations, provisions (food), money, and housing for the British standing army in the Colonies, which could include private residences and businesses.

• In 1766 the New York assembly refused to allocate money, which led to Parliament revoking their right to assembly for government until the money was paid in 1771.

• All the colonies except Pennsylvania avoided paying the tax, if they could.

Can’t Come in Here

• Many Colonial women who were part of the Daughters of Liberty would not allow or chased soldiers away with brooms.

Declaratory Act of 1766

• Due to massive resistance and anger toward the Stamp Act in the Colonies and in England, it was repealed in 1766.

• The same time the Stamp Act was repealed the Declaratory Act of 1766 was enacted as a statement of power.

• It stated that Parliament had the right to pass all laws and taxes for the colonies because they were subordinate to (underneath) Parliament.

Townshend Act of 1767

• The Townshend Revenue Act of 1767 was developed by Charles Townshend , Chancellor of the Exchequer, to place an external tax (import duty) on tea, glass, paper, paint, and lead. (All products not made in the colonies)

• The Townshend Act placed a Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston to oversee the collection of the taxes (very corrupt).

Townshend Act of 1767• In 1768 John Hancock ( a wealthy

merchant) was arrested and tried because his ship the Liberty was suspected of smuggling. (John Adams was his lawyer) The charges were dropped, but it greatly angered the population of Massachusetts.

• In response Samuel Adams and the Massachusetts legislature sent a Circular Letter around the colony and to different colonies to demand the end of taxation without representation and to unify the colonies.

• Parliament dissolved the Massachusetts assembly and moved British troops into Boston for their treasonous actions (crime against your country).

Townshend Act of 1767

• John Dickinson wrote a series of essays called “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies” calling for the denial of Parliament’s right to make external or internal taxes and to refuse to pay them.

• In response a Second Boycott was issued between 1768-1769 that effetely cut British exports to the colonies by 1/3 causing Parliament to repeal all the taxes, but the one placed on tea.

General Feelings

Boston Massacre

• Massachusetts and specifically Boston quickly became the hotbed of rebellious attitude in the colonies for war.

• Due to the defiant attitudes in Boston and the quartering of soldiers in Boston tensions quickly developed into issues.

• The main problem that developed was that off duty British Regulars were being hired for jobs and taking jobs from Boston workers, making them very angry.

Boston Massacre• The issue culminated on 5 March,1770 when

British troops led by Caption Thomas Preston were attacked by a Boston mob while guarding the Customs House.

• A solider fired into the crowd with others releasing a volley leaving five people dead including a free black named Crispus Attucks in an event called the Boston Massacre. (considered the first causality of the Revolution)

• The soldiers were put on trial, defended by John Adams, and were acquitted (found not guilty) of all charges because it was deemed self-defense.

Boston Massacre

• Even though only five people were killed the event was labeled a Massacre to sway public opinion against the British and pro rebellion.

• The famous engraving of the Boston Massacre made by Paul Revere and published in most every colonial newspaper led to anger across the colonies towards the British and the idea of a standing army.

Boston Massacre?

Gaspee Incident

• Another incident happened in Rhode Island were a British Revenue Cutter (ship) ran aground while patrolling for Dutch smuggling ships.

• While the crew was off at a tavern a group of sons of liberty boarded the ship and burned it known as the Gaspee Incident of 1772.

• Little occurrences such as this were developing in greater numbers across the colonies against the British.

Committee of Correspondence

• The Committee of Correspondence grew and spread during this time frame.

• The Committees pumped out pamphlets and tracts describing events that the British had done and making some up.

• During this time many Americas were still very neutral to loyal to England, but like all Americans emotions can play a key role in turning some for or against something.

Tea Act of 1773

• The Tea Act of 1773 gave the British East India Trading Company a monopoly (complete control of the sell of product) on the sell of Tea to the American Colonies.

• In response to the passing of the Tea Act colonial harbors did not allow Tea to be unloaded on the docks.

• In Boston the Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians and dumped Tea into Boston Harbor, known as the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party

Tea Act

• The Boston Tea Party made many people in England angry and cemented the public opinion in England against the American colonists.

• The Tea Act also led to a general boycott of Tea, which is one reason why Americans are big coffee drinkers and don’t in large numbers drink hot tea.

• The Boston Tea Party also put them on the top of the list to be punished by Parliament for their treasonous actions.