-
Royal Proclamation
The British create a document called the Royal Proclamation. The document is a guideline for European settlement, the purpose is to prevent Indian and European conflict. The document makes the settlers unhappy because they want to keep expanding their territory. Little is done to enfore the new laws, settlers continue to pour into the territory. -
Period: to
Causes of the American Revolution
-
Sugar Act
The British Parliment passed the Sugar Act to raise revenue in Britain. Taxes were placed on imported and foreign surgar as well as molasses. Settlers were angered by this and would try smuggling goods. The Sugar Act was heavly enforced, if there was suspicion of smuggling houses and ships would be searched. -
Stamp Act
The British Parliment passed the Stamp Act to increase their revenue. The tax required all American colonists to pay a tax on all printed goods such as the newspaper, playing cards and legal documents. The Americans respond with peaceful protests that turn violent. The Act was becomes almost imposible to enforce, workers leave their posts due to the violent protests. The Act gets repealed in march of 1766. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory acts purpose was an effort to enforce the parliments power and authority. The British Parliment was upset that the colonists challenged the Parliments authority. The colonists ignored the act. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts purpose was to increase British revenue, they believed that taxing at the ports insted of in the colonies the colonist will accept them. The Act puts taxes on imported goods such as lead, tea, and glass. If there was suspicion of smuggled goods general search warrents were issued(writs of assistance). The colonists resist the acts and attack officals. The act gets repealed because of too much protest. The conflicts lead to the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Massacre
Tensions built from the Townshend Acts lead to the massacre. The Boston Massacre was the murder of five colonists. The British sent in troops to enforce the laws and taxes but also silence the protests. The colonists were infuriated and began to spread word of the massacre. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was a British attempt to save the British East Indian Company. This was the last straw for the colonists, they rufuse the Tea Act and will not buy tea. The Sons of Liberty boycott the ships carrying tea(Darthmouth, Beaver and Eleanor). The political protest is also referred to as the Boston Tea Party. As a result, the British close the port until the colonists pay for the tea that was dumped into the ocean. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were the British punishing the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The British were reinforcing authority.The first act was the Port of Boston being closed until the destroyed tea was paid for, The second act was that a royal governor had the ability to ban town meetings. The third act was that British officials accused of crimes could be tried in Britain rather then Massachusetts. The final act was the quarterly act, British soldiers could get housing and food. -
Quebec Act
The British want to please the French and give them Quebec. The boundries are extended in Quebec and this gives French Canadians religious freedom. The colonies are unhappy due to loss of land and religious feedom. The conflict unifies the colonies and they start to view themselves as American.
