The Road To Independance Flashcards
What was the purpose of the Sugar Act of 1764?
To cut the tariff on foreign made molasses and add regulations on shipping to better control colonial trade
Colonial merchants found the act more reasonable than the risks of smuggling.
What did the Stamp Act of 1765 tax?
Paper, certain legal documents, and playing cards
This was a direct tax on the colonists.
What does the slogan ‘No Taxation without Representation’ signify?
The belief that the British Parliament had no right to pass certain laws because it did not represent the American colonists.
What was declared by the Declaratory Act?
That the British Parliament had the power and authority to rule over the colonies in all cases.
Who spoke out against the Stamp Act?
James Otis, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry.
Fill in the blank: The only taxes Parliament could levy on the colonists were _______.
tariffs to regulate and manage trade.
Why could colonists not vote in parliamentary elections?
Colonists had no voice, so Parliament had no reason to listen to their concerns.
What actions did the Sons of Liberty take against British officials?
They harassed and threatened British officials as well as colonists who supported the Stamp Act.
What was the preferred method of opposition for most colonial leaders?
More peaceful means of opposition.
Who testified against the Stamp Act before Parliament?
Benjamin Franklin.
What was the outcome of Benjamin Franklin’s testimony?
The defects in the law became more obvious, leading to the repeal of the tax.
What did the Townshend Duties impose on goods?
Tariffs on goods made in England and shipped to the colonies.
Who wrote ‘Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania’?
John Dickinson.
What did John Dickinson argue in his letters?
Parliament could regulate colonial trade with foreign countries.
How were the new tariffs viewed by the colonists?
As a sneaky way for Parliament to tax the colonists.
What action did colonial leaders take in response to the new tariffs?
Called for a boycott of the taxed goods.
What did Parliament do in response to the boycott?
Sent two regiments of soldiers to Boston to keep order.
What sparked the Boston Massacre?
A crowd began taunting soldiers and throwing snowballs, ice, and sticks.
Who was killed during the Boston Massacre?
Crispus Attucks.
What action did Parliament take following the Boston Massacre?
Ended the Townshend Duties to persuade colonists to stop their boycott.
What was the Tea Act?
An act of the British parliament that granted a monopoly to the East India Company on sales of tea to the American colonies
The Tea Act was aimed at reducing the surplus of tea held by the East India Company.
What were the Committees of Correspondence?
Committees formed in response to the Tea Act that allowed colonies to share information via letters and coordinate their opposition to Parliament
These committees played a crucial role in uniting the colonies against British policies.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
A protest where Bostonians, some dressed as Indians, dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act
This act of defiance occurred on December 16, 1773.
What is a blockade?
The use of naval forces to stop shipping
Blockades were often used during conflicts to restrict supplies.
