The Road to Revolution Stamp Tax Uproar Britain

The Road to Revolution

Stamp Tax Uproar • Britain had 140 million pounds of debt after winning the 7 Years War. • Half of that debt was a result of defending the colonies • Britain looked to diminish this debt by creating Acts that asked the colonies to pay taxes

Early Acts • 1763 Prime Minister George Grenville ordered the British Navy to begin strictly enforcing the Navigation Acts • 1764 Sugar Act increased the tax on sugar imported from the West Indies – First law ever passed by Parliament to raise tax revenue in the colonies for the British government – Colonies erupted in protest-Britain lowered the tax

More Acts… • The 1765 Quartering Act Required certain colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops. • The 1765 Stamp Act mandated the use of stamps on any official document as well as additional items (50 items) • It was designed to make money to support the new military force stationed in the colonies

Was this fair? • Grenville felt that this was fair because he was asking the colonies to pay for a part of their own defense. • British people already paid taxes that were higher than these taxes. • Colonists felt that these taxes jeopardized their rights as Englishmen because offenders were tried in admiralty courts where there were no juries allowed • Guilty until proven innocent

You decide… • Do you feel that Prime Minister George Grenville was justified in ordering the colonists to pay these taxes? Why or why not? Explain.

What was the need for a British army in the colonies? • French had been expelled from the continent • Pontiac’s warriors had been crushed • Colonies were suspicious of the British

“NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION” • Americans made a designation between legislation and taxation • Felt Parliament HAD the right to legislate about matters affecting their empire including the regulation of trade • Felt that Parliament DID NOT HAVE the right to impose taxes on Americans because there were no American representatives in Parliament. • Only elected colonial legislatures had the power to tax.

British Perspective • Grenville dismissed these protests • Felt that the power of the Parliament was supreme and undivided • Every member of the Parliament represented all British subjects including the American colonists- called “virtual representation” • This was laughed at by American colonists • Both sides stood by their principles

Repeal of the Stamp Act • Stamp Act Congress met in 1765 in NYC- 27 distinguished delegates from 9 colonies • Debated and drew up a statement of rights and grievances and asked the King and Parliament to repeal the legislation (ignored) • Colonists decided to make an agreement NOT to import British goods (effective)

What effect did the agreement to deny the importation of British goods have on the American colonists? • United American colonists in common action • Provided opportunities for colonists to participate in protests and boycotts • Groups of women gathered to make homespun clothing to replace British textiles • Resistance spread through the colonies

Sons and Daughters of Liberty • Colonial protests became violent • Enforced the non-importation agreement by tarring and feathering violators • Ransacked houses of British officials • Confiscated money from British officials • Hanged dummies representing tax collectors • Forced Stamp Agents to resign

Effects of the Non-Importation Boycott • Americans had bought ¼ of all British goods • Merchants, manufacturers, and shippers suffered (hundreds lost work) • British citizens demanded that Parliament repeal the Stamp Act • Member of British Parliament were upset because 7. 5 million Brits paid heavy taxes to protect the colonies yet 2 million colonists refused to pay 1/5 of the cost of their own defense

1766 Stamp Act Officially Repealed • Repealed the Stamp Act • Immediately passed the Declaratory Act which stated that Parliament had the right to bind the colonies “in all cases whatsoever” • Absolute sovereignty over the colonies • Americans made clear that they wanted sovereignty of their own and that they would go to drastic measures to secure it