September 30, 2008 - Period 1

Chapter 5 Notes

(Liberty pages 178-192)

I. After the French and Indian War, the colonists were in debt and needed revenue for protection. Revenue was provided by:
A)Sugar Act of 1764
1. Placed taxes on wine, coffee, and other products
2. 3 pence per gallon on molasses
3. Launched Greenvilles “war” in smuggling
B)Currency Act of 1764
1. Prohibited money (paper) in colonies
C)Quartering Act of 1765
1. Colonists forced to supply British troops with beer, candles, etc.
2. Provided British troops with housing in public buildings

II. Acts not effective, so the British established:
A)Stamp Act of 1765
1. Direct tax= annoys colonists
2. Colonists believe in “no taxation without representation”; British argue that they have virtual representation (delegates are responsible for the entire empire)
3. British government would listen if colonists came up with a different plan
4. ALL 13 colonies reject act
5. Parliament passes act in 1765, goes into effect Nov
6. All contracts, licenses, legal documents were void (no value) unless signed on officially stamped paper; applied to all papers (cards, newspapers, dice, etc.)
7. Spring of 1765- rebellion initiated
8. Patrick Henry of Virginia leads opposition; Stamp Act Congress develops
a) 9 representatives meet from 9 different colonies and try to figure out what to do
b) Agree they are still part of Britain
c) Condemn Sugar and Stamp Acts
d) Sent letters to king opposing acts; letters are ignored=colonial violence in the streets
13. Bostonians break into house of paper stamper (Boston)
14. Stamp Act repealed before put into effect
15. Forced Parliament to consider its effect
16. Established Declaratory Act- said Parliament could still pass any tax
17.Boycott; issues 3 peices of legislation:
a)Repeal Stamp Act
b)Declaratory Act
c) Revenue Act of 1766- reduced tax on molasses to 1 pence per gallon
18.Neither side enjoyed complexities of the Acts

III. Boycott effectiveness
A)Left unanswered questions
1. Was repeal due to boycott of violence?
2. If Stamp Act didnt go through, will British be able to enforce anything?

IV. 1767; Parliament establishes:
A)Townshend Act- new taxes put into place on colonial seaports on imports that could only be brought from England (tea, paper, glass, red and white lead)
1. Townshend dies same year, replaced by Lord North
2. Colonists divided on how to solve problems
a) Consider boycott but dont act on it; Townshend Act imposed in Nov
3. John Dickenson writes in newspapers saying that tax violates colonists rights
4. Legislative assembly meets in Massachusetts and petitions king to repeal acts and encourages other colonies to resist; king ignores letters and tells colonists to obey; colonies stand together
5. Anniversary of Stamp Act Repeal= colonists celebrate=angers British
a) British send troops to colonies (2 regiments from Nova Scotia)
b) Customs collectors seize Hancocks ship leads to a rebellion, British send 2 more troops
6. Colonists begin to boycott (takes 5-6 months to initiate)
7. 2 dozen Massachusetts towns said they wouldnt consume British products
a) Boston merchants agreed; New York and Philadelphia follow (major seaports)
8.Convention is held in Boston but couldnt agree on how to handle the problem
9.Britain grew angry; established a law stating that anyone not followingt Townshend Act will be deported to England for trial
10.Virginia, Carolinas, Maryland enter boycott
11. Townshend Act finally repealed on day of Boston Massacre
a) All taxes repealed except tea
12. Resistance to duty collapses
13. Quartering Act expires and Currency Act is repealed
14. Colonists are upset because they didnt realize the seriousness in what was going on
a) Colonists go on board a British customs ship called the Gaspee and burn it; British want to send these colonists to Britain for trial
15. Permanent Commitees of Correspondence (12 colonies)- communicated feelings of colonies and British; displays UNITY that wasnt seen at the Albany Conference

V. Boston Massacre
A)Non-importation in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia
1. Economic violence=importation of British troops
2. Colonists and British soldiers clash; Bostonians talk trash about the "red coats"
a) British feel unwanted and under seige
3. Sons of Liberty (patriots)-intimidate people who violate boycott
4. Verbal threats increase and tensions heighten after British customs informer kills an 11 year old boy
5. Crowd throws rock snowballs at a British soldier, he calls for help, troops come; accidental(?) shots fired, wounds 6 and kills 5