Loss of American colonies 1770-83: Why did tensions between colonies and British reach point of no return 1770-75? Flashcards
How many English colonies were there in America?
13
Who was in charge of each colony?
governor appointed by British Crown and a legislative assembly
How did the colonists right to vote compare to that in England at the time?
high % (50% to 80% of the male population) could vote for the lower house. of the assembly, unlike in England where about 10% could vote
What was the role of each colony’s legislative assembly?
raising revenue to provide local services, pay local officials and pass local legislation
In what way did the assemblies start to do more than was their role?
discussion and protests about taxes following Sugar Act 1764
When was the Seven Years War?
1756-63
What land did Britain gain by end of Seven Years War?
French Canada, land east of Mississippi and most of French Caribbean islands
How many extra citizens did British Empire gain from French Canada?
80,000
What two groups did American colonies need defending from at end of Seven Years War?
French and Native Americans
Why did Britain not want American colonies to expand to the west?
Already enough land to have to defend from French and Native Americans likely to want to stop colonies expanding.
What size army did British believe would be needed to be based permanently in North America after Seven Years War?
10,000 men
How did Britain pay for the Seven Years War?
increasing national debt
At end of Seven Years War, what were the interest payment on national debt and how did that compare to government income?
interest of £4.4m
government income of £8m
How did Britain attempt to raise revenues from North America?
more effective collection of duties outlined in the Navigation Acts
What became the colonists “protest cry”?
no taxation without representation
What was the effect on Britain’s national debt of the Seven Years War?
increase from £75m to £133m
Give examples of what happened to some Agents of the Crown in the 1760s?
- house of Thomas Hutchinson, governor of Boston, was ransacked
- others were tarred and feathered
What were the Townshend Duties?
series of Acts passed from 1767 relating to collection of custom duties from the American colonies
Name seven items that Townshend Duties were applied to?
lead
glass
tea
paint
paper
wine
china
Which Assembly was suspended until it agreed to pay to support troops based there?
New York
Who led the Bostonian resistance?
Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams
Give three reasons why the Boston Massacre did not immediately lead to the American War of Independence.
- British repealed the Townshend Duties
- many colonies still loyal to British
- lack of unity between colonists
When were the Townshend Duties (except those on tea) repealed?
5 March 1770
Who proposed the Committee of Correspondence and when?
Samuel Adams in September 1771
What was the role of the original Committee of Correspondence?
to communicate in writing the colonial grievances to all towns in Massachusetts
Did all colonies set up a Committee of Correspondence?
all except North Carolina and Pennsylvania
When was the Tea Act introduced?
1773
What was the aim of the 1773 Tea Act?
to allow East India Company to trade directly with America (rather than previous requirement to trade through British ports) and therefore increase its profits
How would the Tea Act have increased profits of. East India Company?
EIC would be exempt from duties it would have paid at British ports, so tea cheaper so would sell more
How was the Tea Act supposed to increase duties for British government?
As no British duties, price lower so would sell more so more American duties
Which three ships were involved in the Boston Tea Party?
Dartmouth
Eleanor
Beaver
What were the cargoes worth on the three ships involved in the Boston Tea Party?
about £10k
What happened to the 342 chests of tea on the ships involved in the Boston Tea Party?
thrown overboard by 60 Sons of Liberty who boarded the ships
What were the four main aspects of the Coercive Acts 1774?
- closure of Boston port until all tea paid for
- allowing governor to appoint and remove most officials
- allowing murder trials to be transferred to England
- more powers to military commanders to arrange quartering of their troops
