What caused Britain’s debt to increase after 1763?
The Seven Years’ War.
Britain then raised taxes on both citizens at home and the American colonists.
What was the Proclamation of 1763?
A law preventing colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.
It aimed to avoid Native American conflicts (like Pontiac’s Rebellion).
What did the Currency Act (1764) do?
It banned colonies from printing paper money.
This made it harder for colonists to pay debts.
What was the Sugar Act (1764)?
A tax on molasses and sugar that replaced the Molasses Act.
Colonists resisted by smuggling.
What changed after 1763 regarding trials for smugglers?
Smugglers were tried in vice-admiralty courts, where they were guilty until proven innocent.
This ended ‘salutary neglect.’
What was the Stamp Act (1765)?
A tax on 50 everyday paper goods (newspapers, legal docs, etc.).
Affected nearly all colonists and led to widespread protests.
How did colonists protest the Stamp Act?
- House of Burgesses speeches (Patrick Henry)
- Stamp Act Congress (argued only colonial reps could tax)
- Sons of Liberty boycotts and attacks on officials
These actions pressured Britain to repeal the act.
What ideas inspired resistance?
English Common Law (rights of subjects), Enlightenment (natural rights, separation of powers), and Whig ideas in Parliament.
Spread quickly through newspapers (Print Revolution).
What were the Townshend Acts (1767)?
Taxes on paper, paint, glass, and tea.
The money paid officials salaries, making them less accountable to colonists.
How did colonists respond to the Townshend Acts?
Boycotts of British goods, homespun clothing (led by women), and protests.
British sent troops to Boston to enforce order.
What happened at the Boston Massacre (1770)?
British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing 4 colonists.
Patriots used it as propaganda against Britain.
What were the Committees of Correspondence?
Groups that spread information and coordinated colonial resistance.
Helped unify colonies.
Why did colonists oppose the Tea Act (1773), even though tea was cheaper?
They saw it as Britain’s way of tricking them into accepting taxation without representation.
What was the Boston Tea Party (1773)?
Colonists (Sons of Liberty) dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
Britain responded with the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts.
What were the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts?
Punishment for the Tea Party - closed Boston’s port, voided MA charter, outlawed town meetings.
Sparked creation of the First Continental Congress.
Did most colonists want independence in the early 1770s?
No. They mainly wanted a return to salutary neglect, not full independence.
What was Common Sense (1776)?
A pamphlet by Thomas Paine arguing for independence.
Said monarchy was corrupt, and Americans deserved ‘a government of our own.’
What did the Declaration of Independence declare?
That the colonies were free and independent states.
Inspired by Enlightenment ideas (popular sovereignty - the power rests with the people).
