causes of revolution Flashcards
1
Q
The Sugar Act 1764
- short term causes of the revolution
A
- introduced in 1764, to reduce the duty on foreign molasses from 6d a gallon to 3d
- primarily affected New England (where distillers turned molasses into rum)
- there was no opposition in Parliament, as they were out of touch with the colonies
- angered colonists, but was not most significant in prompting a revolution
2
Q
The Currency Act 1764
- short term causes of the revolution
A
- banned colonial paper money and enforced a currency on colonists
- led to deflation after Seven Years War - Economic depression had hit colonies at the same time
- angered many colonists and kindled their suspicions
- Britain was taxing Americans who were not rep. in parliament
- more significant than Sugar Act and more economically damaging
3
Q
The Stamp Act 1765
A
- introduced to raise money for Britain (raised £60,000 in first year)
- required that stamps were affixed to 50 items including legal docs, playing cards etc
- economic consequences which affected most people in colonies, leading to outcry across colonies
- British were horrified by Mob violence in America
- eventually repealed in March 1766 but Declaratory Act passed at same time
- very significant as it was the first time that the colonies worked together to stand up against the British.
4
Q
How significant were the Townshend Duties in provoking revolution?
A
- colonial resistance to Townshend measures developed more slowly than had been the case in 1765, and affected all colonists
- John Dickinson - ‘Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer’ (1768) argued that Parliament did not have the right to tax them without their consent
- in late September 600 troops arrived with bad feeling between colonists and troops
- very significant - troops provided from Britain so aware of outrage
5
Q
The Boston Massacre
A
- 23rd Feb 1770: suspected customs informer killed 11 year old boy during riot. Sons of Liberty turned funeral into political event - 5000 attended
- 2-5th March: pitched battle between factory workers and soldiers
- 5th March: soldiers guarding customs house attacked by mob with snowballs. Troops opened fire, killing five
- Sam Adams’ political propaganda sold this as a massacre and funerals were big political demonstrations
6
Q
what caused the Boston Massacre?
A
- unrest between the colonists and the British
- Massachusetts assembly voted not to rescind the letter and was dissolved - worsened matters - Sons of Liberty now had another issue to campaign.
- by 1768, Boston had a cadre of disciplined men who countered each British move
- in late September 1768, 600 British troops arrived in Boston, Boston newspapers reported stories of brutality.
7
Q
The Tea Act
10 May 1773
A
- designed to save The East India Company rather than assert parliamentary sovereignty over colonies
- the Tea Act abolished British duties on the company’s tea whilst obliging Americans to continue paying the duty levied under the Townshend legislation
8
Q
The Boston Tea Party
16 December 1773
A
- a protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston following the Tea Act
- 60 Sons of Liberty men boarded the 3 tea ships and threw 342 tea chests into the harbour (worth c. £10,000)
- colonists objected to the Tea Act, believing it violated their rights as Englishmen to ‘no taxation without representation’
9
Q
Massachusetts Government Act
(Coercive / intolerable Acts)
A
- allowed the royal governor to appoint and remove most civil officials
- town meetings could not be held without permission
- thought that it altered the basic structure of colonial government and vowed to block its implementation
10
Q
Boston Port Act
(Coercive / intolerable Acts)
A
- closed Boston to all trade until the destroyed tea had been paid for
- believed all colonies had to unite against taxation or they would lose their rights, 1 by 1 until they were all gone
11
Q
Impartial Administration of Justice Act (coercive / intolerable acts)
A
- provided for the transfer to Britain for murder trials
- believed it would allow British officers to get away with murdering colonists
12
Q
Quartering Act (coercive / intolerable acts)
A
- gave broader authority to military commanders seeking to house their troops
- further enraged colonists by having what appeared to be foreign soldiers boarded in American cities and taking their authority
13
Q
Quebec Act (coercive / intolerable acts)
A
- planned to solve the problems of governing French inhabitants of Canada
- increased British control of religion, land distribution and colonial government in North America granted by the act.
14
Q
when did the coercive acts begin?
A
- with the passing of the Boston Port Act in March 1774.
