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The Writs of Assistance
They were search warrants that let British soldiers search houses or ships if something was suspected. Colonists got no protection against unreasonable searches. Writs helped Britain enforce trade and navigation laws and were first used in MA in 1751. In 1761 James Otis defended Boston merchants in court against the writs and said that they violated colonists' natural rights but lost. The 4th amendment prohibits unreasonable searches because of the writs. Warrants also need a probable cause. -
Proclamation of 1763
A declaration made by England that drew a line on the Appalachian Mountains that the colonists couldn’t cross. The Proclamation of 1763 was made because a large group of Indian tribes came together and, led by Pontiac, tried to force the colonists out of their territory. The proclamation set aside all land west of the Appalachians for the Native Americans, and all colonists who had already settled there had to leave. -
Sugar Act of 1764
An act that was passed on April 5, 1764 that changed the Molasses Act. The Molasses Act had made merchants pay taxes on molasses, but they were usually able to avoid paying the tax. The Sugar Act lowered the tax on molasses from 6 pence per gallon to 3, but it also put taxes on many more goods such as sugar, coffee, and some wines. These taxes were also enforced much more than the Molasses Act, and it reduced colonial trade with places like the French West Indies. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 taxed all Americans on printed paper. It put a tax on legal documents, newspapers, licenses, ship’s papers, playing cards, and any other printed paper. Parliament passed this act to pay the cost of stationing troops at the Appalachian Mountains. Parliament could tax the colonists this way because the colonists had to buy a British stamp every time they got an official document. The colonists protested the act by doing things like making the Stamp Act Congress and rioting. -
The Quartering Act of 1765
It forced colonists to house British soldiers in barracks and public houses, but if there wasn't enough space, the colonists were forced to let them stay in inns, alehouses, houses of wine sellers, and barns. The colonists also had to give food, cooking supplies, beer, candles, and firewood to them. This way England didn’t have to pay as much because the cost of keeping troops in America was expensive. The New York assembly wouldn't comply so Parliament suspended the assembly until they obeyed. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting lasting until 10/25/1765. 9 colonies sent representatives to it to protest unfair taxation and petition the King. The Congress met in New York’s City Hall, and made a document called the Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists. It said that since they were ruled by the King, they had the same rights as people living in Britain, so only colonial governments could tax them which is where “no taxation without representation” came from. -
The Declaratory Act of 1766
It was passed when the Stamp Act was repealed and it said that Parliament had the same power in America as it did in England. The act said that Parliament could pass binding laws on the colonies, and didn’t mention taxation without representation. It also said that any resolutions in the colonies that went against Parliament’s power to make binding laws were invalid. Colonists didn’t see the importance of this act at first, and were more focused on celebrating getting the Stamp Act repealed. -
The Townshend Acts of 1767
The Townshend Acts of 1767 were a series of acts that Charles Townshend passed. One thing he did was disband the New York Assembly until they obeyed the Quartering Act. He also made the Townshend Duties which were taxes on lead, glass, paper, tea, and paint exported from England. Another act was making a new board of customs commissioners in America to end corruption in the customs houses in America. The new customs commissioners were able to stop smuggling in Boston, but not in other colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
It was a riot where colonists threw snowballs and stones at Private Hugh White who was guarding the Custom House. He called for help so Captain Thomas Preston brought soldiers to him. Colonists knocked down a soldier and at one point a soldier shot his gun. Once one shot was let out, the others started shooting. 5 colonists died and 6 were hurt. Paul Revere drew British soldiers shooting at peaceful colonists. John Adams defended the soldiers in a trial and none were found guilty of murder. -
The Tea Act of 1773
It was made to save the British East India Company. Colonists either didn't drink tea or bought smuggled tea, so the company was dying. Lots of tea that couldn't be sold was stuck in warehouses. The act let the company ship tea to the colonies without stopping or paying navigation taxes that colonial merchants had to pay. Since the company could do that, colonists couldn’t be middlemen or sell tea like usual. The Townshend Duty on tea renewed taxation issues. Colonists decided to boycott tea. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists were angry and frustrated at England because they imposed “taxation without representation". They hated the tea monopoly of the East India Company, and disguised as Mohawks, dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor (valued at £18,000). It was the first major act of defiance. It happened because Britain was in debt, Parliament made new taxes on Colonies to help relieve those debts. Parliament passed Intolerable Acts, shutting down Boston’s harbor in return for the lost tea. -
Coercive Acts of 1774
Called Intolerable Acts by Colonists, they were 4 laws Parliament by passed after the Boston Tea Party to retaliate for the lost tea. The Boston Port Bill closed the Boston Harbor. The Massachusetts Government Act replaced elective local government with an appointed government and increased power of the military governor. The Administration of Justice Act let British officials who were charged with crimes have trials in England. The Quartering Act let British troops occupy empty buildings. -
Quebec Act of 1774
Made to create a permanent government in Quebec instead of the temporary government made by the Proclamation of 1763, colonists saw it as a threat to their liberty and expansion. It preserved the French Civil Code and extended Quebec's boundaries to include land west of the Mississippi, higher north to Hudson’s Bay territory, and islands of the St. Lawrence. Catholics got religious freedom. It was made to boost loyalty to the king in Canada because of resistance in America. -
The First Continental Congress
They met in Philadelphia until October 26, 1774. Every colony but Georgia sent delegates. Pennsylvania and NY wanted peace but others didn't. They wrote the Declaration of Rights saying they were loyal to Britain but didn't like taxes from Parliament. The Articles of Association said they would stop importing goods from British Isles on December 1, 1774 if Parliament didn't remove Coercive Acts. If ignored, they would meet on May 10, 1775 and would end exportation to Britain on September 10. -
Battle of Lexington
The Battles of Lexington and Concord started the Revolutionary War. Several hundred British troops were sent to seize an arms cache. Paul Revere and other riders informed the people that the British were coming.Soon, 700 troops showed up in Lexington. 77 militiamen were gathered in Lexington. They were ordered to disperse once a shot rang out. Nobody knows who fired first, but at the end, 8 militiamen lay dead and 9 wounded. 1 British soldier was wounded. -
Battle of Concord
British proceeded to Concord. Most of the people fled, British didn't find much. The Redcoats decided to burn what was left, but the fire got out of control. Several hundred militiamen outside of Concord though the whole town would be burned. They rushed to defend their city, and the British soon started retreating when the colonists fired. This was the “shot heard around the world”. As British were leaving Concord, the colonists began firing at the British. The attack continued to Cambridge. -
The Second Continental Congress
It acted as a government for the colonies and built an army through conscription. The Olive Branch Petition was passed on July 5 as a last effort to have peace. On July 6 they issued the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, which explained their reasons for war and undid the Olive Branch Petition. Passed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On November 15, 1777 they wrote the Articles of Confederation which were the basis of government until 1788. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence stated that the colonies were independent from Britain. It was adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and John Adams helped write the document.On June 11, the committee to write the Declaration of Independence was chosen. The Declaration of Independence stated all of the colonies’ complaints against Britain, and all of the ways that Britain had wronged them. The famous preamble talks about basic human rights. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a document that John Dickinson wrote, and it was as a last ditch effort to avoid a war with England. The Olive Branch Petition went directly to King George III, and it blamed Parliament, not the King. The letter said that the colonists didn’t want to fight in a war against the British, but just wanted to have unfair taxes repealed. The King wouldn’t read the letter, and announced that the colonies were rebelling against Britain and that they were going to war.
