Chapter 5, Section 1
(Pages 122–125)
Taxation Without
Representation
Essential Question
Following the French and Indian War, how did the British government
anger the American colonists?
Directions: As you read, complete a graphic organizer like the one
below to identify British policies that affected the colonists and the
colonists’ view of these policies.
British Policy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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(pages 123–124)
After the French and Indian War, the British gained a huge
area in North America. To help control this territory, the British
government issued the Proclamation of 1763. This proclamation
set up new provinces in Canada, Florida, and the Caribbean. It
also said that colonists could not move west of the Appalachian
Mountains. This helped avoid conflict with Native Americans,
and it allowed Britain to control the fur trade. By keeping the
colonists near the Atlantic coast, the proclamation helped British
trade with the colonies to grow.
Britain placed 10,000 troops in the colonies to protect its
interests there. It needed revenue, or incoming money, to pay the
troops. Britain also had a huge debt from the French and Indian
War. The British believed the colonists should help pay some of
the cost. As a result, the British government placed new taxes on
the colonists. It also began to make sure that all taxes were paid.
Some colonists smuggled goods to avoid paying taxes. In
1763 the British prime minister, George Grenville, decided to stop
the smuggling. He knew that American juries often found smugglers innocent. Grenville convinced Parliament to pass a law that
sent smugglers to courts that were run by officers and did not
Chapter 5, Section 1
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Relations With Britain
Why did the British
place new taxes on
the colonists?
Colonists’ View
Relations With Britain
What right of British
citizens did the writs
of assistance violate?
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
New Taxes
Colonial merchants
British merchants
Chapter 5, Section 1
have juries. Parliament also approved writs of assistance. These
documents allowed officers to search any location for smuggled
goods.
In 1764 Parliament passed the Sugar Act. This law lowered
the tax on imported molasses. The British hoped the colonists
would pay this lower tax instead of smuggling. The law also
allowed officers to take goods from smugglers without going to
court. The colonists believed that the Sugar Act and the other
new laws violated their rights as British citizens. These rights
included the right to a jury trial and the right to be safe in their
own homes. Many colonists also believed that they should not
be taxed if they did not agree to the taxes.
(pages 124–125)
Complete the sentences below to
explain the chain of
events that led
Parliament to repeal
the Stamp Act.
Parliament
repealed the
Stamp Act.
(continued)
In 1765 Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which placed a
tax on printed materials, such as newspapers. The colonists did
not agree with this act. It interfered in colonial affairs, and the
colonists had not agreed to the tax. In Virginia, Patrick Henry
convinced the House of Burgesses to pass a resolution, or a
formal expression of opinion. The resolution said that only the
Virginia assembly had the power to tax the citizens of Virginia.
In Boston, Samuel Adams helped start the Sons of Liberty. This
group protested the Stamp Act. Protesters burned effigies, or
rag figures, that represented tax collectors.
In October delegates, or representatives, from nine colonies
met in New York. This meeting was called the Stamp Act
Congress. The delegates sent a petition to Parliament and the
British king. It said that only the colonies’ own assemblies could
tax the colonists. Colonial merchants decided to boycott, or
refuse to buy, British goods. Many merchants signed
nonimportation agreements. These were pledges not to buy or
use goods imported from Britain. British merchants began to
lose business. They asked Parliament to repeal, or cancel, the
Stamp Act. Parliament repealed that law but passed another law
saying that Parliament had the right to tax the colonists.
In 1767 Parliament passed the Townshend Acts. These laws
placed taxes on goods that were imported to the colonies. By
this time, any taxes passed by Britain angered the colonists.
Groups like the Daughters of Liberty encouraged Americans to
produce their own goods instead of buying British goods.
47
Wrap -Up
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the entire
section.
1. Explaining Why did the colonists oppose the Stamp Act and other
taxes?
2. Defending Do you think the British Parliament was justified, or right,
in taxing the colonists? Why or why not?
In the space provided, write a newspaper editorial urging colonists
to produce their own goods instead of buying British goods. Provide
reasons why you believe this is in the best interest of the colonies.
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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Chapter 5, Section 1