SONS OF LIBERTY
Definition of the Sons of Liberty
The Meaning and Definition of the Sons of Liberty: The Sons of Liberty were a
secret, underground organization that was founded in Boston by Samuel Adams
and John Hancock in July 1765. The Sons of Liberty were opposed to the Stamp
Act and their membership spread to a number of colonial towns.
Purpose of the Sons of Liberty
The Purpose of the Sons of Liberty The objective and purpose of the Sons of
Liberty was to force all of the British stamp agents to resign and also stop many
American merchants from ordering British trade goods. Its members were
American patriots, many of whom were hot-headed and were not adverse to the
use of violence and intimidation.
The Sons of Liberty
There were many workers associations, or fraternal organizations, that provided
fellowship for craftsmen (artisans), apprentices, and common laborers in Boston.
There was often conflict between these organizations as every trade had its own
agenda. The Stamp Act affected every single person, regardless of their trade,
wealth or standing in the community. The taxes levied by the Stamp Act were not
to regulate commerce and trade, but to directly grasp money out of colonists.
Samuel Adams, a prominent Boston Patriot and political activist, persuaded
these organizations to stop fighting amongst themselves and unite in opposition
to the Stamp Act. The members of this united brotherhood became known as the
Sons of Liberty.
The Sons of Liberty Protests and Actions
The Sons of Liberty organized various protests and actions against the
provisions of the Stamp Act. Their members were cloaked with secrecy.
Prominent citizens such as Sam Adams and his cousin John Adams did
not participate in the violent actions initiated by the Sons of Liberties. But they
were clearly viewed ad as leaders of the Sons of Liberty. The protests and
actions of the Sons of Liberty became more radical and violent as their numbers
swelled and their power grew. The actions and protests moved on from peaceful
meetings, organizing boycotts and minor covert actions to public displays of civil
unrest and violence. The Sons of Liberty were involved in:
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Ransacking and damaging houses of British officials
Images of unpopular figures were burned in effigy
Stamp Agents were subjected to threats and intimidation
Offenders were publicly 'tarred and feathered'
Sons of Liberty were involved in riots
QUARTERING ACT
Definition of the Quartering Act
The Meaning and Definition of the Quartering Act: The Quartering Acts were two
British Laws, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain 1765 and 1774, that were
designed to force local colonial governments to provide provisions and housing
to British soldiers stationed in the 13 Colonies of America.
Summary of the Quartering Acts
The 1765 Quartering Act made provisions for British troops to be given food and
shelter at the expense of the American colonists. The 1774 Quartering Act was
one of the series of Intolerable Acts passed as a reprisal to the Boston Tea Party.
The history of the Quartering Acts is directly linked to the causes of the American
Revolution
Reasons for the Quartering Act of 1765 - Uncooperative Colonists
The French Indian War (aka the Seven Years War 1754-1763)) was between
France and Britain for possession of North America. During this time it is
estimated that over 25,000 troops were sent from Britain to America. The British
commanders, led by Lieutenant General Thomas Gage, had found it difficult to
persuade some colonial assemblies to pay for the quartering and provisioning of
troops, as required by law in the 1686 Mutiny Act. The majority of colonies had
supplied quartering for British troops during the war, but the issue was disputed
in peacetime. The French Indian War ended in victory for the British in 1763.
Lieutenant General Thomas Gage reported the quartering problems he had
encountered to the British Parliament. His experience with uncooperative
colonists was one of the issues that led to the Quartering Act of 1765.
Reasons for the Quartering Act of 1765 - The Standing Army
In April 1763, George Grenville became the British Prime Minister. Grenville
needed to reduce the national debt. Before the French and Indian War the British
national debt was only 72 million pounds. By the end of the French and Indian
War January 1763, the debt had escalated to almost 130 million pounds. The
cost of bringing the British army back to Britain could be avoided if the soldiers
remained in the colonies - so the forces stayed in America as a standing army,
through the provisions of the Quartering Act.
Reasons for the Quartering Act of 1765 - The Proclamation of 1763
The British victory in the French Indian Wars, saw the start of changes in the
American colonies. The 13 colonies were looking to expand their territories to the
west. The British had other ideas. The Proclamation of 1763 was designed to
calm the fears of Native Indians by halting the westward expansion by colonists
whilst expanding the lucrative fur trade. The introduction of the massive
boundary, called the Proclamation Line, required the establishment, and the
manning, of posts along the border - which the British administration argued was
for the defense of the colonists and could be implemented through the Quartering
Act.
STAMPACT
Definition of the Stamp Act
The Meaning and Definition of the Stamp Act: The Stamp Act of 1765 was a
British Law, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain during the reign of King
George III during the ministry of George Grenville (Lord Grenville).
The Stamp Act was passed on February 17, approved by the House of Lords on
March 8th, and received Royal Assent on 22 March 1765. The Stamp Act took
effect on November 1, 1765.
It was designed to raise revenue from the American Colonies by a duty (tax) in
the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial
documents.
The Stamp Act was first direct tax to be levied on the American colonies. It was
the first serious attempt to assert governmental authority over the 13 colonies.
Definition of the Stamp Act
The Meaning and Definition of the Stamp Act: The Stamp Act of 1765 was a
British Law, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain during the reign of King
George III during the ministry of George Grenville (Lord Grenville).
The Stamp Act was passed on February 17, approved by the House of Lords on
March 8th, and received Royal Assent on 22 March 1765. The Stamp Act took
effect on November 1, 1765.
It was designed to raise revenue from the American Colonies by a duty (tax) in
the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial
documents.
The Stamp Act was first direct tax to be levied on the American colonies. It was
the first serious attempt to assert governmental authority over the 13 colonies.
Purpose of the Stamp Act of 1765
The Purpose of the Stamp Act of 1765 was to:
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Raise revenue to pay clear the War Debt incurred during the French
Indian Wars (Seven Years War)
Raise revenue to pay for the military presence in the American colonies to
enforce the new taxes
Divert new taxes and duties from Britain to the American colonies
Assert British governmental authority over the American colonies
Re-enforce the polices of previous Acts in relation to duties, taxes and
currency - refer to Revolutionary Timeline and Colonial, Continental and
Revolutionary Currency
Implement new taxes on paper documents
Stamp Act Stamps
The Stamp Act Stamps were not like the stamps that we put on envelopes. Some
documents were printed on stamped or embossed paper. The stamped or
embossed papers had a tax on them and had to be bought from a government
stamped paper office. Other documents were indented with a hand pressed
stamp or had a foil seal.
Images of Stamp Act Stamps
What did the stamp act stamps look like? See the images of Stamp Act Stamps
showing various denominations.
Images of Stamp Act Stamps showing that the Stamp Tax had been paid
TEA ACT
Definition of the Tea Act 1773
The Meaning and Definition of the Tea Act: The Tea Act of 1773 was a British
Law, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain on May 10, 1773, that was
designed to bail out the British East India Company and expand the company's
monopoly on the tea trade to all British Colonies, selling excess tea at a reduced
price.
The Tea Act - A Follow-up Act
The Tea Act was a follow-up to the Revenue Act, that was one of the laws in the
Townshend Acts which set new import duties (taxes) on British goods including
paint, paper, lead, glass and tea. Due to protests from British merchants, whose
trade was seriously affected by the American colonists refusing to buy the goods,
Parliament repealed all of the duties (taxes) - except the tax on tea.
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The Tea Act imposed no new taxes
It gave a tea monopoly in the American colonies to the British East India
Company
The Tea Act allowed the East India company to sell its large tea surplus
below the prices charged by colonial competitors
The Tea Act of 1773
Of all the Townshend duties (taxes) only the import tax on tea was left. Not
surprisingly, the American colonists continued to boycott tea. As a result of the
boycotts, the East India Company had literally tons of tea in its London
warehouses and was on the verge of bankruptcy. By 1772 the East India
Company had 18 million pounds of unsold tea in warehouses and 1.3 million
pounds of debt.
The Provisions of the Tea Act of 1773
The provisions of the Tea Act of 1773 were as follows:
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The new provisions in the Tea Act allowed tea to be shipped in East India
Company ships directly from China to the American colonies, thus
avoiding the tax on goods first sent to England, as required by previous
legislation
The Tea Act also made the provision for a duty (tax) of 3 pence per pound
to be collected on tea delivered to America
This new import tax of 3 pence was considerably less than the previous
one in which 12 pence (1 shilling) per pound on tea sent via Britain
 The American colonists would therefore get their tea cheaper than
the people of Britain
The tea was to be marketed in America by special consignees (receivers
of shipments) who were to be selected by the East India Company
The tea consignees were to be based in four centers in the colonies:
 Boston
 New York
 Philadelphia
 Charleston
Effect of the Tea Act of 1773 on the Colonists
The effect of the Tea Act on the American colonists would be as follows:
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Merchants who had been acting as the middlemen in legally importing tea
stood to lose their business to the East India Company agents
Merchants dealing with the illegal Dutch tea trade would be undercut by
the Company's lowered prices and also stood to lose their business
The Tea Act directly impacted shop keepers who would only be allowed to
purchase tea from merchants selected by the East India Company and
their monopoly
Only ships owned by the East India Company could carry tea, the
American ships engaging in the tea trade would be redundant
Favoritism - Consignees who were to receive the tea and arrange for its
local resale were generally favorites of the local governor. The Governor
of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, was a part owner of the business
hired by the East India Company to receive tea shipped to Boston. He was
disliked by the Boston patriots with whom he had clashed during the
Boston Massacre of 1770
Tea Act of 1773 - Action by the Colonists
The American colonists in the ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
Charleston had time to consider the implications and impact of the Tea Act
before the ships laden with tea arrived in their harbors. They had time to plan
their responses and what action they could take against the Tea Act:
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The press became more active in its political discussions
Circulars and handbills were printed and distributed
The Sons of Liberty organized public demonstration against the British
government
Public meetings were held - everyone got to hear about the Tea Act
resulting in strong Anti-British attitudes
Americans decided they would continue to boycott tea from the British
 To enforce the Nonimportation Agreements by merchants not to
purchase British goods
A public meeting was held in Philadelphia and there was agreement that
anyone who aided in “unloading, receiving, or vending” the tea was an
enemy to his country
The colonists agreed that the Consignees, who were supposed to receive
the tea, should “resign their appointment”
The Sons of Liberty reorganized and owners and occupants of stores
were warned against harboring the tea, and all who bought, sold or
handled it, were threatened as enemies to the country
Colonists resolved to prevent the landing and sale of the teas - they
wanted the tea to be sent back to England
The scene was set for confrontations when the ships laden with tea arrived at the
ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Charleston. The scene was set for
the Boston Tea Party...
PROCLAMATION OF 1763
Proclamation of 1763 Summary and Definition
British Proclamation of 1763 Summary and Definition: The Royal Proclamation of
1763 was issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great Britain's
acquisition of French territory in North America following the end of the French
and Indian Wars with the Peace of Paris which concluded the Seven Years' War
in Europe and the French Indian War in America. The Royal Proclamation of
1763 was designed to calm the fears of Native Indians by halting the westward
expansion by colonists whilst expanding the lucrative fur trade.
Royal Proclamation of 1763 - The Proclamation Line
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 at the end of the French and Indian War
established the controversial Proclamation Line along the Appalachian
Mountains safeguarding Indian lands and territories and repaying the Native
American Indians who helped the British during the war. Many of the American
Indians, primarily in the Great Lakes region, had close relationships with France
and were appalled to find that they were now under British control. Pontiac's
Rebellion during the Pontiac War (1763–66) was an unsuccessful effort by Native
American Indians to prevent Great Britain from occupying the land previously
claimed by France and this hastened the implementation of the Royal
Proclamation of 1763. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was an attempt by the
British crown to separate white settlements from Indian country. The colonists
perceived that the Royal Proclamation of 1763 clearly demonstrated that the
British King was on the side of the Indians to the detriment of the colonists.
Royal Proclamation of 1763 - Manning the Proclamation Line
The introduction of the massive boundary, which was the Proclamation Line,
would require the establishment and the manning of posts along the border. A
costly venture that the British administration argued was for the defense of the
colonists. It was therefore deemed that the costs should be paid for by the
colonies. From the perspective of the colonists this amounted to a tax to pay for a
boundary to lands that was against the interests of the British Colonies.
Proclamation of 1763 - Proclamation Line Map
Map: The Royal Proclamation of 1763 resulted in a massive border, or Boundary
Line, referred to as the Proclamation Line, which is shown on the Proclamation
Line map.
The Proclamation Line between the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of
America and American Indian lands called the Indian Reserve ran west of the
Appalachian Mountains and south of Hudson Bay to Florida.
The Proclamation Line was not intended to be a permanent boundary between
the lands of settlers and Indians, but rather a temporary boundary which could be
extended further west in an orderly, lawful fashion.
Reaction of the Colonists to the Proclamation of 1763
The British colonists vehemently resented the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and
the introduction of the concept of the Proclamation Line. Prominent American
colonists joined with land speculators in Britain to lobby the government to move
the line further west. As a result, the boundary line was adjusted in a series of
treaties with Native American Indians.
SUGAR ACT
Definition of the Sugar Act
The Meaning and Definition of the Sugar Act: The Sugar Act of 1764 was a
British Law, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain on April 5, 1764, that was
designed to raise revenue from the American colonists in the 13 Colonies.
The Act set a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies, which
impacted the manufacture of rum in New England.
Purpose of the Sugar Act
The Purpose of the Sugar Act of 1764 was to:
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Reduce the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per
gallon - but ensured the new tax could be collected by increased British
military presence and controls
Establish British admiralty courts for tax violators where a judge decided
the outcome rather than in colonial courts
Regulate the trade by effectively closing the legal trade to non-British
suppliers. The Act was designed to stop trade between New England and
the Middle colonies with French, Dutch, and Spanish in the West Indies
Provide for the seizure of cargoes violating the new rules
Reduce the practice of smuggling bribery, intimidation and corruption in
the colonies which were used to avoid paying taxes
The act taxed more foreign goods including wines, coffee, cambric and
printed calico
Timber and iron were also included in the products that could be traded
only with England
Sugar Act - Background Information
The Sugar Act was mainly about the manufacture of rum, which was a highly
lucrative product. Rum is made from molasses, a by-product of sugar
production. Some sugarcane was grown on sugar plantations in the colonies
but the majority was imported from the West Indies. The background to the
Sugar Act dates to one of the series of Navigation Acts. The Navigation Act of
1733, also known as the Molasses Act, levied heavy taxes on sugar from the
West Indies to the American colonies in an attempt to force colonists to
purchase the more costly sugar from Britain. The Molasses Act of 1733 was
never fully enforced because of the British policy of Salutary Neglect, which
basically allowed British officials to turn a 'blind eye' to trade violations.
Effect of the Sugar Act of 1764
The effect of the Sugar Act on the colonists was the economic impact as well as
the constitutional issue of taxation without representation. The Sugar Act is also
known as the American Revenue Act or the American Duties Act. The English
policy of Salutary Neglect that was in effect from 1607-1763 encouraged the
colonists to violate the law by bribing customs officials and smuggling. The
colonists were undergoing a period of financial difficulties and their resentment
was due to both the economic impact of the Sugar Act as well as the
constitutional issue of taxation without representation. The Sugar Act of 1732
was seen as detrimental to Colonial America and was one of the laws that sewed
the seeds of dissension and rebellion in the colonies when it was more rigorously
enforced. The Sugar Act and the Stamp Act were some of the laws that led to
anger, resentment, dissension and ultimately revolution in Colonial America - the
American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and the Declaration of Independence
from Great Britain.
TOWNSHEND ACTS
Definition of the Townshend Acts
The Meaning and Definition of the Townshend Acts: The Townshend Acts of
1767 were a series of laws which set new import taxes on British goods
including paint, paper, lead, glass and tea and used revenues to maintain British
troops in America and to pay the salaries of some Royal officials who were
appointed to work in the American colonies.
The names of the Townshend Acts
The names of the Townshend Acts of 1767 were:
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Townshend Act: The Revenue Act of 1767
Townshend Act: The Indemnity Act of 1767
Townshend Act: The Commissioners of Customs Act of 1767
Townshend Act: The Vice Admiralty Court Act of 1767
Townshend Act: The New York Restraining Act of 1768
Townshend Acts - Background Information
The Townshend Acts was one of a series of taxes that divided Great Britain and
its colonies in America. Unlike the Stamp Act of 1765, the laws were not a direct
tax, but a tax on imports. The Stamp Act had been repealed due to the
opposition in the colonies, which include the boycott of British goods. The boycott
of British goods resulted in British merchants applying pressure on the
government to repeal the Stamp Act. The reaction of the merchants together with
the violent reaction of the American colonist, which verged on revolution, resulted
in the repeal of the hated stamp tax. The colonists were not against the law but
they were strongly opposed to taxes imposed by the British parliament,
complaining bitterly with the shout of "No Taxation without representation!" As
the colonists celebrated their political victory, the British parliament passed the
Declaratory Act. The Declaratory Act provided the British with a broad mandate
to impose laws, and taxes, on the American colonies. Within a year of the
passing of the Declaratory Act new trade laws were imposed on America. The
Townshend Acts of 1767 introduced the new taxes.
Summary of the Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts of 1767 regulated colonial trade by taxing items needed by
the colonies. Charles Townshend introduced the series of laws, referred to as the
Townshend Acts, firstly to impose import taxes on some lucrative British goods
sent to America. He followed the initial Townshend Act with others to reorganize
the colonial customs service and make it possible to collect the duties (taxes). He
even provided that judges should try offences against the revenue laws
appointed directly by the king, without being submitted to a jury of any kind.
The Significance of the Townshend Acts
The British had passed similar measures before the Townshend Acts with
Navigation Acts and the Sugar Act. Had the Sugar Act been enforced the trade of
Massachusetts and other New England colonies would have been virtually
ruined. But due to the British policy of Salutary Neglect the law was not enforced
and, as the taxes were not collected, no one cared whether they were legal or
not. The Townshend Acts made it very clear that this tax and the other
Townshend taxes were to be collected.
SALUTORY NEGLECT
Definition of Salutary Neglect
The Meaning and Definition Salutary Neglect: Salutary Neglect was a longstanding British Policy in the 13 colonies, which allowed the colonists to flout, or
violate, the laws associated with trade. There were no effective enforcement
agencies and it was expensive to send British troops to America. The British
policy of Salutary Neglect was not documented. The policy and era of Salutary
Neglect lasted from the 1690's to the 1760's and benefited the colonists boosting
their profits from trade.
Reversing the Policy of Salutary Neglect
The British reversed their policy of Salutary Neglect to raise taxes in the colonies
to pay for the massive war debt incurred during the French and Indian Wars. The
reversal of the policy of Salutary Neglect led to insurrection in the colonies, the
Boston Tea Party, the American Revolution and the Declaration of
Independence. This explains why the policy of Salutary Neglect, and the British
attempts to reverse the policy of Salutary Neglect, was so important to U.S.
history
Era of Salutary Neglect in the American Colonies
The first reason for the British policy of Salutary Neglect was to ensure that the
America Colonies would remain loyal to the British during the period of expansion
in Colonial America. The threat of rebellion in the colonies was a clear concern.
In 1675 Nathaniel Bacon instigated Bacon's Rebellion against a corrupt Governor
and the Culpeper Rebellion against the Colonial Government erupted in Carolina
and the Navigation Acts led by John Culpeper. There were no effective
enforcement agencies and it was expensive to send British troops to the
American colonies, which were far away, so the policy of Salutary Neglect meant
that such costs could be kept to a minimum. The British policy of Salutary
Neglect was, most importantly, about the profits that could be made from the raw
materials and products used for trade by the colonists in the 13 Colonies in
exchange for goods from England. This led to the system of Triangular Trade
across the Atlantic. Great Britain adhered to the philosophy of Mercantilism,
which came to mean that colonies existed for the good of the mother country.
The famous British Prime Minister Robert Walpole stated that "If no restrictions
were placed on the colonies, they would flourish".
Reasons for the Policy of Salutary Neglect - Inability to Enforce the laws
The reasons for the policy of Salutary Neglect were it was too difficult, too
expensive and politically too risky to enforce the laws:
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Enforcement: During the early period of colonization there were no
effective enforcement agencies in place
Distance & Transport: 3000 miles from England to the colonies
Complex Logistics: Required difficult coordination of people, facilities and
supplies
Expense: To expensive to implement
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Political Dangers: Dissatisfied and discontented Colonists would find a
willing ally in the French
However, the British government was far more vigilant when overseeing matters
concerning merchants who were based in Great Britain the policy of Salutary
Neglect did not apply to some matters. The policy of Salutary Neglect did not
apply to Issues involving contracts, debts, and the rates of currency exchange also refer to Colonial, Continental and Revolutionary Currency. Concerns
regarding these matters led to the Debt Recovery Act of 1732.
The Reversal of the Policy of Salutary Neglect
The benevolent period of Salutary Neglect all changed after the French and
Indian War (aka Seven Years War 1755-1763) Although the French and Indian
War was a victory for the British they were left with a massive war debt. To pay
the war debt the British ended their policy of Salutary Neglect in the colonies.
The defeat of the French had removed the political danger and the British were
sufficiently confident to tighten their control over their now large and lucrative
colonies. The long earlier period of "salutary neglect" came to an end and new
initiatives with more and tighter controls were introduced. The British Chancellor
of the Exchequer, Lord Grenville, adopted the policy of bringing the colonies in
line with regard to the payment of taxes - reversing the policy of Salutary Neglect.
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The measures implemented to reverse the policy of Salutary Neglect were
to reduce the British national debt and stimulate the British economy.
Lord Grenville significantly increased the presence of the Navy in Colonial
America and instructed them to become more active in customs
enforcement. British warships were ordered to patrol the ports to catch
smugglers and seize contraband
Writs of Assistance: Customs officials were ordered to go to their posts in
Colonial America rather than work 3000 miles away. They were provided
with Writs of Assistance (blanket search warrants) to stop smuggling. The
Writs of Assistance gave Customs officials the authority to search any
premises at at any time
The additional duties (taxes) raised due to the reversal of the policy of
Salutary neglect were to pay the costs of having 10,000 troops stationed
in the American colonies
Admiralty courts for tax violators and smugglers were established in the
colonies where a judge decided the outcome rather than a colonial court
The British therefore had the means, and the motivation, to enforce the laws of
the Navigation Acts and looked for ways of imposing new taxes in the colonies
and to make them bear a larger share of the costs of their administration and
defence. The policy of Salutary Neglect was ended.
GENERAL INFORMATION
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies
Learn about the history of the US via this useful Taxation in the Colonies guide
with access to simple, clear and easy to read articles that all have interesting
illustrations and pictures. This Taxation in the Colonies guide provides links to
the history, facts and information about British Laws and Taxation in the
Colonies. The laws and taxes imposed by the British on the 13 Colonies included
the Sugar and the Stamp Act, Navigation Acts, Wool Act, Hat Act, the
Proclamation of 1763, the Quartering Act, Townshend Acts and the Coercive
Intolerable Acts..
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1651,1660 & 1663 Navigation
Acts
The purpose of the 1651,1660 & 1663 Navigation Acts was to encourage British
shipping and allow Great Britain to retain the monopoly over colonial trade for the
benefit of British merchants. The 1660 Navigation Act ensured that the
importation and exportation of goods from British Colonies were restricted to
British ships which were under the control of British mariners.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1689 Mutiny Act
The 1689 Mutiny Act was passed due to to the mutiny of a large portion of the
army which stayed loyal to King James II upon King William III taking the crown
of England. Common law did not make mutiny a crime as it governed civilians not
the military and consequently no legal action could be taken to stop mutineers.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1699 Wool Act
The 1699 Wool Act was and important element in the policy of Mercantilism that
favored England by which materials from the colonies such as Wool were used to
make different woolen products in England as finished goods had a higher value
than the raw materials.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - Sugar Act and the Stamp Act
The enactment of the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act were both British Laws that
were implemented to raise revenue for the British. The Sugar Act was designed
to regulate trade, especially in the New England region and the Stamp Act was
the first direct tax on home produced and consumed items.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1765 Stamp Act
The 1765 Stamp Act was enacted to raise revenue from the American Colonies
by a tax in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers, legal and commercial
documents. The Stamp Act was first direct tax to be levied on the 13 colonies
and affected the lives of every colonist.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1732 Debt Recovery Act
The 1732 Debt Recovery Act was described as “a 'sweeping' statute that
guaranteed uniform imperial treatment of slave property for debt-recovery
purposes in England and its colonies, overriding all contrary colonial laws.”
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1689 English Bill of Rights
The 1689 English Bill of Rights confirming the rights of Parliament and the people
and defining the limitations of the Crown
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1773 Tea Act
The 1773 Tea Act was enacted to bail out the British East India Company and
expand the company's monopoly on the tea trade to all British Colonies to enable
them to sell excess tea at a reduced price.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1732 Hat Act
The 1732 Hat Act was enacted to control the production of hats in the 13
Colonies. The British wanted to restrict the manufacture and export of hats in the
colonies, restrict the number of workers that could be hired, limit the number of
apprentices and forbid the use of slaves in the trade.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1750 Iron Act
The 1750 Iron Act was enacted to encourage the American manufacture of more
pig iron and iron bars by the American colonists in the 13 Colonies to be sent to
England, tax free. But the Act of 1750 also prohibited the colonies from producing
finished iron goods.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was enacted after the British victory over France
during the French and Indian Wars. The colonists saw the Royal Proclamation as
being beneficial to the Native American Indians and Great Britain but as
detrimental to 13 colonies.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1764 Currency Act
The 1764 Currency Act was a law that was enacted to regulated paper money
and control the currency system in the 13 colonies.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1765 & 1774 Quartering Act
The 1765 & 1774 Quartering Act were laws that were enacted to force local
governments in the 13 colonies to provide provisions and housing to British
soldiers who were stationed in America.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1764 Sugar Act
The 1764 Sugar Act was a law enacted to tax sugar and molasses imported into
the colonies which especially impacted the manufacture of rum in New England.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1766 Declaratory Act
The 1766 Declaratory Act was a law that was enacted to assert the British
Parliament's authority to pass laws that were binding on the 13 colonies.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1767 Townshend Acts
The 1767 Townshend Acts were a collection of laws that set new import taxes on
British goods and the money raised from the taxes was used to maintain British
troops in America and to pay the salaries of some officials who were appointed to
work in the 13 colonies.
British Laws and Taxation in the Colonies - 1774 Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
The 1774 Coercive Acts were 5 separate laws that were enacted to punish the
Massachusetts colonists for the actions taken in the Boston Tea Party.
MERCANTILISM
Definition of the Mercantilism
The Meaning and Definition Mercantilism: Mercantilism, also called the
mercantile system, was based on the benefits of profitable trading. Countries
adopted trade policies that favored the flow of wealth from the colonies to the
mother country.
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Mercantilism revolves around trade
Mercantilism is based on the concept of increasing profits by controlling
trade
Mercantilism moved goods which were abundant in one location to
another place where the goods were scarce
The supply and demand for goods resulted in higher prices and increased
profit
The discovery and colonization of America propelled foreign trade and
increased the volume of merchant activity
The purpose of the American colonies was to supply raw materials and
serve as a market for the finished goods that had been made in England.
Mercantilism led to significant government intervention and control in the
13 Colonies of Colonial America
Mercantilism stated that colonies had one main purpose: to enrich the
'mother country'
Mercantilism - Triangular Trade
Mercantilism revolves around trade. Exports are goods sent for sale outside a
colony or country. Imports are goods brought into a colony or country. Exported
goods earn money. Imported goods cost money. Great Britain followed the most
cost effective trade routes to increase profits. The establishment of the 13
Colonies in Colonial America and their surplus of raw materials and
complemented Mercantilism made triangular Trade routes across the Atlantic
possible. The policy of Mercantilism favored England because the raw materials
from the colonies were used to make different products in England - finished
goods have a higher value than raw materials. The premise of Triangular Trade
was that the different regions would trade goods that they had in abundance in
exchange for those goods, which were scarce in their own region. The slave
trade is an example of the impact of Triangular, with many of the slaves destined
to work on the Slave Plantations. Triangular Trade, coupled with the policy of
Mercantilism, provided a “favorable balance of trade”. This application of
Mercantilism ensured that gold and silver, and all domestic money, stayed in
England.
Mercantilism and the Policy of Salutary Neglect
The Navigation Acts stated that Colonial exports had to be transported in English
ships and that all Colonial imports had to first pass through English ports. The
goods from the American colonies were subject to heavy duties (taxes) when
shipped to England. However, England adopted a Policy of Salutary Neglect in
the colonies, which basically allowed the colonists to flout, or violate, the laws
associated with trade.
Mercantilism - The British reverse the Policy of Salutary Neglect
The end of the French and Indian War (Seven years War) left the British with a
massive war debt which prompted the British government to reverse the policy of
Salutary Neglect. To pay the war debt, the British ended their policy of Salutary
Neglect in the colonies and applied the full force of Mercantilism and ending
illegal trading.
BOSTON MASSACRE
Definition of the Boston Massacre
The Meaning and Definition of the Boston Massacre: The Boston Massacre was
a pre-revolutionary incident that occurred on March 5, 1770. British soldiers, who
were quartered in the city, fired into a rioting mob killing five American civilians in
the Boston Massacre.
British troops had been sent to Boston in 1768 to maintain order, protect the
customs officers and to enforce the Townshend Acts.
The Boston Massacre arose from the resentment of Boston colonists towards the
British, which had been fuelled by protest activities of the Sons of Liberty patriots.
The term 'Boston Massacre' was coined by the patriot Samuel Adams and used
in propaganda campaigns against the British.
The Boston Massacre
Background facts and information: British troops had been stationed in Boston
since 1768 following events prompted by the Townshend Acts of 1767. The
posting of the soldiers to Boston had been ordered due to civil unrest in the city.
The newly appointed Customs Officers at Boston had seized a sloop called the
Liberty that was carrying a cargo of Madeira wine and towed her under the guns
of a warship which was in Boston harbor. The people of Boston managed to
seize one of the war-ship's boats, which they burnt. Two regiments of troops
were sent to Boston to maintain order. The Boston Massacre was the climax of a
series of brawls in which gangs of local workers and sailors clashed with British
soldiers quartered in Boston.
The Boston Massacre - Tensions in Boston
The situation in Boston was extremely tense. The British troops, Redcoats had
been stationed in Boston for over eighteen months. The British soldiers had
arrived in Boston on September 28, 1768 and were quartered in various public
places throughout the city. Their very presence was a constant reminder of
Britain attempting to dominate the American colonies. Two men played very
different roles were especially prominent in Boston at this time. The men were
Thomas Hutchinson, the royal governor, and Samuel Adams, patriot and the man
of the people, and cousin of John Adams who became the second President of
the United States. Click the following links for a short biography and fast facts
about Samuel Adams and Thomas Hutchinson.
The Boston Massacre - Military Presence and Mobs in Boston
The heavy military presence in the town lead to the Boston Massacre was the
result of British enforcement of the Townshend Acts of 1767. There were 4,000
British troops to the population of Boston which numbered about 20,000
residents at the time of the Boston massacre. Mob demonstrations protesting the
Townshend Acts were common, some were spontaneous and some were
organized.
The Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770
The Boston Massacre incident occurred on the evening of March 5, 1770. A
British soldier called Private Hugh White was on guard at the sentry box in front
of the Customs House on King Street in Boston. A British officer called Captain
Goldfinch was near the sentry and being taunted by several citizens for not
paying a barber's bill. Private White, who had been involved in the skirmish at
John Gray's Ropewalk, struck a young teenager called Edward Garrick with the
butt of his rifle for insulting Captain Goldfinch. A crowd of over fifty people
gathered and began harassing the two soldiers. The British soldiers realized that
the situation was about to explode and called for help.
Eight soldiers led by Captain Thomas Preston answered their calls for help. The
crowd continued to harass the group of soldiers taunting them with insults. The
crowd grew in number to over 200 people. They became bolder and started to
throw snowballs, mud, ice, coal and oyster shells at the redcoats. A soldier
named Private Montgomery was hit in the face by a stick. Private Montgomery
was enraged, raised his musket and fired into the crowd killing Crispus Attucks.
Other soldiers fired on the crowd. Private Kilroy shot and killed a man called
Samuel Gray. A black man named Crispus Attucks was shot and fell dead with
several bullets lodged in his chest and head. Three other colonists killed in the
volley of fire were called Patrick Carr, Samuel Maverick, and James Caldwell.
Crispus Attucks, along with Samuel Gray and James Caldwell, died "on the spot"
during the Boston Massacre. Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr died from their
wounds afterwards. Six other Bostonians were wounded during the Boston
Massacre. The crowd, shocked at the events of the Boston Massacre disbanded
and the soldiers returned to the barracks.
BOSTON TEA PARTY
Definition of the Boston Tea Party
The Meaning and Definition of the Boston Tea Party 1773: The Boston Tea Party
was a pre-revolutionary incident that occurred on December 16, 1773. The
Boston Tea Party was a direct protest by colonists in Boston against the Tea Tax
that had been imposed by the British government. Boston patriots, dressed as
Mohawk Indians, raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped 342
containers of tea into the harbor. The Boston Tea Party arose from the
resentment of Boston colonists towards the British, which had been fuelled by
protest activities, by patriots in the Sons of Liberty organization.
Fast Facts & FAQ's about the Boston Tea Party
These are some fast facts and FAQ's about the Boston Tea Party 1773:
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Who organized the Boston Tea Party? The Sons of Liberty
When did the Boston Tea Party happen? Thurs December 16, 1773
Where was the Boston Tea Party? Griffin’s Wharf, Boston Harbor
How many people participated in the Boston Tea Party? 180+
How many ships were involved in the Boston Tea Party? Three
What were the names of the ships? Dartmouth, Beaver and Eleanor
Where did the tea come from? China (not India!)
Why were the patriots disguised as Indians at the Boston Tea Party? To
protect their identity
How many chests of tea were destroyed at the Boston Tea Party? 342
Who were the leaders of the patriots in Boston? Samuel Adams, John
Hancock and Paul Revere
Who opposed the Boston patriots at the Boston Tea Party? Loyalists led
by Governor Thomas Hutchinson
The History of the Boston Tea Party 1773
Background facts and information: British troops had been stationed in Boston
since 1768 and gangs of local workers and sailors often clashed with British
soldiers quartered in Boston. Tensions rose leading to the events of an incident
that became known as the Boston Massacre. But problems had been building
years before this famous incident, due to the demands made, and taxes,
imposed by the Parliament in Great Britain. There were no American Colonists in
the English parliament, which led to the cry of "No taxation without
representation!" in the colonies. The events leading up to, and therefore the
causes of, the 'Boston Tea Party' were considerable.
History of the Boston Tea Party - Summary of the Boston Tea Party 1773
The summary of the Boston Tea Party is as follows:
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British Policies, Laws and Taxes caused the Boston Tea Party
Tea was to be marketed in America by special consignees (receivers of
shipments) who were to be selected by the East India Company
Three ships, carrying 342 chests of tea, arrived in Boston Harbor on
December 16, 1773 and were docked at Griffin’s Wharf
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The Sons of Liberty were enforcing a ban on goods imported from Britain
via Nonimportation Agreements and persuading consignees to resign
The agents of the East India Company (all relatives of the Governor)
refused to resign
The collector of the customs in Boston refused to give the ships
permission to sail away before the tea was landed
Governor Thomas Hutchinson refused to give the ship captains a pass to
sail by the Boston fort until the collector gave his permission
The only way to get rid of the tea was to destroy it
A party of Sons of Liberty patriots, dressed as Indians, went on board the
ships at Griffin’s, broke open the tea boxes, and threw the tea into the
harbor
History of the Boston Tea Party - The Causes of the Boston Tea Party 1773
The serious start of the conflict between Britain and America came at the end of
the the French and Indian War (Seven years War). The war had left the British
with a massive war debt and the British looked for ways of imposing new taxes in
the colonies. The British ended their policy of Salutary Neglect in the colonies which meant they would strictly enforce laws and taxes in Colonial America. The
first tax the British imposed was the Sugar Tax in 1764. More laws and taxes
followed.
History of the Boston Tea Party 1773 - Tensions in Boston
The constant, and ever-increasing, demands from the British infuriated the
American patriots especially those who belonged to the Sons of Liberty
organization. The Boston Massacre arose from the resentment of Boston
colonists towards the British, which had been fuelled by protest activities of the
Sons of Liberty patriots. This violent incident resulted in the death of 5 colonists
and the branding of 2 of the soldiers who were found guilty of manslaughter. The
Tea Act stirred up all of the old feelings of resentment towards the
British. Although various taxes had been repealed the Tea Tax was not.
However, the colonists would get their tea at a cost lower than ever before - so
the British thought that there would not be a problem. Definitely not! The
Colonies were not represented in Parliament, so they saw the Tea Act as
unconstitutional. The Committees of Correspondence rallied opposition on the
common causes of the Patriots and established plans for collective action. The
famous cry of "No taxation without representation!" had not been forgotten.
History of the Boston Tea Party 1773 - Events leading to the Boston Tea
Party
The events leading to the Boston Tea Party started in September and October
1773 when 7 ships carrying East India Company tea were sent to the American
colonies. Four ships were bound for Boston and one each for New York,
Philadelphia, and Charleston. The colonists learned the details of the
consignments whilst the ships were en route, and opposition began to mount.
The Committees of Correspondence rallied opposition amongst the colonists.
Details of the ships and their consignments of tea were well publicized and
protests and actions against the British were agreed.
History of the Boston Tea Party 1773 - Action by the Colonists
The American colonists in the ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
Charleston had time to consider the action they could take, before the ships
laden with tea arrived in their harbors. They had time to plan their responses and
what action they could take against the Tea Act:
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The press, sympathetic to the patriots and the Sons of Liberty organization
became more active
Circulars were printed and distributed
Public demonstrations and meetings against the British government were
organized by political agitators fuelling strong Anti-British attitudes
The colonists decided they would continue to boycott tea from the British
The Nonimportation Agreements by merchants not to purchase British
goods were to be enforced
Anyone who aided in “unloading, receiving, or vending” the tea would be
seen as an enemy to his country
The colonists agreed that the Consignees, who were supposed to receive
the tea, should “resign their appointment”
Colonists resolved to prevent the landing and sale of the teas - they
wanted the tea to be sent back to England
History of the Boston Tea Party 1773 - The Patriotic Participants
Once the decision to destroy the tea had been made the Sons of Liberty quickly
moved into action. Volunteers were called for and over 200 men volunteered to
take part. The action was to take place at 7pm on December 16, 1773. The
volunteers were organized into three groups in order to board the three different
ships. Each group had its own leader. The names of 180 men are known to have
participated in the Boston Tea Party - there were probably more who wanted to
keep their participation a secret. At least two thirds of the participants of the
Boston Tea Party were under 20. Only nine are known to have been older than
40 years old. These patriots came from all different walks of life. The majority of
participants of the Boston Tea Party were young apprentices, laborers and
seamen. About one third of the participants were skilled artisans such as
carpenters, masons and shoemakers and there were also a small number of
merchants, doctors and clerks. Paul Revere was the most famous known
participant of the Boston Tea Party.
History of the Boston Tea Party 1773 - Why did they dress up as Indians?
Destroying the tea at the Boston Tea Party was a risky business and would be
viewed as an act of treason that was punishable by death. One of the
participants, called Nathaniel Bradlee, had a sister called Sarah Bradlee. Sarah
Bradlee was a prominent member of the Boston Daughters of Liberty and is
credited for being the person who came up with the idea of patriots dressing up
as Mohawk Indians. Sarah Bradlee has since been referred to as the "Mother of
the Boston Tea Party" for helping the patriots to disguise themselves as Indians.
So this is why many of the Boston patriots who participated in the Boston Tea
Party disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians to hide their identity. A shop
owned by John Cane, who was one of the participants in the Boston Tea Party,
was used by some of the patriots as a gathering place before heading to the
ships at Griffins’ wharf. It was here that that many adopted their disguises as
Mohawk Indians. They carried hatchets, or tomahawks, which they would use to
break open the crates during the Boston Tea Party.
History of the Boston Tea Party 1773 - Dumping the Tea
The leaders of each of the groups of patriots requested that each Captain
unlocked the hatches to the cargo decks. The patriots then hoisted the tea crates
on to the main deck. The crates were then smashed open with the tomahawks
and thrown into the water. The Captains of the three ships and their crews of the
ships generally stood by impassively watching the events of the Boston Tea
Party, and the surrounding British warships did not fire their weapons. The only
casualty during the Boston Tea party happened to John Crane who was knocked
unconscious by a falling crate. He was carried to the docks by his comrades and
put on a bed of wood shavings. The patriots took 3 hours between 7pm and
10pm to dump the cargo. Over 45 tons of cargo went into the water the night of
the Boston Tea Party. The patriots taking part in the Boston Tea Party did not
vandalize the ships, nor did they steal any of the cargo for personal consumption.
The crews of the Dartmouth, Beaver and Eleanor ships later confirmed that
nothing had been damaged or destroyed during the Boston Tea Party, except the
tea, and that the protesters had swept the decks clean afterwards!
INTOLERABLE ACTS
Definition of the Intolerable Acts
The Meaning and Definition of the Intolerable Acts: The Intolerable Acts, also
called the the Restraining Acts and the Coercive Acts, were a series of British
Laws, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain 1774. Four of the Intolerable
Acts were specifically aimed at punishing the Massachusetts colonists for the
actions taken in the incident known as the Boston Tea Party. The fifth of the
Intolerable Acts series was related to Quebec was seen as an additional threat to
the liberty and expansion of the colonies.
Intolerable Acts - The Boston Tea Party
Tensions had been high in Boston and led to two famous incidents which in turn
led to the Intolerable Acts:
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The Boston Massacre, that occurred on March 5, 1770, in which British
soldiers, who were quartered in the city, fired into a rioting mob killing 5
American civilians
The Boston Tea Party that occurred on December 16, 1773 was a direct
protest by colonists in Boston against the Tea Tax. Boston patriots, led by
the Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians, raided three British
ships, in Boston harbor and dumped 342 containers of tea into the water.
King George III, the British government led by Lord North, and the majority of the
British people were furious when they found that the Boston colonists had made
"tea with salt water." The British Parliament immediately went to work passing
the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonists and stamp their authority on the
American colonies.
Summary of the Intolerable Acts - British Punishment
The laws, which became known as the Intolerable Acts, were all passed in 1774
as British reprisals to the Boston Tea Party. The summary of the Intolerable acts
is as follows:
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The first of the Intolerable Acts closed the port of Boston so tightly that the
colonists could not bring hay from Charlestown to give to their starving
horses
The second of the Intolerable Acts put an end to the constitution of
Massachusetts - only one town meeting was permitted a year in
Massachusetts, unless approved by the governor. Town officials would no
longer be elected, they were to be appointed by the royal governor. The
executive council would no longer be elected, but appointed by the King.
The Massachusetts Government Act revoked the colony's 1691 charter
The third of the Intolerable Acts gave the power for all trials in the colony
to be sent to Great Britain and heard under a British judge
The fourth of the punishing Intolerable Acts compelled the colonists to
feed and shelter the soldiers employed to punish them
A fifth act is also included in the Intolerable Acts of 1774 and relates to
Quebec and Ohio. This 'Intolerable Act' was also passed in 1774 and,
although it was not directed at punishing the colony of Massachusetts for
the Boston Tea Party, it was seen as a new model for an authoritarian
British colonial administration and another threat to the independence of
the colonies
Purpose of the Intolerable Acts
The Purpose of the Intolerable Acts of 1774 were as follows:
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The purpose of the Boston Port Act of the Intolerable Acts was to close
the port of Boston until the tea that had been destroyed at the Boston Tea
Party had been paid for. Only food and firewood were permitted into the
port of Boston
The purpose of the Massachusetts Government Act was to effectively
suspend the right of self-government in the Massachusetts colony and
revoke the colony's 1691 charter
The purpose of the Administration of Justice Act of the Intolerable Acts
allowed the Governor to send rebellious colonists for trial in other colonies
or in Great Britain
The purpose of the Quartering Act of 1774 of the Intolerable Acts was to
extend the provisions of the previous 1765 Quartering Act giving the
governor, rather than the assembly, the authority to enforce arrangements
to ensure that the colonists supplied billeting for the troops
 The 1765 Quartering Act had required colonial governments to
absorb the costs associated with quartering British troops which
included food, shelter, bedding, cooking utensils, firewood, salt,
vinegar, beer or cider and candles.
 The purpose of the Quartering Act of 1774 was to avoid a repetition
of the defiant actions taken by the New York Provincial Assembly
who had at one point refused to comply with the 1765 Quartering
Act
The purpose of the Quebec Act of the Intolerable Acts was to:
 Extend the Province of Quebec to include territory west to the
Mississippi, north to Hudson's Bay territory, and the islands in the
mouth of the St. Lawrence
 Passed religious reforms that were highly favorable to the Catholic
majority in Quebec and allowed Catholics to hold public offices
 Denied the right to an elected legislative assembly
The Colonists Reaction to the Intolerable Acts of 1774
So what was the reaction to the Intolerable Acts?
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Letters and handbills were sent the length and breadth of the 13 colonies
via the Committees of Correspondence detailing the Intolerable Acts
Newspapers publicized articles about the tyranny of the British rule and
the Intolerable Acts
The colonists saw the laws of the Intolerable Acts as a a violation of their
constitutional rights and that their colonial charters could be rescinded.
They were united in their protests of the Intolerable Acts
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The other colonies were in sympathy with Massachusetts. Especially the
harsh treatment of Boston in which everyone suffered, not just the handful
who participated in the Boston Tea Party
Other colonies began sending relief to the blockaded city of Boston - this
was the first step in the unification of the 13 colonies following the
Intolerable Acts
The 13 colonies were predominantly Protestant and intolerance towards
Catholics was virtually universal in the thirteen colonies - the Quebec Act
was decried a papist law and a hostile act towards America
American colonists had been barred from the Ohio territory by the
Proclamation of 1763, but they hoped eventually to be allowed to move
there. The colonists strongly protested that Quebec Act limited
opportunities for the American colonies to expand on their western
frontiers
The First Continental Congress was convened in Philadelphia on
September 5, 1774, to coordinate a colonial response to the Intolerable
Acts.