CHAPTER 6 • SECTION 1 which forbade the colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Moun- tains. Although designed to maintain peace between the colonists and Native Americans, this law angered settlers who hoped to speculate, or buy as an investment, in western lands. In addition, King George decided More About . to keep 10,000 soldiers in the colonies to enforce the proclamation. But housing the troops proved very expensive. Therefore, Parliament passed the Stamp Act Protests Quartering Act, a law that required colonists to house all British soldiers. These new laws created great anxiety in the colonies. The colonists feared Some of the most violent protests to the that Parliament intended to use the troops to control their movements and Stamp Act occurred in New York. There, restrict their freedom. a mob burned an effigy (likeness) of the Parliament Taxes the Colonists In addition to the cost of keeping troops Answer: royal governor and raided some homes. Because in the colonies, Britain owed massive debts from the French and Indian War. Parliament was enforcing Other colonists took a more direct political new laws and restrictions To pay off these debts, Britain needed more revenue, or income. As a result, approach. For example, Benjamin Franklin that threatened the Parliament looked to the colonies to pay part of the costs for frontier defense appeared before Parliament, presenting colonists’ freedom to and colonial government. self-govern. arguments for the repeal of the act. In 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act. This law placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other products shipped to the colonies. Making matters worse, Unit 3 Resource Book in the following year Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a law that required • Connect Geography & History, all legal and commercial documents to carry an official stamp showing that pp. 41–42 a tax had been paid. In addition to wills and contracts, all newspapers and diplomas also had to carry a stamp. From Parliament’s perspective, the Sugar and Stamp Acts were reason- able ways to raise money in the colonies to pay off Britain’s debt. From the colonist’s perspective, however, these acts were seen as serious threats to their Teach political rights. Their anger focused on two complaints: First, that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies—that was a job for the colonial assembly. Colonists Defy Parliament And second, that no tax should be created without their consent. COMPARE AND CONTRAST Explain why the colonists disagreed with Parliament? Roleplay Your Answer See margin. • If you were a colonist, what would you have Colonists Defy Parliament done to protest the Stamp Act? (Possible Answer: I would encourage resistance by KEY QUESTION How did the colonists react when Parliament took over the assemblies’ power to tax? speaking in the town square, writing a petition to the king, boycotting British goods, and The Stamp Act enraged the colonists. Everywhere people took up the cry joining the Sons of Liberty.) “No taxation without representation!” to protest the attack on their rights. Patrick Henry, a member of Virginia’s House of Burgesses, demanded resis- • If you were a British official in the colonies, tance. When another member shouted that resistance was treason, Henry is how might you have responded to the Under the Stamp Act of said to have replied, “If this be treason, make the most of it!” protests? (Possible Answer: I would send my 1765, royal stamps such as these were required The Colonists Organize In 1765, delegates from nine colonies formed the family back to England and possibly go with on legal documents. Stamp Act Congress in New York. During this meeting, delegates drafted a them. I would ask my superiors to seek a petition to the king protesting the Stamp Act and declared that the right to solution.) tax the colonists belonged to the colonial assemblies, not to Parliament. This • Compare and Contrast Imagine you are was the first time the colonies had united in opposition to British policy. a member of the Sons of Liberty. Would you Meanwhile, some colonists formed secret societies, such as the Sons of Liberty, to oppose British policies. Occasionally they encouraged influence your fellow members to use or to avoid violent protests? (Use violence—Because Britain isn’t listening to us, we need to defend 158 Chapter 6 our rights from attack; Avoid violence—Using violence may drive away officials, but it may DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION: TIERED ACTIVITIES also hurt innocent bystanders.) Unit 3 Resource Book • Economics in History, p. 36 OBJECTIVE Create biographies of lesser-known but important people who played a role in • Primary and Secondary Sources, the events leading up to and during the American Revolution. pp. 44–45 Basic On Level Challenge Guide students in As necessary, guide students Assign students a colony researching a lesser-known in research as for the Basic and have them research person of this period. Have level activity. Then have one lesser-known person students choose one person, students write a profile (at from that colony. Then have write a paragraph on his least three paragraphs) students write an in-depth or her life, and include one of the person they chose. profile (at least one page) of illustration showing a detail Students should also include the person. Students should of this person’s life. Have one visual with their report. also include one visual with students post and/or present Have students post and/or their report. Have students their biographies. present their biographies. post and/or present their biographies. 158 • Chapter 6 people to attack customs officials and burn the stamps. As a result, many CHAPTER 6 • SECTION 1 customs officials quit their jobs and returned to England. Colonists Threaten British Profits The colonists’ complaints against Parliament were bitter, loud, and sometimes violent. But the most effective protest took the form of a boycott, a widespread CONNECT to the Essential Question refusal to buy British goods. By refusing to buy goods from England, the colonists targeted British merchants. The colonists What drove the colonists to declare hoped that these merchants, faced with declining sales, would independence from Great Britain? influence Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act. Some British politi- cians sided with the colonists. Parliamentary leader William Pitt Ask students what they have learned so far spoke out against the Stamp Act: that can help them answer this question. PRIMARY SOURCE Students might mention: The Americans have not acted in all things with prudence and [good] • The Proclamation of 1763 and the “ temper. They have been driven to madness by injustice. Will you punish Quartering Act caused colonists to fear (above) During the them for the madness you have [caused]? . My opinion . is that the crisis with Great Britian, loss of freedoms. Stamp Act be repealed absolutely, totally, and immediately. colonists often met • The Sugar Act and Stamp Act threatened under the Liberty Tree, —William Pitt, quoted in Patriots ” a symbol of liberty, colonists’ political rights. individuality, and The colonists’ tactic worked, and Parliament finally repealed the Stamp freedom. • The colonists organized protests, Act in 1766. But at the same time, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, boycotts, and secret societies, which which stated that Parliament had supreme authority to govern the colonies. Answer: The colonists further divided the colonies from Britain. formed the Stamp Act Although the colonists celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act, the great argu- Congress to protest ment between Parliament and the colonies had just begun. Parliament’s power to tax the colonies. The CAUSES AND EFFECTS Explain how the colonists reacted when Parliament took colonists also boycotted over the assemblies’ power to tax. British goods. 4 Assess & Reteach Assess Have students complete the Section ONLINE QUIZ Assessment. 1 Section Assessment For test practice, go to Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com Unit 3 Resource Book TERMS & NAMES KEY IDEAS • Section Quiz, p. 53 1. Explain the importance of 3. Why did Parliament pass new laws governing the Interactive Review • King George III • Stamp Act colonies? • Quartering Act • Patrick Henry 4. How did the colonists oppose the new acts? @ ClassZone.com • Sugar Act • Sons of Liberty CRITICAL THINKING Power Presentations USING YOUR READING NOTES 5. Analyze Point of View Why would Britain’s new 2. Compare and Contrast Complete the diagram laws have convinced Americans that their freedom Test Generator that you started at the beginning of this section. was under threat? 6. Connect Economics & History Why was Reteach Have students use a Venn diagram Parliament Colonists boycotting British goods an effective way to protest to compare and contrast what life might have the Stamp Act? Colonies should help been like for colonists who were loyal to Britain 7. Writing Protest Song Imagine that you are pay for their own in comparison to colonists who opposed Britain. defense. one of the Sons of Liberty. Write a song protesting Parliament’s new laws. Talk about the experiences of various people, such as students and workers. Unit 3 Resource Book The Road to Revolution 159 • Reteaching Activity, p. 57 SECTION 1 ASSESSMENT ANSWERS Terms & Names Critical Thinking 1. King George III, p. 157; Quartering Act, p. 158; 5. Possible Answer: Parliament did not consult Protest Song Rubric Sugar Act, p. 158; Stamp Act, p. 158; Patrick the colonial assemblies before they imposed Henry, p. 158; Sons of Liberty, p. 158 new laws and taxes. Soldiers were also kept in Content Presentation the colonies. Using Your Reading Notes 4 consistent point of view; excellent 2. Parliament—Westward expansion should be 6. This hurt Britain economically and put pressure very accurate limited; soldiers should be housed by colonists; on Parliament to repeal the act.