APUSH 3.3 Taxation Without Representation

With the removal of the French as a geopolitical threat, the necessity that had bound colonial subjects to their imperial masters began to unravel

Reducing the expensive of the Empire * Initiating new taxation policies
Fully integrate colonial America into the Empire
Impress u[on colonists the idea that they had responsibilities to the Empire
Tighten Mercantilist policies * Reduce illegal smuggling within the Colonies * Restrict colonial manufacturing development

Proclamation of 1763
Sugar Act
Currency Act
Quartering Act
Stamp Act
The collective intent of these various policies was to have the colonists “pay their fair share” as members of the British Empire
British Lawmaking for the colonies was based upon the theory of “virtual representation” * Parliament was to legislate on behalf of the colonists

Colonists identified themselves as Englishmen * They believed they possessed all the political rights of Englishmen who just happened to live elsewhere
Yet they fell back on traditions of salutary neglect * As well as democratizing influences of the Great Awakening * Enlightenment ideas about the social contract and consent of the governed * They used these ideas to argue that British legislating for the colonies was tyranny

Who has authority over colonial economy?
This question starts a process by which colonists, no matter what colony they live in, become increasingly suspicious of Imperial motives * They begin to see things being done to them, not for them
This represents the beginning of an intercolonial common cause * Shared grievances began to draw the previously nonaligned colonies together
Neither side understood the other’s problems and priorities * The two parties never worked to talk to each other and truly resolve the problems

These groups all focused on philosophical points of principle * Legalistic formulations of argument and discussions of liberty and governance
They were all led and driven by elite members of colonial societies

These groups and movements involved colonial persons from all levels of society
Embodied a much greater working class presence
Prone to more direct physical action * Tarring and feathering * Intimidation of royal officials * Destruction of property
Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party * Examples of public defense as public statements or propaganda victories

Women were critical to the success of the boycott movement
The production of handmade alternatives to British produced goods became a political statement
The success of boycotts as a tool of economic warfare required the disciplined participation from people at all levels of society

The Son’s of Liberty began to collect and store weapons and supplies, establish intelligence networks, and create shadow governments and the local level
The semi-regular militia (minutemen) were the result of these processes
Women who allied with the Patriot cause produced bandages, clothing, food, gunpowder, bullets, and provided general supplies to the army * Once hostilities commenced, some traveled with the army as camp followers, tending to wounded and providing general support * Others stayed at home, helping any soldiers as they passed through the area