Lesson 4: Actions and Reactions
British
Action
Colonial
Reaction
British
Reaction
STAMP ACT CONGRESS
October, 1765
Representatives from 9 colonies attended and protested…
The
Stamp
Act
Writs
of
Assistance
Trials
without
Juries
Result of the
Stamp Act Congress
Jigsaw
Activity
Keeping track of Political Ideas
Just
go for
the
main
idea.
Why are the
dates
important?
British
Action
Colonial
Reaction
British
Reaction
The
Stamp
Act
Protests
such as
boycotts
Repeal of
the Stamp
Act
The Declaratory Act - March 18, 1766
An act for the better securing the dependency of his majesty's dominions in
America upon the crown and parliament of Great Britain.
Whereas several of the houses of representatives in his Majesty's colonies and
plantations in America, have of late against law, claimed to themselves, or to the
general assemblies of the same, the sole and exclusive right of imposing duties
and taxes upon his majesty's subjects in the said colonies and plantations… may
it be declared That the said colonies and plantations in America have been, are,
and of right ought to be, subordinate unto, and dependent upon the imperial
crown and parliament of Great Britain and that the King's majesty with
parliament assembled have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes
of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America,
subjects of the crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever.
Colonial Imports From Britain
Value in British Pounds
2,500,000.00
2,000,000.00
1,500,000.00
1,000,000.00
500,000.00
0.00
1764
1765
Year
1766
1767
ACTION
Townshend
Acts
1767
•
•
•
•
Suspended the NY Assembly for not
complying with the Quartering Act.
Tax on things like glass and paint
from Britain.
Continued to allow ‘Writs of
Assistance’
Put a tax on tea.
Townshend Acts
EVENT
YEAR
1767
WHAT HAPPENED?
REACTION

British placed a tax on things like glass

and paint.

Writs of Assistance were issued that
allowed the British to search for
smuggling without evidence.
Colonists were very angry.

Circular letter- Massachusetts

Boycott and more violence
REACTION
Circular Letter Massachusetts
Written by Samuel Adams and James Otis
Massachusetts Circular Letter of 1768
The House of Representatives of this province, have taken into their serious
consideration, the great difficulties that must accrue to themselves and their
constituents, by the operation of several acts of Parliament, imposing duties
and taxes on the American colonies. As it is a subject in which every colony is
deeply interested, they have no reason to doubt but your House is deeply
impressed with its importance, and that such constitutional measures will be
come into, as are proper. It seems to be necessary, that all possible care
should be taken, that the representatives of the several assemblies, upon so
delicate a point, should harmonize with each other.
In response to the Massachusetts letter, the British governor of
Massachusetts dissolved the state’s legislature.
Important People on the Road to Revolution
Person
Patrick Henry
Samuel Adams
Important Information
Spoke out against the Stamp Act in the House of
Burgesses.
Patriot leader in Massachusetts who helped write
the Circular Letter
British
Action
Colonial
Reaction
British
Reaction
The
Stamp
Act
Protests
such as
boycotts
Repeal of
the Stamp
Act
The
Townsend
Acts
Mass.
Circular
Letter
Mass.
Legislature
is dissolved
The Virginia House of Burgesses responded to the Massachusetts Circular
Letter with resolutions of its own against the Townshend Acts.
• When the governor of Virginia learned of the resolutions, he
dissolved the House of Burgesses.
• The burgesses, however, moved the meeting to the Raleigh Tavern
in Williamsburg.
• They signed a pledge of action that was drafted by George Mason
and George Washington and supported by another colonial leader,
Thomas Jefferson.
Important People on the Road to Revolution
Person
Important Information
Patrick Henry
Spoke out against the Stamp Act in the House of
Burgesses.
Patriot leader in Massachusetts who helped write
the Circular Letter
Samuel Adams
.
Thomas
Jefferson
Patriot leader in Virginia
REACTION
•
Boycott plus more violence
Loyalists
Britain repealed most of the Townshend
Acts except the Tea Tax in 1770.
Many issues remained including
• the dissolving of colonial legislatures
• British troops being sent to Boston
ACTION
Britain
sends more
troops
• By 1770 there were more
than 9000 British
soldiers in the colonies.
• Fights between colonists
and soldiers began to
break out especially in
Boston.
• Tensions were rising!