ROAD TO REVOLUTION
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

French basically kicked out of New World

Spain kicked out of Florida and has territory west of the Mississippi

England owns everything east of Mississippi, full ownership of land,
head honcho in East India Trading Company- as well as slave trade

England also poor due to war……
ALBANY PLAN
 Albany
Plan of Union - planned united
defense with the Iroquois to help against
the French
 Proposed
by Benjamin Franklin
 Called for Grand Council w/ reps from each
colony
 For laws, taxes and defense
 Rejected by colonial assemblies
 Albany Plan was significant because it was
the first attempt to unite the colonies
TAXATION

In an effort to reduce Britain’s debt and pay for the British troops in North
America, George Grenville, the British prime minister and first lord of the
Treasury, implemented new tax policies in the colonies:

Sugar Act- April 1764

Stamp Act- March 1765

Quartering Act- May 1765

Declaratory Act- March 1766

Townsend Acts- June 1767

Tea Act- May 1773

Intolerable Acts- May 1774
SUGAR ACT 1764

The first attempt to finance the defense of the colonies by the
British Government.

Tax on foreign sugar, coffee, indigo, French wines, rum

These taxes affected only a certain part of the population, but the
affected merchants were very vocal.

Taxes were implemented without the consent of colonists- colonists
vocalizing that they want a say in their taxes
STAMP ACT 1765

Every newspaper, pamphlet, and
other public and legal document had
to have a Stamp, or British seal, on it

This STAMP of course cost moneyBritish money, they would not accept
colonial money

There was a HOSTILE reaction in the
colonies- tax collectors were quitting
their jobs, the stamped money was
being burned in the street, boycotting
all British goods
THE STAMP ACT CONGRESS
NO
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
Representatives sent to New York to vote on
whether or not Parliament has authority to pass
taxes on colonies
Stamp Act repealed in 1766
SONS OF LIBERTY

Protested British taxes- formed over Stamp Act

Would intimidate tax collectors to quit their jobs

Members include: Samuel Adams, John Adams,
Paul Revere

Most famous event: Boston Tea Party

Daughters of liberty- women refused to drink British
tea, only wore homemade clothes- impacted the
British textile business
QUARTERING ACT 1765


Quartering Act passed so soldiers could stay in houses of people whom they
just defended in war

Soldiers who fought in the French and Indian War now had nowhere to stay

Parliament was asked to help, but had no money to provide housing

Colonists were not happy about being forced to house these men, so they refused
Parliament passed New York Restraining Act which stopped the governor from
signing further legislation until they followed orders

Complied by housing them in public places, not private homes

Forces stayed until Washington forced them out in 1776
DECLARATORY ACT 1766
Passed
when Stamp Act was repealed- to
ensure they were allowed to pass laws in
the colonies
Parliament has authority to pass laws in
America, same authority they have as in
England
TOWNSEND ACTS 1767

British made these laws to help pay for various government decisions.
Also didn’t think the colonists would be upset after they repealed the
Stamp Act.

New taxes on imports of paper, paint, lead, glass, and tea.

Established an American Customs Board in Boston to collect taxes.

Set up new courts in America to prosecute smugglers (without using a local jury).

Gave British officials the right to search colonists' houses and businesses

British clearly not understanding the concept of no taxation without representation.
Pushing closer and closer to revolution
BOSTON MASSACRE 1770

Colonists gather and start harassing the Red Coats in front
of Custom House in Boston

Crowd begins to grow, angered at seeing the British with
their weapons, taunt them

Something was thrown from the crowd (or a shot was fired)
and out of defense, the soldiers fired on the crowd

Three die at the scene, two die later- total of five
(massacre?)

Trial is set for soldiers, no lawyer wants to represent themJohn Adams mans up- everyone deserves a fair trial

Argues self defense, six are let go, two charged with
manslaughter
TEA ACT 1773
 British
passed to save the East
India Trading Company
 Colonist
could buy tea from
no one but the East India
Trading Company
 Response?
BOSTON TEA PARTY 1773

Colonists boarded three trading ships
in Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests
(90,000 lbs.= $1 million in todays
money) of tea into the ocean as a
protest to the taxes

Tea being a major import of the East
India Trading Company, dumping
hundreds of chests into the ocean
would hurt them financially
INTOLERABLE ACTS 1774

Colonists could not ‘tolerate’ such unfair laws (punishment for Tea Party)

Boston Port Act- port closed until all tea paid for

Massachusetts Government Act- more power to governor, less to colonists. One
town meeting a year. Scary to colonists, possibility of this happening at all colonies

Administration of Justice Act- capital trails against government officials could be
moved to Great Britain- more protection

Quartering Act

Quebec Act- Canadian territory extended to Ohio

Colonists angered, united under unfairness of acts, basic rights being violated
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1774

Delegates from 13 colonies

Took two actions:

Wrote letter to King George about their issues, threatened to boycott if no change, he
ignored, they boycotted English goods

Made plans to meet again if the British did not end the acts

Important members: John Adams, Patrick Henry, George Washington

Also- Minutemen- ‘to be ready at a minutes notice’- Lexington and Concord

Militias raid military depots for ammunition and gunpowder