
Colonial Resistance Grows Chapter 6, section 2
Townshend Acts • Parliament’s problem… • How do we keep colonists happy? • How do we raise revenue? • Pass the Townshend Acts of course! (Named after Charles Townshend) This guy
Townshend Acts (cont’d) Townshend Acts • Suspend New York’s colonial government (until they agree to house troops) • Placed duties on imported goods • Glass, paper, paint, lead, tea, etc. • Money paid BEFORE goods entered colonies • Used to pay British governor and other officers • Officials used writs of assistance to enforce law • Search warrants for homes and businesses
Colonial Response • Protests immediately broke out • Angry that New York Assembly was out of office • Did not like writs of assistance • Threats to rights and freedoms • Sons of Liberty – led boycott • Asked shopkeepers not to sell goods from England • Daughters of Liberty – boycott as well • Had to make items like clothing at home Daughters of Liberty Samuel Adams
Boston Massacre • 1768 – 1,000 British soldiers arrive in Boston • Tensions rose immediately • March 5, 1770 – argument breaks out, turns violent • British troops open fire on colonists • 4 colonists killed • Sons of Liberty call it Boston Massacre • Incident became tool for anti-British propaganda • British soldiers arrested for murder but set free Crispus Attucks
Tea Act 1770 – Townshend Acts repealed… • Except for one… The tax on tea. • Boycott was effective • British commerce hurt • Wanted to show colonists that they would be nice to them but still had power to tax • 1773 – Tea Act • Only tea allowed in colonies must be sold be British East India Trading Company
In Response… Colonists establish Committees of Correspondence • Groups that exchanged letters on colonial affairs Protests took place all over colonies • South Carolina • New York Boston Tea Party • Sons of Liberty • Dress up like natives • Board 3 tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea British response would fan the flames for rebellion… …to be continued