Tensions between colonists and the British: Taxation and Tea duties, Boston Tea party; the Coercive acts and their impact. Flashcards
What were the key differences between colonial and British Society in terms of religion? How did this affect the relationship between the colonists and Britain?
Most of the colonists settlers were protestant, largely because they faced persecution at home.
What were the key differences between colonial and British Society in terms of the economy? How did this affect the relationship between the colonists and Britain?
Skilled workers were able to command a much higher wage than they did in Europe due to the scarcity of labour. Most American men worked and owned they land, rather than renting from a landlord class like back in Britain.
This created a sense of inequality and resentment amongst the two.
What were the key differences between colonial and British Society in terms of political participation? How did this affect the relationship between the colonists and Britain?
American colonists had much higher political participation than their British counterparts, Each colony was governed by a governor appointed by the Crown and a legislative assembly. The voting franchise was in most cases, 50% of the population and even 80% in some areas. This was in stark contrast to Europe, where only 1 in 10 men had the right to vote.
The majority of men were used to participating in the political process, and its fair to say they practiced their own government in a form of democracy. This meant that when tensions between the two increased, a much higher proportion of people were politicised and able to speak out against the British, providing a forum for debate of British laws.
Why was Britain trying to raise taxes?
Had just fought the 7 years war, and government debt repayments were 4.4 million a year when government income was only 8 million.
The defence budget had risen from 70,000 to 350,000.
It was believed that a permanent army of 10,000 men was needed to keep North America stable, which was obviously very expensive.
What where the 1767 Townshend duties and why where they so inflammatory?
From 1767, The Townshend duties were introduced, a series of tariffs on the import of glass, wine, China, lead, paint, paper and Tea. They were expected to raise 40,000 pounds annually.
Colonists like Benjamin Franklin argued against the Stamp Act and the other Townshend duties, stating that Britain had no right to raise taxes internally, and the only fair way to raise revenue was through the colonial assembly. The Massachusetts Assembly published a condemning report of the Duties under the slogan “no taxation without representation,” and the other colonies were quick to follow suit.
What caused the Boston Massacre? What happened?
On March 5th 1770, tensions in Boston exploded into Britain firing into a crowd whipped up by the sons of liberty.
Why?
- People were rioting on market day
- BR stationed 600 troops in Boston to ‘keep the peace’ but this only angered the population.
- The taxation polices.
5 People were killed, including Crisps Attucks, one of the protests leaders.
by 1770, what was the makeup of the political atmosphere?
Split firmly into Patriots and Loyalists…
The patriots where American colonists who opposed British taxation. Made up between 40-45% of the population.
In September 1771, Sam Adams created the committee of correspondence in Massachusetts which was a powerful tool as it could not be controlled by the British. By 1774, 11 of the 13 colonies had one.
Loyalists where those who supported British control, made up around 20%, and where spread out across the 13 colonies, making it difficult for them to organise.
What was the significance of the Tea Acts and the Boston Tea party?
The Tea Act of 1773 was introduced to prevent the EIC going bankrupt, as it suffered during the Bengal famine of 1772 finically. Allowed the EIC to trade directly with America rather than obeying Mercantilist polices, EIC tea could now compete with smuggled Tea the colonists enjoyed, and this was the final nail in the coffin.
The committees of correspondence were outraged and encouraged civil disobedience. On the 16th of December, after a dispute about the docking of three British ships, 60 members of the Sons of liberty boarded the ships and through 342 chests of tea overboard, costing 10,000 pounds.
The British were outraged, locked down Boston and Massachusetts and took the state under martial law. In retaliation, Britain introduced the Coercive acts in 1774 which said that:
The ports in Boston where to close until the tea was payed for…
Gave greater powers to British military commanders…
Trials for criminals could be transferred to England
The charter of the colony was revised so that the governor could remove officials, and as a result, Hutchinson was replaced by Cage as commander in chief of the army.
