Ch 5 Sec 1 & 2
Causes of American Revolution
Reminder
• After Fr and Indian War, colonists wanted to be full fledge Br citizens
• Instead, Br began interfering more with local governing of colonists
Why did colonist want to declare independence from BR??
• Unfair taxation (taxation without representation)
• British stationed 10,000 soldiers in colonies
• Writ of Assistance
• Proclamation of 1763
After French and Indian War
1. Who claimed land west of Mississippi River?2. What was the physical boundary established in proclamation of 1763?
British perspective
- Somebody has to pay for French and Indian War
- Debt/inflation in Br
George Grenville, new BR Prime Minister, determined to raise $ to
reduce debt in BR• Sugar Act/Molasses Act• Stamp Act• Tea Act (results in Boston Tea Party)• Intolerable/Coercive Acts• Writs of assistance (search warrant)= legal
documents that allowed Br officers to search homes/business for smuggled goods (do not go in front of judge/do not need probable cause to get warrant)
“Taxation without Representation”
• James Otis made this phrase famous “Taxation without representation is tyranny”
• Phrase means = GB should not be able to tax the colonists if they do not have a representative in Parliament
• Colonist are not really rebelling against taxes, rather they want to be British citizens (not colonists) and they want a representative in Parliament.
Boston Massacre
• Br soldiers stationed in Boston• Colonist furious• Colonists throwing rocks at soldiers/daring
“bloody lobsters” to shoot• In commotion – 5 Bostonians shot• Colonial leaders used Boston Massacre as
propaganda to encourage colonists to continue boycotting Br goods that were being taxed.
Propaganda
• Boston Massacre (Paul Revere’s famous engraving/picture)
• Paul Revere’s picture is an example of propaganda
• Propaganda= information designed to influence opinion
Coercive Act
• Nickname = Intolerable Acts
• King George III responded/punished colonists for Boston Tea Party by passing this law
• Closed the Boston Harbor until tea paid for
• Prohibited most town meetings
• Forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their homes
TO DO
• Look at propaganda examples
• Homework : Propaganda pictures – due tomorrow. Coercive Act and Townshend Act (must color)
• Look at British policies in the Colonies (finish tomorrow in class)