England Clamps Down on the Colonies

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England Clamps Down on the Colonies

+Mercantilism

The belief that wealth was power and a country’s economic wealth (and therefore it’s military and political power) could be measured by the amount of gold and silver in its treasury.

To gain gold or silver, a country needed to export more than it imported.

The colonies could provide raw materials and provide a guaranteed market for exports.

+Mercantilism

Positives: The colonies had the tobacco market in Britain Protection of the mightiest navy and army without any cost

Negatives Navigation Act of 1650: Colonies were not allowed to trade

with any other countries except England Smuggling

Turn to your neighbor and write down the definition of a “TAX”

Make a list of things that are Taxed today?

+Taxes What are taxes?

A fee charged (“levied”) by a government on a product, income, or activity

What taxes do we pay today? Why were the Colonists

making such a big deal about being taxed?

+Taxation without Representation Colonists had no voice in Parliament Leaders in Britain did not know anything about

Colonists lives Do we have proper representation in our government?

How?

+Sugar Act 1764 Placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other products shipped to the

colonies Also called for punishment of smugglers Primarily affected merchants

Reaction:

Colonists Angry! Boycotted merchants, protested in the streets

James Otis: “Taxation without Representation is tyranny!”

George Grenville: Colonists are subjects and enjoyed the protection of its laws and were subject to taxation

Repealed: Parliament was pressured by British merchants

+Quartering Act 1765

Required the colonies to quarter British soldiers provide them with food, supplies and place to live Most were quartered in NY

Reaction Many refused to allow soldiers in

+Stamp Act1765 All legal and commercial documents are to carry an

official stamp showing that a tax had been paid. Reaction:

Stamp Act Congress, Oct 1765 Boycott of British Goods Sons of Liberty staged protests

Repealed in 1766 British merchants were hurt by boycott

+Video Clips

• Mr. Bighead on Tensions between the Colonists and the British• http://youtu.be/yAdDh_3759U

History Channel: Stamp Acthttp://www.history.com/videos/colonists-protest-british-policies

+Declaratory Act 1766

Imposed after repeal of Stamp Act It was a statement of power, not an exercise of power Said that Parliament had supreme authority to govern the

colonies Colonies were “subordinate” and under the control of Parliament Parliament could pas ANY law regarding the colonies that it

desired

Reaction:

Colonists ignored this new Act and did not accept the principle that Parliament was Supreme.

+Townshend Acts1767 Suspended New York’s assembly until they agreed to

provide housing for British soldiers Taxed imported goods: glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea.

All things in everyday use that were not produced by Americans.

Taxes were collected before the items entered the colonies Tax Collectors were greedy and crooked Two British regiments were sent to Boston Writs of Assistance: search warrants to enter homes or

businesses to search for smuggled goods

+Reaction to Townshend Acts

Colonists Angry!! Writs of Assistance went against Natural Rights Felt their rights and freedoms were threatened Sam Adams called for a boycott of British goods Shopkeepers pressured not to sell imported goods Tax Collectors were Tarred and Feathered Trade with Britain fell sharply Protests were getting violent, tempers were rising, more

troops arrived

+Sam Adams

“We will destroy every

soldier that dares put

his foot on shore…

I look upon them as

foreign enemies!”

+The Boston Massacre

1,000 more soldiers enter Boston in the Fall of 1768 Tensions were high Often soldiers and street youths would exchange yelled

insults March 5, 1770

Soldiers were being battered by a mob of colonists They began firing out of self defense from snow balls and ice being thrown at them

+Tea Act 1773

Parliament repeals all taxes except for tea (same day as Boston Massacre)

They wanted to show that they were still in control of the colonies Tea was the “Pop/Soda” of the colonies Price of tea actually went down Gave the British East India Company control over tea trade Only this tea could be sold and traded Colonists felt it was a “devilish plot to make the colonies totally

subordinate to England”.

+Reaction

South Carolina: colonists unloaded tea and let it rot on the docks

New York City and Pennsylvania: blocked tea ships from landing

Boston: Sons of Liberty, disguised as Indians, boarded tea ships in the harbor and destroyed 342 chests of tea

Britain outraged!! Wants the tea paid for and the men brought to trial