British Colonial Policy

Question 1

Results of the French and Indian war (1754-1763)

Answer 1

1) France relinquished North American Empire
2) England dominated lands east of Mississippi and Canada
3) Great Britain imposes taxes on colonists to help pay for the war

Question 2

Proclamation of 1763

Answer 2

Forbade Colonists from crossing boundary in the Appalachian Mountains

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Proclamation fo 1763

Answer 3

Avoid conflict between the trans- Appalachian Indians and colonists seeking inexpensive land

Question 4

Sugar Act of 1764

Answer 4

Replace Molasses Act of 1733, lowered the duty of imported molasses in an attempt to stop colonial smuggling

Question 5

Currency Reform (1764)

Answer 5

Forbade Colonies from issuing paper money

Question 6

Stamp Act 1765

Answer 6

1) Raised revenue to pay for Britain’s cost in defending colonies.
2) Required that certain documents be written or printed on paper carrying a stamp from the British Treasury Office
3) Affected nearly every aspect of colonial life. Most affected were lawyers merchants, editors (this with the best ability to voice opposition).

Question 7

Opposition to Stamp Act

Answer 7

1) Patrick Henry adopts Virginia Resolves

2) Stamp Act Congress

Question 8

Virginia Resolves

Answer 8

Denied that Parliament had the right to tax the colonists without their consent

Question 9

Stamp Act Congress

Answer 9

Rejected the concept of “virtual representation”

Agreed to resists all taxes not consented to by the Colonial Legislators

Question 10

Declaratory Act 1766

Answer 10

1) Parliament has absolute authority over the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”
2) Parliament had the authority to tax the colonies, in spite of colonial protests over the Stamp Act

Question 11

Affects of the Stamp Act Congress

Answer 11

1) Effectiveness of the widespread nonimportation agreements showed that the colonies could unite and work together and allowed for the creation fo resistance groups
2) Brought into focus the primary issues that existed between England and Colonies, the status of the colonists in the empire and the taxation powers of parliaments

Question 12

What was the role of the Sons of Liberty in the years leading up to the Revolution

Answer 12

Coordinated opposition throughout the colonies

Question 13

The Townshend Acts 1767-1770

Answer 13

William Pitt as Prime Minister and Charles Townshend as Chancellor of the Exchequer brought about new taxes and stricter enforcement of mercantile laws

Question 14

Why did the colonies oppose the import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea?

Answer 14

1) They were passes to regulate trade and therefore were in the right of Parliament to pass.
2) The stated purpose was “the support of civil govt, in such provinces as it shall be found necessary” that is they were used to raise money to defend colonies
3) colonists objected import duties because they were a tax measure to raise revenue, not a commercial regulation

Question 15

Board of Commissioners and Writs of Assistance

Answer 15

1) Townshend Acts established Board of Commissioners to enforce navigation acts and collect duties
2) writs or assistance (search warrants) used to search colonial homes
3) such invasion of privacy went against natural law with out the use of probable cause (James Otis)

Question 16

Opposition to Townshend Acts

Answer 16

1) As colonial resistance increased so did the number of British troops
2) Custom agents tarred and feathered. Troops harasses
3) Boston Massacre

Question 17

Boston Massacre 1770

Answer 17

1) British Soldiers fire upon hostile Boston crowd, killing five.
2) event publicized in papers as a massacre against defenseless colonist
3) used as propaganda by sons of liberty

Question 18

Tea Act 1773

Answer 18

1) implemented to help struggling British East India Company
2) Parliament allowed the direct shipment of tea from India to the colonies (reduce the price of tea sold in the colonies)
3) Meant that British tea could be purchased in the colonies for half the price as smuggled tea
4) Colonial tea smugglers to lead opposition to Tea Act

Question 19

What were the five Coercive or Intolerable Acts of 1774

Answer 19

Response to Boston Tea Party, Parliament retaliated with five acts
1. Boston Port Closed: until colonists payed for destroyed tea

2. MA. Government Act: altered MA charter of 1691, giving Britain greater control over the colony and limiting self-government
3. Administration of Justice Act: in the case of crime committed by officials the trial would be moved to England
4. Quartering Act 1774: Gave British officials authority to quarter troops wherever they chose
5. Quebec Act: Effort to maintain allegiance of the French.

Allowed Catholicisn and French Civil Law in Canada

Outraged colonists because it violated colonial charters, allowed religious freedom to Catholics

Question 20

Restraining Act of 1767

Answer 20

Disbanded the New York Assembly until it agreed to pay for the garrison supplies as outlined in the quartering act

Question 21

Townshend Revenue Act of 1767

Answer 21

Placed duties on various consumer items lke paper, paint, lead, tea, glass (import goods, Colonist could not produce them)

Question 22

Indemnity Act of 1767

Answer 22

exempted tea produced by the Britsh East Inda Company from taxation when it was imported into Great Britain

Question 23

Commissioners of Customs Act of 1767

Answer 23

1. Created an American Board of Customs to enforce trade laws
2. Severly curtailed smuggling

Question 24

Vice-Admiralty Court Act

Answer 24

1. .Established three more vice-admiralty courts in Boston, Philly, and Charleston
2. JUdges paid percentage of the worth of goods recovered leniency was rare