Britain, having just won its wars for colonial supremacy, needed money and wanted to reestablish authority

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 1

“No taxation without representation” = Colonial British subjectsdid not feel they were being treated as equally as mainland subjects

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 2

EVENTS LEADING TO DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

Most colonists did not view any one of these events as being a reason enough to revolt. Over time, though, they all lead to general sense of anger.

• Colonists were printing paper money

• English creditors feared colonists would pay debts with worthless paper money

• Colonists were angry!

• All colonies were affected by this act

Currency Act of 1765

• Colonial rum distillers smuggling molasses and bribing customs officials

• Parliament wanted to raise money to defray expenses for protecting the colonies and end bribing and smuggling

• Colonists feared rum trade and New England economy would be ruined

• Mostly impacted New England

Sugar Act of 1764

• England continued to need money!

• Parliament – it’s a good source of revenue and covered many common items

• Colonists feared they were being denied the right of being taxed by their own

• All colonies were affected by this act

Stamp Act of 1765

• Britain needed to support its troops in America

• Parliament – wanted colonists to help pay for their protection

• Colonists –thought troops were oppressive and wanted representation!

• All colonies were affected by this act

Quartering Act of 1765

• Chancellor Exchequer Townshend wanted to find new income for England

• Parliament – these duties were a way to impose more control in colonies

• Colonists – began writing pamphlets; public protests

• First in New York and Boston and then ALL!

Townshend Duties of 1767

• British East India Company is in financial trouble

• Parliament – gave a monopoly to the company in all colonies

• Colonists – couldn’t import tea; lead to Boston Tea Party

• Boston and then all colonies

Tea Act of 1773

• Punishment for the Boston Tea Party

• Parliament – wanted to punish Boston and Massachusetts

• Colonists – established Committees of correspondence

• Boston symbolized the fight for freedom

Intolerable Acts of 1774