What Made the Colonists so Mad?
Target 3: I can describe the interactions between the American colonists and the British
government which influenced the colonists’ decision to declare independence. This
means the colonists’ relationship with Great Britain and how it changed.
In 1763, the French and Indian War ended. Britain had succeeded in driving France from
the Ohio Valley. With the French gone, more English colonists wanted to move west of
the Appalachian Mountains for better farm land.
Due to conflicts with Native American tribes, the British government was convinced that
they must close lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to settlers. The government
issued the Proclamation of 1763. This law drew an imaginary line along the crest of the
Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were forbidden to settle west of the line. All settlers
who were living west of the line had to “remove themselves at once. “ This Proclamation
angered colonists. Colonies such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia claimed land
in the west. Many ignored the law and settled west.
Tensions Build
The French and Indian War had put Britain into a deep debt. To pay off this debt, in
1765, the British Parliament raised taxes by passing two new laws – the Sugar Act and
the Stamp Act. The Sugar Act taxed imported sugar, molasses, wine, and coffee. The
Stamp Act placed a tax on legal documents such as wills, diplomas, and marriage
licenses. It also taxed newspapers, almanacs, playing cards and dice. The colonists
protested against paying these taxes. They signed petitions, boycotted British goods, and
even rioted. This shocked the British: they had spent money protecting the colonies
against the French. The colonists believed that the taxes were unjust: they insisted that
only their elected representatives had the right to pass taxes. Since colonists could not
elect members to Parliament, then Parliament had no right to tax them.
The Last Straw
In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act which gave the British East India Company a
monopoly on tea sales to the American colonies, hurting colonial merchants. This
angered the colonists who boycotted British tea by refusing to allow shipments of East
India Company tea to be offloaded at their ports. In Boston, Massachusetts, a group of
colonists called the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded the ships at
night and dumped 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. This event was known as the
Boston Tea Party.
The British were outraged by this lawless behavior. They responded by passing laws that
would punish the colonists. The colonists called them the Intolerable Acts.
1. The port of Boston was closed. No ship could leave or enter until the ruined
tea was paid for.
2. Colonists could not hold town meetings more than once per year.
3. British customs officers and other officials charged with crimes would be tried
in Britain instead of Massachusetts.
4. A new Quartering Act. Citizens could be forced to house troops in their
homes.
The Colonies Push Back
In response to the Intolerable Acts, colonial leaders called a meeting in Philadelphia.
Twelve of the colonies attended. This group was called the Continental Congress. They
came up with a plan of action -boycott British goods, stop exporting goods to Britain, and
train a militia in each colony.
John Locke (1632-1702) was born in England and was a teacher of philosophy at Oxford.
He wrote a book called The Two Treatises which influenced many to seek independence.
Locke’s views about religious freedom and the rights of individuals influenced Thomas
Jefferson who would write the Declaration of Independence, and James Madison, who
helped draft the U.S. Constitution.
In his book Locke said that government’s purpose to protect the individual’s property and
possessions. In order for this to happen, people must submit to laws made by rulers.
Ultimately, the people (not the ruler) have all of the power. Government should rest on
popular vote and rebellion is permissible if a government is not protecting the rights and
liberties of the people.
In January of 1776 Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense. The pamphlet
urged the colonies to declare their independence. He argued that colonists had nothing to
gain under British rule and pointed out its disadvantages;
“It is foolish to be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or permission,
waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more
to explain it in.”
Paine also attacked the idea of kings and queens as rulers. His reasoning was so clear
that he won many to the side of fighting for independence. In six months, more then
500,000 copies were sold. After reading Common Sense, George Washington stopped
toasting the king at official dinners.
The Fateful Step
The arguments that Paine presented in Common Sense made sense to many colonists who
had begun to dislike British rule. It also affected members of the Continental Congress.
This group decided to write a formal statement that told the world why they wanted to
break away from Britain. There was danger in signing this document. It would be seen
as a sign of treason by the British and they could be hanged. This document was called
the Declaration of Independence.