Lesson 3: Sugar and Stamps –
Governing without
Consent
Writs of
Assistance
The
Sugar
Act
British
Actions
The
Quartering
Act
The
Stamp
Act
Britain’s Problem:
How to pay the war
debt?
Problem Solving Teams
You are in charge of solving Britain’s debt
problems. Come up with a plan for raising money.
Britain’s First
Solution:
Enforce the
Navigation Acts
Enforce the Navigation Acts



The Navigation Acts were passed by Parliament.
They affected a lot of people in the colonies, especially merchants.
When?

The Navigation Acts were a series of laws that regulated trade between
England and its colonies.
Under these laws, only colonial or English ships could carry goods to and
from the colonies.
The laws also listed certain products like tobacco and cotton that colonial
merchants could ship only to England.
Parliament began to pass these acts in the 1650s. This continued into the
1700s.
Why?
Who?
What?

England passed these laws to ensure that only England benefited from
colonial trade, not any other countries.
Colonists were pretty much
ignoring the Navigation Acts
and even smuggling in goods
to get around British
restrictions.
What Happened Here?
It was a quiet night. Henry Adams was working in his
small cooper’s shop by himself. Suddenly, there was a
bang on the door. Mr. Adams opened the door to find two
British officials. They pushed past him and started
searching through his shop. They pushed over barrels and
broke a small stool.
Mr. Adams tried to protest but they told him
angrily to be quiet. They announced they were searching
for smuggled goods. After a few more minutes of
rummaging through his shop, they stormed out, slamming
the door behind them.
Role Play
Person 1: You are Henry Adams,
owner of the cooper
shop.
Person 2: You are the British
official looking for
smuggled goods.
The Incident at the Cooper’s Shop
British Officials
• Colonists are smuggling in
goods in violation of the
Navigation Acts.
• Goods are often hidden in
barrels. Henry Adams has lots
of barrels in his shop.
• We only moved a few things
around in order to look for
smuggled goods.
Henry Adams
• They had no right to storm into my
business without a just cause.
• They had no evidence that I am
involved in smuggling.
• They damaged things in my shop.
“Writs of Assistance”
search warrants that allowed an official to search
for smuggled goods without any evidence.
4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no
Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported
by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
ACTION
“Writs of Assistance”
search warrants that allowed an official to search
for smuggled goods without any evidence.
REACTION
People like James Otis protested the Writs claiming
they were a violation of people’s natural right to
property.
James Otis: Against Writs of Assistance
February 1761
A man’s house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he
is as well guarded as a prince in his castle. This writ,
if it should be declared legal, would totally
annihilate this privilege. Custom-house officers may
enter our houses when they please; we are
commanded to permit their entry. Their menial
servants may enter, may break locks, bars, and
everything in their way; and whether they break
through malice or revenge, no man, no court may
inquire.
Important People on the Road to Revolution
Person
George
Washington
Benjamin
Franklin
Chief Pontiac
James Otis
Important Information
Built Fort Necessity and was involved in the first
battle of the French and Indian War.
came up with a plan to unite the colonies called the
Albany Plan of Union.
United Native American groups to fight the British
Spoke out against the Writs of Assistance
Britain’s Second
Solution:
Raise money by taxing
the colonists
ACTION
Sugar Act
1764
•
Tax on sugar and other things not from
Britain.
•
A way for Britain to control colonial trade.
•
British send tax collectors from Britain
REACTION
•
Colonies said it was an unfair tax.
•
Protest by Colonies.
•
Some attacked tax collectors.
•
Smuggling of things like sugar.
Sugar Act
Proclamation of
1763
EVENT
YEAR
1763
1764
WHAT HAPPENED?
REACTION

Colonists were angry they had been
told they could not expand to the west.
The British government set a western
boundary for the colonies.

Colonists felt it infringed on their
rights. Some believed the King did not
have authority.

Placed a tax on sugar and other things
not from Britain.

Colonists said it was an unfair tax.

Colonists protested.

A way for Britain to control colonial
trade

Some colonists attacked tax collectors.

Colonists smuggled some goods like
sugar.

Result of French and Indian War.


British sent tax collectors to the
colonies from Britain
"If taxes are laid upon us without
our having a legal representation
where they are laid, we are
reduced from the character of free
subjects to the state of tributary
slaves."
- Samuel Adams, 1764
Keeping track of Political Ideas
ACTION
Quartering
Act
1765
Colonists had to give
British soldiers
supplies and shelter.
REACTION
Colonists asked why
should they have to pay for
British soldiers.
“So it is only right and just that the
colonists help to pay for the protection we
are giving them. Clearly, Parliament and
the King have authority over the colonies.
It is in the name of that authority that we
suggest new rules which will make the
colonists pay taxes to the English
government.”
- Prime Minister George Grenville
“Quartering Act”
3rd Amendment
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered
in any house, without the consent of the owner,
nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
The Quartering Act
The King
.
The Colonists
The Quartering Act
The King
• My soldiers are in the Colonies
to protect you. Therefore, you
should help pay for their
supplies.
The Colonists
• Your soldiers are here to keep an
eye on us… not protect us.
Quartering
Act
Sugar Act
Proclamation of
1763
EVENT
YEAR
1763
1764
1765
WHAT HAPPENED?
REACTION

Colonists were angry they had been
told they could not expand to the west.
The British government set a western
boundary for the colonies.

Colonists felt it infringed on their
rights. Some believed the King did not
have authority.

Placed a tax on sugar and other things
not from Britain.

Colonists said it was an unfair tax.

Colonists protested.

A way for Britain to control colonial
trade

Some colonists attacked tax collectors.

Colonists smuggled some goods like
sugar.

Colonists felt they should not have to
pay for British soldiers and protested
the Act.

Result of French and Indian War.


British sent tax collectors to the
colonies from Britain

Colonists had to give supplies and
shelter to British soldiers
ACTION
Stamp Act
1765
• The Stamp Act placed a tax on all kinds of paper
goods made in the colonies including
newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and even
playing cards.
• People who were suspected of violating the
Stamp Act were to be tried in special courts that
had no juries. This angered many colonists.
• The Stamp Act generated far more protest
than the Sugar Act.
“Special Courts without Juries
6th Amendment
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right to a speedy and public trial, by
an impartial jury of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed…
REACTION
•
Unfair tax say colonists.
•
“No taxation without representation”
•
Some violence
Stamp Act
Quartering
Act
Sugar Act
Proclamation of
1763
EVENT
YEAR
1763
1764
1765
WHAT HAPPENED?
REACTION

Colonists were angry they had been
told they could not expand to the west.
The British government set a western
boundary for the colonies.

Colonists felt it infringed on their
rights. Some believed the King did not
have authority.

Placed a tax on sugar and other things
not from Britain.

Colonists said it was an unfair tax.

Colonists protested.

A way for Britain to control colonial
trade

Some colonists attacked tax collectors.

Colonists smuggled some goods like
sugar.

Colonists felt they should not have to
pay for British soldiers and protested
the Act.

Colonists said it was an unfair tax.

Colonial rallying cry, “No taxation
without representation” which reflected
the idea of government by consent.

Result of French and Indian War.


British sent tax collectors to the
colonies from Britain

Colonists had to give supplies and
shelter to British soldiers

A tax was placed on many items such
as printed paper goods made in the
colonies.
1765

A stamp was placed on the item when a

tax paid.
Colonists boycotted British goods and
engaged in some violence.
Patrick Henry
• In May of 1765, Patrick Henry introduced a series of resolutions in
the House of Burgesses that stated Parliament had no power to
levy the Stamp tax.
• He gave a speech in which he said the House of Burgesses alone
could decide what taxes Virginians would pay.
• He called for resistance to the tax.
Important People on the Road to Revolution
Person
Patrick Henry
Important Information
Spoke out against the Stamp Act in the House of
Burgesses.
Sons of Liberty
• A network of secret organizations formed to
protest the Stamp Act.
• Samuel Adams was an important leader.
• These groups staged protests, but not all of
the protests were peaceful. Sometimes
customs officials were attacked.