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Pontiac’s rebellion 1763
Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe feared more land being taken away by the settlers
Pontiac led a revolt and destroyed most of the British posts west of Niagra
British forces eventually retaliated, bribing the Iroquois and other tribes to remain neutral as well as paying more soldiers to defeat the Ottawa and other tribes
What does Pontiac’s rebellion suggest about Britain’s control of the colonies?
Britain was slowly losing control and was unable to settle anyone down
What was the 1763 proclamation?
British government declared that colonist settlement was to be a line by the Appalachians, any land west would not be counted
Why was the Proclamation line created?
To serve as a temporary line to appease the Native Americans and to halt the fighting
What were the issues with the Proclamation line?
Angered some colonists, particularly Virginians
Difficult to enforce, at least 30,000 ignored the line, the British accepted that the line broke down by 1768
Colonists who served in the Seven Years War were disappointed as the war was to gain land which they just lost
What were Grenville’s 1763 reforms?
Custom officials now had to live in America
Court cases involving smuggling were transferred to a court in Nova Scotia to reduce leniency
What was the 1764 Sugar Act?
Reduced the duty to be paid on foreign molasses from 6d to 3d (also covered sugar, wine, silk and coffee)
This was to be enforced more rigorously than before - oficials accepting bribes faced a £500 fine
This actually increased government income
What was the 1764 Currency Act?
Banned the use of colonial paper money as merchants preferred British sterling
Opposition to the Sugar Act: concerns over British control
Fears that Earl of Bute still had some control
A large peacetime Army was still in America
Issues with British politics and how this affects the colonists
Opposition to the Sugar Act: Lack of representation
Americans still had the ‘no taxation without representation’ sentiment
Colonists were still unsure when the taxation would end
Opposition to the Sugar Act: Economic concerns
James Otis published “Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved” criticising Parliament’s aggressiveness
Nine colonial assemblies had argued Parliament had abused their power and did not accept tax as a way to raise revenue
Opposition to the Sugar Act: the influence of John Wilkes
Radical British MP that demanded freedom of press and a more democratic Parliament
He was imprisoned in 1763 for criticising the King and other ministers as well as claiming that the British government had trampled on American liberties.
What was the Stamp Act 1765?
This required stamps (paid for as tax) to be affixed to formally written or printed documents - newspapers, marriage licences, legal documents, playing cards, etc.
£60,000 was raised in the first year and this was to be spent on colonial defence.
Stamp Act - Virginia Resolves
Patrick Henry created an assembly to attack the Stamp Act, they made 5 resolves:
Colonists had the same rights as Englishman
Colonist rights were guaranteed by royal charter
Colonists could only be taxed if they had proper representation
Colonists had the right to give their consent to laws
The House of Burgesses had the sole right to tax Virginians
Stamp Act Congress
Massachusetts Assembly suggested a meeting to draw up resolutions.
27 delegates from nine colonies attended.
They denounced the Stamp Act as having a ‘tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of the colonies’ and claimed that only the colonies could impose tax on them.
Ideological debate on the Stamp Act
Pamphlets shared the same ideas as the Stamp Act Congress.
Americans thought the best way to levy taxes was through the assemblies.
Parliament was seen as oppressive and it was the fault of ministers like Bute and Grenville
Popular protest against the Stamp Act
Crowd action turned debate into an actual movement.
Popular resistance originated in Boston by a group known as the Loyal Nine. They were led by Samuel Adams. Adams also united the North and South End gangs to unite against the act.
Mob action against the Stamp Act
14 Aug - effigies of Oliver and Bute were hanging from a tree and fake stamps were handed out. A mob also tore down Oliver’s house and he later resigned
26 Aug - Boston crowd destroyed the houses of two British officials, one of which was Thomas Hutchinson
Crowd action spread, particularly in New York. Stamp distributors fled. The Act was nullified by mob action.
The Sons of Liberty against the Stamp Act
Secret society that included members of the elite.
The organisation was not very influential but political consciousness was kept high
Economic sanctions in response to the Stamp Act
Sons of Liberty appealed to the public not to buy British goods
Leading merchants in New York signed an agreement not to import goods from Britain until the Act was repealed.
The repeal of the Stamp Act
Grenville was replaced by the Marquis of Rockingham and h preferred to exercise some discretion when taxing
Parliament was divided: repealing would be a sign of weakness but not repealing would be at detriment to British merchants and manufacturers.
The Act was repealed in March 1766
Declaratory Act 1766
The colonies were bound to the Crown and Parliament and they had full right to make laws on America
The government issued the act to prevent any later conflict when Parliament legislated further
Townshend duties 1767
Placed duties on glass, wine, china, lead, paint, paper and tea
Parliament passed the act easily since they believed it would be accepted since it was an external tax
The revenue would be used to pay for the salaries of governors and judges, so that they would not be dependent on the colonies
The American Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston was established, they were directly responsible to Britain
Intellectual response to the Townshend Duties
John Dickinson wrote Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer - claimed that Britain had no right to enforce taxes without consent and also condemned the suspension of the New York Assembly
Fear that Townshend’s policies would make the colonial assemblies less accountable as well as corrupt the assemblies
Political response to the Townshend duties
Otis and Adams sent circular letters condemning the duties for violating ‘no taxation without representation’
Virginian House of Burgesses issued it own letter
Sons of liberty were revived
Economic resistance to the Townshend Duties
Boycotting of British goods - spurred home manufacturing
Merchants who didn’t comply had their warehouses broke into
Violators of boycott faced threat of violence, including being tarred and feathered
British luxuries were seen to suppress American liberty
Unrest in Boston in response to the Townshend duties
Board of customs asked for Navy help and then took radical John Hancock’s ship (The Liberty) and a scuffle ensued
By Summer 1768, the Sons of Liberty controlled Boston
Wilkesite Movement in response to the Townshend duties
John Wilkes returned to England from France and was arrested - 30,000 gathered demanding his release
Wilkes was called to Parliament three times but was expelled for libel. The fourth time a rival was placed to make him look bad.
His treatment was well reported and America saw this as a suppression of liberty.
Events that led up to the Boston Massacre
Earl of Hillsborough ordered Gov Bernard to demand the Massachusetts assembly to withdraw the circular letters condemning. The assembly refused and they were dissolved, this led to further anger.
The Sons of Liberty organised meetings and marches against the British, revolutionary armies in Boston attacking British troops, houses of commissioners damaged.
When more British troops arrived this created more problems: barracking, Bostonians felt attacked and fights between locals and the British
What was the Boston Massacre?
Feb 1770 - Customs officer kills a boy during a riot. The Sons of Liberty turn the funeral into a political riot.
2 March 1770 - Workers at a rope factory attack soldiers looking for a job
5 March 1770 - British soldiers guarding a customs house were attacked by a mob with snowballs. The soldiers opened fire killing 5. The funerals were used as political demonstrations and Sam Adams’ political machine gave the idea that there had been a deliberate massacre.
Eight soldiers were bought to trial - six acquitted and two were guilty of manslaughter - they were defended by Sam Adams’ cousin
Repeal of the Townshend Duties
Lord North (PM) repealed the duties since it had very few returns and it had caused significant conflict
New York abandoned non-importation and other ports followed suit
Anglo-American trade resumed
Committees of Correspondence
Created at the Boston Town Meeting o communicate colonial grievaces throughout Massachusetts.
By 1773, 50 towns had their own committees.
All colonies followed except for Pennsylvania and North Carolina by Feb 1774.
American disunity after the Townshend repeal
Colonies disputed over boundaries and land claims
Tensions between the rich and poor
1768 - Regulator movement began in North Carolina by backcountry farmers who protested against the corruption of Tidewater officials
The regulators were crushed in 1771 Battle of Alamance by eastern militia forces
Richer tidewaters had encroached on poorer people’s land
What was the Tea Act 1773?
Designed to help the failing East India Tea Company tax didn’t have to be paid for tea leaving India, a license to sell directly to America was given
Instead, the colonists would pay the tax when tea came into the colonies - this was already in existence due to the Townshend duties
Britain also thought that this would reduce the smuggling that happened in the colonies, as cheap tea was smuggled in from Holland, but the tea would be sold for even cheaper.
Why did Britain think that the Tea Act would be accepted?
Drop in price for tea
East India Company would sell its stock in America at a heathy profit
Britain would obtain increased duties
What was the colonist reaction to the Tea Act?
Bitterly attacked in newspapers and pamphlets
Merchants importing East India Company tea were threatened with violence
Tea was rejected by Philadelphia and New York
Tea agents were forced to resign
What was the Boston Tea party?
The Eleanor, Dartmouth and Beaver were in Boston port with chests of Tea.
On 16 December, 60 Sons of Liberty boarded the ships and threw off 342 chests of tea worth £10,000.
Intolerable Acts: Massachusetts Government Act
Allowed a British Royal Governor to appoint and remove civil officials. Town meetings could not be held without his permission.
The colonists objected since it took away their governing power
Intolerable acts: Boston Port Act
Closed Boston to al trade until the destroyed tea had been paid for
This took away a source of Boston’s income so they had no way to pay for the tea.
Intolerable Acts: Impartial Administration of Justice Acts
Transfer to Britain of murder trials
Would guarantee acquittals for people Britain wanted to acquit - i.e. British soldiers
Intolerable Acts: Quartering Act
Gave broader authority to commanders seeking to house their troops
This took away colonist freedom to their land
Intolerable Act: Quebec Act
Placed authority into the hands of a chosen governor without an elected assembly and limited trial by jury
Looked like North America was put under an authoritarian government. Also, looked like it was to check westward expansion
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: First Continental Congress
In September, all the colonies sent at least one delegate to Philadelphia, except for Georgia
They went ‘to consult upon the present unhappy state of the colonies’
John Adams thought that the congress was equally split between radicals (that wanted to sever ties with Britain) and moderates (who favoured retaining some ties).
Prominent radicals included: Sam and John Adams, Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry of Virginia
Prominent moderates included: John Dickinson and Joseph Galloway of Pennsylvania
Endorsed the Suffolk Resolves that declared the Coercive Acts null and void and called on Massachusetts to arm for defence
Called for non-importation in December 1774 until the Coercive Acts were repealed as well as a ban on exports to Britain in September 1775. To make this effective, Congress called on colonists everywhere to form a Continental Association
In October, Congress agreed on a Declaration of Rights and Grievances: they denied that they were subject to Parliament’s authority and that Parliament could not raise revenue without their consent
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: Newspapers and Pamphlets
42 newspapers by 1775
John Adams in Boston Gazette mentioned colonial independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote ‘A Summary of the Rights of British America’ - Br gov had no right to have authority over the Americans
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: Economic Response
Boycott of British goods until the Port Act was repealed
Boston Committee of Correspondence drafted a solemn league and covenant committing to a boycott
HOWEVER:
a trade boycott would harm America more than Britain
Previous boycotts showed that they were hard to enforce.
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: Political response
Virginian House of Burgesses passed a resolution condemning Britain
Governor Dunmore dissolved them 2 days later
However, the Burgesses still held meetings and other states followed in open defiance
The general public denounced the actions of the British government using propaganda
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: Committees of Safety
Enforced the trade boycott
Some acted in place of local government
Acted as courts when people broke the Continental Association’s rules
7,000 colonists were either in the Committees of Safety or extra-legal conventions
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: Situation in Massachusetts
General Gage found he had very little power and asked for 20,000 extra troops
Militia units were preparing for war
British authority had completely broken down
Reaction to the Coercive Acts: situation in other colonies
New York remained loyal to Britain
Rhode Islanders and New Hampshiremen seized cannons and arms from British fort
Extra-legal conventions and CoS strong
arms stockpiled and militias drilled
