2. Enforcing the Colonial Relationship 1763-1774 Flashcards
1
Q
- What was Britain’s financial situation at the end of the 7 years war?
A
- Doubled national debt from war.
- Interest for debt was £4.4 mil a year.
- National income only £8 mil a year.
- Cost of maintaining colonies was £350,000 a year.
2
Q
When did the 7 years war end?
A
February 1763
3
Q
- Why did the American colonies benefit from the defeat of France in 1763?
A
- No French threat from Canada.
- Colonies on the frontier were hoping to exploit the land gained from France.
4
Q
- Why did it seem evident to many British politicians that imperial control over the colonies should be tightened in 1763?
A
- To defend against Native American skirmishes.
- To provide adequate government for the French Canadians.
- Policy needed to manage land settlement and the fur trade.
- Smuggling problems were becoming apparent.
5
Q
- What happened in Pontiac’s rebellion of May 1763 and why was it significant?
A
Knowing white settlers would continue to invade their lands, Ohio valley tribes rebelled against the British, led by Pontiac.
- British troops eventually defeated them which proved colonists could not be counted on for their own defence.
6
Q
- What was the 1763 Proclamation?
A
- Declared boundary of white settlement along Appalachian strip, intended to be temporary to control conflict.
- Frontier colonies angered as they felt they had the right to settle in land they ‘fought for’.
- Over 30,000 settlers ignored it and by 1767, Britain accepted the breakdown of the proclamation.
7
Q
- What were Grenville’s anti-smuggling measures of 1763?
A
- Colonial customs officials now had to live in colonies rather than delegating their duties.
- Smuggling cases went to a vice-admiralty courts in Nova Scotia with a judge and no jury.
8
Q
- What was the 1764 Sugar act and associated legislation?
A
- Lowered duty on foreign molasses and sugar to 3d per gallon instead of 6d.
- Aimed to be more enforceable and raise over £78,000.
- Added more items to the list of enumerated commodities such as wine and coffee, meaning they had to be shipped via Britain.
9
Q
- What was the currency act of 1764? And who was it aimed at?
A
- Banned Colonial paper money.
- Mostly aimed at Virginia who had issues vast quantities of paper money during the 7 years war.
10
Q
- What was the colonies response to Grenville’s measures of 1763/4?
A
- Angered many colonists, especially smugglers.
- Worried the vice-admiralty courts challenged the colonial legal system.
- Thought currency act was poorly timed during post war depression in colonies. Especially worried about deflation.
11
Q
- Why did the Sugar act and additional policies cause some Americans to be suspicious in 1764?
A
- Taxed without representation, showing parliament would control without consent.
- Suspicious their political and legal systems were being undermined.
- Suspicious of presence of standing army.
12
Q
- What American opposition was there in 1764?
A
- 9 colonies contacted parliament to tell them they had overstepped their power in raising revenue.
- Some pamphlets produced.
- Most colonists fine with it, giving Grenville the confidence for the Stamp act.
13
Q
When was the stamp act announced and due to come into effect?
A
Announced in 1764, to come into effect in 1765.
14
Q
- What was the Stamp act?
A
- Stamps now had to be bought for all ‘official’ documents w.g marriage licenses, tavern licenses, newspapers.
- Estimated to raise £60,000 in first year.
15
Q
- Why did the Stamp act provoke such violent reaction in the colonies?
A
- Almost all groups were affected by the act.
- Influential groups at the heart of communities affected most such as newspaper printers and tavern owners.
- First direct tax on colonies.
16
Q
14a. What were the Virginia resolves?
A
- Written by Patrick Henry in May 1765
- Said, ‘Colonists have rights of Englishmen’
‘ Colonists can only be taxed with proper representation’
‘ Colonists have the right to consent’
‘ only the house of Burgesses can tax Virginians’
17
Q
14b. What was the impact of the Virginia resolves?
A
- Spread ideas of consent for taxation.
- 8 other assemblies passed similar resolutions, colonies were uniting.
- Some Newspapers published 2 more extreme resolves from Patrick Henry which had not been passed but threatened violence/resistance.
18
Q
- What was the Stamp act congress?
A
- A Massachusetts proposed intercolonial meetings discussing common resolutions.
- 9 Colonies in attendance.
- Decided:
‘Stamp act subverted rights of colonists’
‘Only colonial assemblies could tax colonists’
‘Stamp act must be repealed and vice-admiralty courts abolished’
19
Q
When was the Stamp act Congress?
A
October 1765
20
Q
- Who were seen as the ‘real villains’ by colonists during the Stamp act crisis? And why?
A
- The ministers in British parliament such as Bute and Grenville.
- Believed they were conspiring to remove colonists liberties, and thought the standing army served as proof.
21
Q
- Why was popular protest so important during the Stamp act crisis of 1765?
A
- Took the debate from assemblies into a public movement.
- Showed British government how widespread the unrest was.
- Kept movement and unrest alive.
22
Q
- Outline the mob action that took place in Boston during the Stamp act crisis?
A
- Effigies of stamp officers (Oliver) and Bute burned/hung.
- Houses of stamp officers destroyed, forcing resignation.
- Sons of Liberty organise urban movement of resistance.
- Class resentment as rich colonials feared property destruction.
23
Q
- What economic sanctions were put in place by the colonists to protest the Stamp act?
A
- Many merchants signed a non-importation agreement.
- General population undertook a boycott of British goods which severely damaged British merchants and artisans.
24
Q
20a. When was the Stamp act repealled?
A
March 1766
25
Q
20b. Why was the Stamp act repealled?
A
- New Prime minister, Rockingham, felt parliament should exercise its right to tax less intensely.
- British manufacturers were calling for repeal to end boycott.
- Britain also lacked military power to enforce the act.
