Proclamation of 1763

Date:1763

Reason: To prevent colonists from moving west.

Description: The proclamation drew a line along the

Appalachian Mts. The colonists were not permitted to settle west of this line. Britain sent 10,000 troops to enforce the Proclamation.

Effect: Some colonists were angry b/c they already lived west of the line, but most ignored it b/c it didn’t affect them.

Response: None

Sugar Act

Date: 1764

Reason: To help the British pay off their debt from the French and Indian War.

Goods Taxed: molasses

Effect: Some were angry b/c they couldn’t afford to pay the tax. It highlighted a post war colonial depression.

Response: Colonists boycotted certain goods and protested against the British.

Stamp Act

Date: 1765

Reason: To reduce Britain’s debt after the French and Indian War.

Goods Taxed: legal documents (wills, diplomas, marriage certificates), almanacs, playing cards, and dice. All items named had to have a stamp to show the tax had been paid.

Effect: Brought a sense of unity to the colonists.

Response: Violent protests and “no taxation without representation.”

Boston Tea Party

Date: December 16, 1773

Reason: Parliament passed the Tea Act.

Description: On the night of December 16, 1773, several colonists dressed up like Indians and boarded three British tea ships in Boston Harbor. Once onboard, they dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor.

Effect: None

Response: None

Townshend Acts

Date: June 1767

Reason: To raise money $$$!

Goods Taxed: Glass, paper, lead, silk, and tea.

Effect: Colonists objected b/c they felt Parliament had no right to tax them without their consent.

Response: Colonists boycotted British goods.

Tea Act

Date: 1773

Reason: To stop the colonists from smuggling in tea.

Goods Taxed: tea

Effect: The colonists were bitter!

Response: The Boston Tea Party

Boston Massacre

Date: March 5, 1770

Reason: British soldiers were guarding the Boston Customs House where taxes were collected.

Description: A British soldier was guarding the Customs House when a colonist started insulting him. Soon colonists had surrounded the soldier and were insulting and throwing snowball, rocks, and ice at him. A group of British soldiers came over to break it up, but that made the colonists angrier. The British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing 5 colonists.

Effect: Colonists were angry and some feared standing armies.

Response: Certain colonists began using this event as propaganda against the British.

Intolerable Acts

Date: Spring 1774

Reason: To punish Massachusetts

Description: 1. Boston Harbor was closed until Boston paid for the lost tea.

2. The Massachusetts charter was canceled.

3. Royal officials accused of crimes were sent to Britain for trial.

4. The Quartering Act forced colonists to quarter, or house and supply, British soldiers.

5. General Thomas Gage became the new governor of Massachusetts.

Effect: Made the colonists angry. These acts went against English rights.

Response: Some colonists wrote essays and poems to express their anger (Mercy Otis Warren). They boycotted all British goods sold in the colonies. They also tried to bring leaders from each colony together to decide the best way to respond to Britain’s abuse of their rights.