happy constitution day!

Happy Constitution Day!

Relations with the British

• Mercantilism- colonies exist to benefit the mother country

• “Salutary neglect”-England relaxes enforcement of its regulations• BOTH SIDES HAPPY by 1750s

Colonies supply mothercountry with raw materialsand buy manufactured goods

Triangular trade- trade route between the Americas, Africa, and Europe

• Raw materials from colonies?• Goods from Europe?• Africa?

(1750 America…) Native Americans

• Key source of conflict: Native Americans did not believe in land ownership

• By 1750, most are west of Appalachians• Tend to be ALLIED with theFrench

After French and Indian War

• British debt is doubled• Territory under its control is expanded– Bigger army needed

• Pontiac’s Rebellion- Natives in Ohio River Valley rebelling

• George Grenville (Prime Minister)-What should Britain do?

Proclamation of 1763

• Colonists barred from moving into area west of the Appalachians

George Grenville- Prime Minister

• Decides to tax colonies

Sugar Act- 1764

• Purpose: tax on imported molasses • Effect: tougher enforcement of colonial

smuggling

Stamp Act

• Purpose: taxes legal documents– Wills, diplomas, marriage papers, playing cards– 1st INTERNAL TAX

• Effects in colonies– Riots– Fires– Tar and feathering– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWZ925zK0A

Organized resistance

• Patriots- opposed to taxes• Sons of Liberty– Leaders of protests– Sam Adams leads in Boston– Some violent intimidation

Sons of Liberty-Violent resistance

• August 1765- stamp collectors office torn down; house damaged

• October 1765- Governor Hutchinson’s house burnt down

Key Question:

• WHY WERE THE COLONISTS UPSET ABOUT THE STAMP ACT?

Sourcing Questions:What newspaper does this come from? What would you predict the author’s perspective will be on the Stamp Act? Was it written before or after the Stamp Act went into effect? (Nov. 1, 1765)

Context Questions:What happened in Boston? Why is the author surprised? Who reads the newspapers, according to the author? According to this document, why were colonists upset about the Stamp Act?

• PLEASE HAVE YOUR “RAFT LETTER” (WITH THE PINK ASSIGNMENT SHEET) AND STAMP ACT QUESTIONS FROM YESTERDAY OUT

• Why do the colonists see the Stamp Act as a violation of their rights?

CORROBORATING: Looking at all 3….

• WHY WERE THE COLONISTS UPSET ABOUT THE STAMP ACT?

• Was the Stamp Act unreasonable or unfair?• Were the British violating colonists’ rights?• How were the colonists behaving in response?• Some historians argue that the American Revolution

happened because a few rich leaders riled up all the poor people. Do these documents provide evidence for this argument? Is that evidence believable?