The Colonists Protest British Rule

1. The Colonists Protest British Rule NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

2. Unfair Laws • Molasses Act of 1733: limited the amount of molasses and sugar colonists could buy from the parts of the West Indies not under British rule; repealed in 1764 • Sugar Act of 1764: taxed sugar; allowed those accused of breaking this law to be tried without a jury of their peers

3. Stamp Act of 1765: forced colonists to pay a tax when they bought a newspaper or signed a legal document; profits went to England • Quartering Act: forced colonists to provide British soldiers in the colonies a place to live, food, and candles; denied colonists’ right as British not to have a standing army during peacetime

4. Important People • Patrick Henry: member of the House of Burgesses who said that only Virginians could tax Virginians; England accused him of treason • Sons of Liberty: a group of colonists who joined together to fight the Stamp Act and organize protests against other taxes • Samuel Adams: a member of the Sons of Liberty who wrote newspaper articles attacking the Stamp Act

5. Townshend Acts • Many members of the British government were unhappy about giving in to the colonists. • Charles Townshend, the British treasurer, passed many tax laws to make money for the British government. • The Townshend Acts taxed tea, paper, glass, lead, and paint imported from England. • The Daughters of Liberty formed to support the boycott of British taxed goods by making goods themselves or doing without.

6. Boston Massacre • In October 1768, British troops entered Boston to control colonists who were increasingly upset about the Townshend Acts. • On March 6, 1770 a group of colonists met. In the confusion that followed, British soldiers fired, killing 5 men, including Crispus Attucks. This turned many colonists against Britain.

7. Committee of Correspondence • In 1772, Samuel Adams asked members of the Boston town meeting to state the rights of the colonists. • By 1774, all colonies except Pennsylvania had formed a Committee of Correspondence to keep in touch with other colonies about important political events.

8. Boston Tea Party • Great Britain repealed the Townshend Acts, but kept the tax on tea. • Britain sent tea into Boston Harbor to be sold to the colonists. • Abigail Adams reported that colonists were planning to protest the tax on tea. • Colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. • Parliament closed Boston Harbor until all tea was paid for and banned all town meetings. These were known as the Intolerable Acts.

9. First Continental Congress • In 1774, delegates from every colony but Georgia met in Philadelphia to discuss their response to the Intolerable Acts. • Delegates decided to send a petition to the king, asking for the acts to be repealed. They also decided to stop trade with Britain. • Each colony was asked to have minutemen ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Every able-bodied man had to join the militia. • Congress decided to meet again in May 1775 if Britain refused their demands.