Lesson 6.1: Tighter British Control - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Lesson 6.1: Tighter British Control

How did new British laws lead to greater tension between Parliament and American colonists?Slide2

Vocabulary describe – give details aboutrevenue – income for the government, often through taxes

levy – establish and collect a taxfrontier – the edge of the wildernessquartering – giving or receiving shelter and aidSlide3

What We Already KnowUnder the Magna Carta of 1215, British subjects could not be taxed without the consent of their elected representatives in Parliament.Slide4

What We Already KnowBetween 1754 and 1763, Britain fought France in the French and Indian War, and under the Treaty of Paris, gained control of all the land in North America east of the Mississippi.Slide5

What We Already Know

When British settlers began moving across the mountains onto Native American land after the war, Indians began attacking settlers and British soldiers were called in to defend the colonists.Slide6

The Colonies and Britain Grow Apart

Before the French and Indian War, self-government in the American colonies grew.

Salutary neglect

– Parliament left the colonies aloneSlide7

The Colonies and Britain Grow Apart

The costs of the war with France and of defending the frontier settlers threatened to ruin Britain unless changes were made.

In 1763, Parliament began to reassert its authority over the colonies starting with the Proclamation of 1763. Slide8

The Proclamation of 1763

To prevent new Native American uprisings against the colonists, the British government passed the Proclama–tion of 1763.This law banned new settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains.Slide9

The act caused tensions to grow between Parliament and the American colonists.

The Proclamation of 1763Slide10

The act caused tensions to grow between Parliament and the American colonists.

The colonists were proud to have fought along–side the British army against the French and their Indian allies.

But they also felt they had won the right to settle the Ohio River Valley because they helped defeat the French.

The Proclamation of 1763Slide11

The Proclamation of 1763

The law angered many colonists, who decided to ignore it and settled the area anyway.The British government was angry, because the colonists were putting themselves at risk, but refusing to pay for their own defense.

Resentment began to divide the colonies and Britain.Slide12

British Troops and Taxes In order to enforce the proclamation and to maintain the peace, King George III decided to keep 10,000 soldiers in the colonies, which would be very expensive. Slide13

British Troops and Taxes In 1765, Parliament passed the Quartering Act, which required colonists to give food and housing to British troops.

Colonists could pay for the construction of barracks for the soldiers, or they could take them into their homes.Colonists were deeply angered by the Quartering Act.Slide14

British Troops and Taxes

Even with the Quartering Act, the British government still needed money to help repay its debts from the French and Indian War and to pay for troops to guard the frontier. Slide15

British Troops and Taxes

In 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act, which levied a tax on sugar, molasses, and certain other imports.

This was the first tax passed by the government without asking for the approval of colonial governments.Slide16

Colonists’ Reaction to the Sugar Act

Colonists complained that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies, since the colonists were not represented in Parliament.

Parliament disagreed, because colonists were subjects of Britain, and had the protection of its laws.Slide17

Colonists’ Reaction to the Sugar ActAs Otis exclaimed, “Tax-

ation without represen–

tation

is tyranny!”

British finance minister George Grenville disagreed, saying that the colonists were subjects of Britain, and enjoyed the protection of its laws.

For that reason, Grenville argued, they were subject to taxation.Slide18

Britain Passes the Stamp Act

The Stamp Act (1765) created revenue by levying a tax on legal and commercial documents.

It required colonists to buy and place stamps on many goods such as diplomas, contracts, and newspapers.

While the Sugar Act had mainly affected merchants and importers, the Stamp Act affected all colonists directly.

But the Stamp Act was different from the Sugar Act in one important way.Slide19

Protests Against the Stamp Act Once again, “No taxation without

representation!” was the colonial battle cry.Delegates from nine colonies met in New York City (the Stamp Act Congress) and drew up a petition of protest to the king.

They insisted that only the colonial assemblies – not Parliament – could tax the colonies.Slide20

Colonial Merchants Protested

They organized a boycott of British goods (a refusal to buy goods).

Secret groups (e.g., the Sons of Liberty) formed, and began to organize protests against British policies.Slide21

Colonial Protests

The Sons of Liberty burned stamped

paper and

attacked customs officials who collected the tax, tarring and feathering them and parading them in public.

Many frightened officials

quit their jobs.Slide22

Repeal of the Stamp Act

British merchants, whose trade had been hurt by the boycotts, began to complain to Parliament.

Under pressure from home and the colonies, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.

At the same time, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act.

“Parliament has the right to govern and tax the colonies!”Slide23

Reaction to the Declaratory Act

Colonists celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Most ignored the Declaratory Act.

But the tension between the colonies and the British government would continue to grow.