sign in sign up
<<
Home , Petition to the King, Stamp Act Congress

The Pre- Period 1754-1775

A period of time in which the relationship between the British and the colonies changes. (Americans go from being loyal colonists to rebels.)

The Relationship: Mother Country and Colonies Rulers and Ruled Caring Government and Loyal subjects A big part of the relationship was: “Salutary Neglect” – From the mid 1600’s to 1763 Britain mostly ignored the colonies. Laws were not enforced, taxes not collected etc… Because of this, the colonies got used to solving their own problems and felt independent.

Several things affected changes in this relationship The 1754-1763

France (and Algonquians) VS Britain (and Iroquois)

Causes:  Britain and France were longtime rivals  Britain and France were competing for land and power in North America  British settlers move into the Ohio Valley, which was claimed by France – that’s why the fighting began.

Albany Plan of Union – Ben Franklin’s idea to unite the 13 colonies together under one government to better fight France. Rejected by the other colonies as they did not want to give up power to a central government.

Results of the French and Indian War – Britain wins! The 1763 (A treaty is an agreement between two or more nations) The Treaty of Paris is the agreement that ends the French and Indian War.

Terms of the Treaty:  Spain gets Louisiana  Britain gets all land east of the Mississippi River and Canada  France loses almost all its land in the New World, and loses power.

With France defeated, the colonists began to feel that they didn’t really need Britain’’s protection as much. Also in 1763: Britain has a huge war debt, and they are faced with a possible war with Indians in the Ohio Valley.

King George III is a new king and he issues the Proclamation of 1763 which states that:

The colonists cannot move west of the Appalachians – that land is reserved for the Indians!

Colonists were ANGRY – and moved over there anyway.

Taxation

The British decided that it was about time to start taxing the colonists. Because of salutary neglect, they weren’t really expected to pay taxes before. King George and Parliament thought that the Americans should pay their fair share for the French and Indian War.

Tariff – A tax on imported goods

1765 The – A tax on printed goods (newspapers, books, legal documents…)

Colonial Reaction: Protest! No Taxation without Representation - it is not fair to tax the colonists if they are not represented in Parliament! Violence (Tar and Feathering) Boycott – Refuse to buy sell or use items as a protest Stamp Act - meeting of representatives of 9 colonies to talk about what to do about the Stamp Act. Wrote a

Petition- a letter to someone in authority asking for change.

1766 – The Stamp Act is repealed! (That means Parliament got rid of it)

1767 – The – A series of tariffs ( on items like glass, lead, tea, paper, ink…) These laws also included writs of assistance – unlimited search warrants for British officials so they could stop smuggling.

Colonial Reaction – Colonists are very angry! The writs of assistance are a violation of their rights and they still are being taxed without representation.  More violence and another boycott  Sons and Daughters of liberty – protest groups formed oppose British Laws

Colonial protest → More British troops to America → increased tension

March 5, 1770 – The Boston Massacre - 5 Colonists are killed by British troops during a riot in Boston. Anti British feelings increase! The

This was not a tax!

This law was designed to help the British East India Company. This was a tea company which was struggling due to the boycotts on tea. The law said that the company could sell tea directly to the colonists (instead of the merchants). This meant that the price of tea would be very low.

Colonists were angry because:

1. tea merchants were hurt by this – they would be financially ruined. 2. they believed it was a trick to get them to pay taxes (there was still a tax on the tea, even though it was cheaper).

Colonial Reaction:

The Colonists dumped over a million dollars worth of tea into Boston Harbor.

Britain’s response: 1. sent soldiers to Boston 2. named a general () governor of Massachusetts 3. passed the

Intolerable Acts: Boston Harbor was closed No Town Meetings Quartering Act – soldiers were to stay in colonists’ homes.

Colonial Reaction to Intolerable Acts:

UNITY – the colonists form the First

First Continental Congress – Met in ; 12 colonies were represented (not Georgia)

Steps: Join together to help Boston Encourage every colony to start a militia ( a small army of citizens)

When Britain found out the colonists were stockpiling weapons, they diceidd to attack and take the weapons away. This led to:

Lexington and Concord – April 19, 1775 First battle of the war, Britain wanted to take colonists’ guns away. Americans tried to prevent them, and fighting broke out. Casualties: U.S.- 49 Britain – 273 Result: The war beginsRev