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England Clamps Down on the Colonies

England Clamps Down on the Colonies. Mercantilism. The belief that wealth was power and a country’s economic wealth (and therefore it’s military and political power) could be measured by the amount of gold and silver in its treasury.

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England Clamps Down on the Colonies

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  1. England Clamps Down on the Colonies

  2. Mercantilism • The belief that wealth was power and a country’s economic wealth (and therefore it’s military and political power) could be measured by the amount of gold and silver in its treasury. • To gain gold or silver, a country needed to export more than it imported. • The colonies could provide raw materials and provide a guaranteed market for exports.

  3. Mercantilism • Positives: • The colonies had the tobacco market in Britain • Protection of the mightiest navy and army without any cost • Negatives • Navigation Act of 1650: Colonies were not allowed to trade with any other countries except England • Smuggling

  4. Turn to your neighbor and write down the definition of a “TAX” Make a list of things that are Taxed today?

  5. Taxes • What are taxes? • A fee charged (“levied”) by a government on a product, income, or activity • What taxes do we pay today? • Why were the Colonists making such a big deal about being taxed?

  6. Taxation without Representation • Colonists had no voice in Parliament • Leaders in Britain did not know anything about Colonists lives • Do we have proper representation in our government? How?

  7. Sugar Act 1764 • Placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other products shipped to the colonies • Also called for punishment of smugglers • Primarily affected merchants Reaction: Colonists Angry! Boycotted merchants, protested in the streets James Otis: “Taxation without Representation is tyranny!” George Grenville: Colonists are subjects and enjoyed the protection of its laws and were subject to taxation Repealed: Parliament was pressured by British merchants

  8. Quartering Act 1765 • Required the colonies to quarter British soldiers • provide them with food, supplies and place to live • Most were quartered in NY • Reaction • Many refused to allow soldiers in

  9. Stamp Act1765 • All legal and commercial documents are to carry an official stamp showing that a tax had been paid. • Reaction: • Stamp Act Congress, Oct 1765 • Boycott of British Goods • Sons of Liberty staged protests • Repealed in 1766 • British merchants were hurt by boycott

  10. Video Clips • Mr. Bighead on Tensions between the Colonists and the British • http://youtu.be/yAdDh_3759U History Channel: Stamp Act http://www.history.com/videos/colonists-protest-british-policies

  11. Declaratory Act 1766 • Imposed after repeal of Stamp Act • It was a statement of power, not an exercise of power • Said that Parliament had supreme authority to govern the colonies • Colonies were “subordinate” and under the control of Parliament • Parliament could pas ANY law regarding the colonies that it desired Reaction: Colonists ignored this new Act and did not accept the principle that Parliament was Supreme.

  12. Townshend Acts1767 • Suspended New York’s assembly until they agreed to provide housing for British soldiers • Taxed imported goods: glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea. All things in everyday use that were not produced by Americans. • Taxes were collected before the items entered the colonies • Tax Collectors were greedy and crooked • Two British regiments were sent to Boston • Writs of Assistance: search warrants to enter homes or businesses to search for smuggled goods

  13. Reaction to Townshend Acts • Colonists Angry!! • Writs of Assistance went against Natural Rights • Felt their rights and freedoms were threatened • Sam Adams called for a boycott of British goods • Shopkeepers pressured not to sell imported goods • Tax Collectors were Tarred and Feathered • Trade with Britain fell sharply • Protests were getting violent, tempers were rising, more troops arrived

  14. Sam Adams “We will destroy every soldier that dares put his foot on shore… I look upon them as foreign enemies!”

  15. The Boston Massacre • 1,000 more soldiers enter Boston in the Fall of 1768 • Tensions were high • Often soldiers and street youths would exchange yelled insults • March 5, 1770 • Soldiers were being battered by a mob of colonists • They began firing out of self defense from snow balls and ice being thrown at them

  16. Tea Act 1773 • Parliament repeals all taxes except for tea (same day as Boston Massacre) • They wanted to show that they were still in control of the colonies • Tea was the “Pop/Soda” of the colonies • Price of tea actually went down • Gave the British East India Company control over tea trade • Only this tea could be sold and traded • Colonists felt it was a “devilish plot to make the colonies totally subordinate to England”.

  17. Reaction • South Carolina: colonists unloaded tea and let it rot on the docks • New York City and Pennsylvania: blocked tea ships from landing • Boston: Sons of Liberty, disguised as Indians, boarded tea ships in the harbor and destroyed 342 chests of tea • Britain outraged!! Wants the tea paid for and the men brought to trial

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