Treaty of Paris up to the First Continental Congress

What did the French do just after the end of the Seven-Years War?

Whilst Britain could now relax, being the dominant authority in America
- Few Native Uprisings in the 1760s and 1770s
- France set up some Forts in the Ohio Valley to stop Britain from moving West

How much debt were the British in post-Seven Years War?

£140,000,000

What did the Treaty of Paris set in motion?

The colonists belief in the right to the land, following the defeat of the French

Why did the British not want the Colonists moving too-far west?

They wanted to ensure economic prosperity and basic control of colonists remained in a small area
- Were scared they would lose control and the colonists would make their own destiny and settle their own land

What was the Molasses Act (1733)?

It levied a tax on 6d per gallon on Sugar and Molasses
- Was set to expire in 1763
- Was widely bypassed by smugglers

What was the reaction to the Stamp Act (1765)?

It was deeply unpopular and there were mass boycotts against it - so much so the army could not put them down
- It was the first form of direct tax collection made by the British Parliament on the colonies
- It was completely unsustainable with Franklin saying there wasn't enough money in the colonies for it to be paid for for a year
- Franklin presented a petition against in to the House of Commons
- British merchants campaigned against it
- This was the first time the Sons of Liberty was seen - they led an anti-Tax collector campaign
- The Stamp Act congress

What was the Currency Act (1764)?

It banned the colonists form of money, instead favouring more 'valuable currencies'
- Deeply unpopular
- Amalgamated by an economic depression causing deflationary effects and bringing Americans to ruin

What was the Impact of the Quartering Act (1865)?

Despite being introduced to attempt to remedy the shortage of military accommodation
- It led to backlash in New York, who believed that the burden would fall on them
- In return, the British suspended the New York Assembly

How did the repeal of Salutary Neglect effect British-Colonial relations?

It was a policy which had appeased many colonists as it had allowed them to make large quantities of money, and could trade with the non-British
- However, when the policy was reversed, it was deeply unpopular as many of the Colonists felt self-made and as though the British were forcing themselves on it
- There repeal coincided with the introduction of a series of tax, which was a shock to many colonists

What was the Tea Act (1773)?

It was an act introduced on the colonies which allowed the East India Company to monopolise the tea trade, by lowering tax, and stopping smuggled tea.

What was the British reaction to the Boston Massacre?

8 soldiers were put on trial, 2 were found guilty, but were given very leniant sentances
- They referred to it as the 'Incident on King Street' which angered the Colonists

Why did the Boston Tea Party occur?

Colonists were angry at the Tea Act, and needed a way to respond, as the act made Tea cheaper for them
- If they didn't act, it would undermine the revolution

What was the Massachusetts Government Act (1774)?

As a new governor had been appointed by the British following the Tea Party, this act took the power of the colonists in Massachusetts away
- Officials were directly appointed instead of elected
- Town meetings could only happen once a year

What was the significance of Thomas Paine in developing opposition to British rule?

Born in Norfolk in 1737, he was a school teacher and a pamphleteer who published 'Common Sense' in 1776, initially anonymously.
- Within 1 year, 25 editions were printed
- Jefferson used it as a source of Ideas for the Decleration of Independence
- Scholars regard it as the publication that sparked the fight for colonial independence

How was Benjamin Franklin significant in developing opposition to British rule?

His printing business in Philadelphia gave him wealth, allowing him to publish government pamphlets and books.
- Using Pseudonyms, he wrote in the Pennsylvania Gazette.
- As a civilian, he led many projects from a lending library to organising the first Union Fire Company and the Pennsylvania Militia
- He unified the colonies under a national congress in 1756
- Testified against the Stamp Act in 1766

What was the difference between George III and his predecessors? and how did this play out on America?

He was determined to be a patriotic King
- He viewed the colonies as his greatest Ventures and wanted to turn them into economic superpowers
- He thought he could achieve this through placing troops in America

What was the Proclamation Act (1763)?

It banned colonisation west of the Appalachian Mountains
- Those who were living west had to move back east

What was the reaction to the Proclamation Act (1763)?

It was deeply unpopular as it was a sign of increased British presence in North America
- Many Americans felt cheated out of land they were 'rightly owed'
- Over 30,000 ignored it, moving west, within 5 years

What was the Sugar Act (1764)?

All sugar and Molasses coming into the colonies was to be taxed at 3p in the gallon
- would also tax Tobacco, Iron, Wood, Spices, Wine

Why was the Sugar Act (1764) introduced?

Following the repeal of the 1733 Molasses Act
- Government wanted to enforce it more harshly, as original had been bypassed by smugglers
- Did this through increased custom controls and naval ships
- It was introduced to pay for British troops using during the French and Indian Wars

What was the Stamp Act (1765)?

It imposed a tax on the colonies with all paper items needed to be stamped to show tax was paid on it
- Anything printed in the colonies from playing cards to licenses had to be printed on London paper
- All items had to be paid in British money

Why was the Stamp Act (1765) introduced?

It was introduced to pay for the standing British Army in America following the end of the war
- A similar act had been introduced in England in 1694, being very effective

When was the Stamp Act (1765) repealed?

1766

How much was the Sugar Act (1764) meant to raise in comparison to the Molasses Act (1733)?

It was meant to raise £78,000 a year
- Molasses Act raised just £20,000 across its lifespan

What was the Stamp Act Congress?

Convention in New York of many colonies attempting to get the King to repeal the Stamp Act
- It led to the 'Declaration of Rights and Grievances' which raised 14 points of protest
- There was a lot of opposition in colonial assemblies, and colonists gathered in mobs.
- Effigies of Oliver and Bute were attacked and mocked
- Oliver house was destroyed

What were the Virginia Resolves?

Proposed by Patrick Henry, they stated that only the House of Burgesses could tax Virginians because they elected representatives, and that parliament was not legally allowed to tax the colonies because Virginians had no representation in parliament.
- Following Virginia's lead, other assemblies did the same, particularly Massachusetts

What were the Townshend Acts (1767)?

They were taxes on imported glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea

What was the reaction to the Townshend Acts (1767)? and what was the British response?

Colonists were unhappy as they felt unrepresented - they smashed up the warehouses of merchants who did not comply with them
- The British sent troops imposing themselves on people and staying in their houses
- They used 'writs of assistance' to search and seize any home or ship that was suspected of having untaxed items

What was the policy that was employed up until 1763?

Salutary neglect, it had been introduced by Walpole

What was salutary neglect?

It was a British policy of letting the colonies govern themselves, including loose enforcement of taxation and anti-trade laws.

What were the Sons of Liberty like in their early days?

They arranged an intimidation campaign against Tax collectors in response to the Stamp Act
- Motto was 'no taxation without representation'
- led to the amount of tax being introduced falling
- Was popular with the locals

What was the Declaratory Act?

It affirms Parliaments ability to legislate over the colonies in any way they so see fit
- it was a save-face to parliament following hte repeal of the Stamp Act

How did the defeat of the French change relations between the British and the Colonists?

This removed French threat, and as such many of the colonists no longer felt as reliant on Britain to deal with it.
- They had developed economic self-sufficiency and without the need for military help, could exist on their own as a country

Why was Salutary Neglect ended?

The increased costs of administration from £70k per annum in 1748 to £350k per annum in 1763.

How did the economic situation in 1763 effect British-Colonial relations?

The increased prosperity had led to a lot of migration, which strengthened relations as many people had close ties to Britain
- However, they felt that their prosperity was self-made and ere unhappy on the taxes
- Especially with the lack of representation

How did the presence of a standing army effect British-Colonial relations?

The use of sectioning was deeply unpopular, as seen in the 4th amendment.
- The payment of the standing army led to an increase in the tax burden on the colonies
- Many people felt as though Britain was forcing itself on America
- Many soldiers took part-time jobs when they were off-duty, and as they were willing to work for less than Americans, angered many colonists

Was the standing army necessary?

No, it was an additional cost, which forced increases in taxation - very unpopular
- Many Americans felt as though their liberties were being infringed

How fast was the British economy growing off the back of Trade with America? and why?

3.2% a year
- America could cheaply produce goods, which it would then trade with Britain, and increase the living conditions in Both

How much of Britains trade came from the colonies?

1/3

What was the mercantilist system?

It was a system in which Britain gave the colonists a 'safe-market' in which they would be able to supply their goods.

How did smuggling benefit the colonies?

They were able to trade with countries other than Britain, giving them more choice and lower prices, whilst also not having to pay taxes on the items they imported.

How did British rule of the America's increase the feelings of independence?

As they took a relatively hands off approach, especially compared to France and Spain, Americans felt quite independent.
- They believed they were self-made, as well as becoming increasingly self-sufficient

How did American self-identity change in 1765?

They started to see themselves not as an offshoot of the British Empire, but as people of distinct values and culture.

What were the events of the Boston Massacre (1770)?

A group of protesters gathered around Customs House, protesting against British troops being used for tax enforcement - these troops guarded Customs House
- In response the colonists threw snowballs at the guards, hitting Private Montgomery who fired upon the crowd
- Led to other soldiers firing, killing 5

How did the Sons of Liberty respond to a child killed by a customs informer?

They turned the funeral into a political demonstration, attended by over 5000 people.
- This set the climate for the Boston Massacre, as British troops were on edge

What were the Colonists reaction to the Boston Massacre?

Sons of Liberty urged for the removal of British troops in Boston
- The Funerals became political gatherings
- It gave their cause martyrs
- Paul revere made an engraving, which he distributed around the colonies

What were the events of the Gaspee Incident (1772)?

The Sons of Liberty boarded and burnt down the HMS Gaspee, which had been a British schooner

Why was the Gaspee Incident significant?

It was the first uprising against the British Crown's authority in America

What was the aftermath of the Gaspee Incident?

It increased tensions between British officials who wanted to increase control over trade and smuggling, and American colonists who increasingly argued that British impositions were clashing with their economic stability.

What were the events of the Boston Tea Party?

As part of the Protests against the Tea Act 1773, a group of colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded Merchant ships and dumped 342 chests worth over £10,000 into the harbour (over $1m in modern money)
- This was because the Governor refused to halt 3 tea ships from docking in the harbour
- Had 60 members of the Sons of Liberty involved
- Lead to the closure of Boston Harbour

Why were the Intolerable Acts introduced

In response to the Boston tea party

What were the Intolerable Acts (1774)?

The Quebec Act
The Administration of Justice Act
The Boston Port At
The Massachusetts Government Act
The Quartering Act

What did the Quebec Act (1774) do?

It extended British territory in Canada to the South of the Ohio Valley.
- It also welcomed Catholicism in Quebec, which angered the protestant American colonists

Why did the Quebec act lead to an increase in anti-British sentiment amongst rich Americans?

Some had invested in land that was given to the Canadian colony, and lost a lot of value on it.

What did the Administration of Justice Act (1774) do?

It allowed the governor to move trials for government officials to Great Britain, as they believed they wouldn't get a fair trial in Britain
- Would cover the costs of witnesses coming to Britain, but not their lost wages
- Many colonists felt it allowed officials to escape being tried for their crimes

What was the Boston Port Act (1774)?

It closed Boston Port to all ships until the full cost of the tea was made by the Colonists
- Angered those who lived in Boston as they felt they were being punished for something they hadn't done

What was the Quartering Act (1774)?

Colonies were required to provide barracks for British soldiers, and in the absence of this, they could occupy hotels, houses, and barns.
- New York's government was outraged as the majority of the burden was put on them - ended with New York's government being suspended

What was significant about the intolerable acts?

It united the colonists for the first time, and could be argued to have been one of the cornerstones for the American Revolution.

What impact did the circular letter have?

When the Earl of Hillsborough attempted to rescind it, this was incredibly unpopular, and ultimately led to Boston Massacre and the dissolution of the Massachusetts assembly
- Furthered the cause of the Sons of Liberty
- Gave men there more experience against the British

How many troops were sent to Boston in the face of unrest following the suspension of the Massachusetts assembly? and how did this worsen relations?

600 troops were sent
- It was a constant aggravation, due to the need to barrack men
- There were lots of Brawls between soldiers and locals as off-duty soldiers took American jobs for lower wages
- The local papers worsened the situation by fabricating stories of troops attacking colonists

What was Samuel Adam's significance in developing opposition to British rule?

He was an American born 1772, who was a politician and philosopher who's views led to American independence.
- He led the movement that became the American Revolution
- He was an Architect of American republicanism
- He opposed Parliament's efforts to tax the colonies, organising the Tea Party.
- His circular letter, called for colonial non-cooperation, resulting in the Boston Massacre

What was Locke's significance in developing opposition to British rule?

He was an English philosophe born in 1632, ad the founder of Liberalism.
- In his book 'Two Treatises of Government' (1690), he asserted his political theory. He rejected the divine right of kings, and argued a social contract
- Hence "when a king loses the consent of the governed, a society may remove him"
- He was quoted in the declaration of independence in 1776
- He developed man's natural 3 rights - Life, Liberty, Property

What John Adam's significance in developing opposition to British rule?

Born in Massachusetts 1735, he was a statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer and founding father.
- 2nd US president
- Carried a vital role in the revolution, criticising Parliament's authority over the colonies - specifically British imposition of high taxes and tariffs as tools of opression
- Nominated Washington as the commander of the Continental Army
- Selected Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence
- Dominated the debate in Congress that led to a decisive break with the UK.
- He wrote Thoughts on Government, which serves as a guidebook for drafting state constitutions.

What was laid out in 'Common sense'

1. America should be independent from Britain, as the mother colony only cares for profit, and not the interest of colonists
2. Independence should be immediate as tensions were out of control. He pointed out as America was young, it had little to lose.
3. Paine believed that monarchies, as a form of government, violated nature and religion. He emphasised that all people are born equal.
- He also emphasised the possibility of brining America to free trade, and better international relations through independence.
- How America was limited by British laws, and how they wouldn't be sucked into British wars.