New Taxes and Tensions

1. New Taxes and Tensions Section 4 Chapter 5

2. Focus Questions • How did the colonists respond to the Townshend Acts? • Why were the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party significant events? • What was the purpose of the intolerable Acts?

3. The Townshend Acts • Parliament passed the Townshend Acts in June of 1767 which placed duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea • To enforce the acts the British officials used writs of assistance– allowed tax collectors to search for smuggled goods (violated colonists’ constitutional rights) • Colonists boycotted these products and women formed the Daughters of Liberty to support these actions

4. The Townshend Acts • Several colonial legislatures joined in the protest against the Townshend Acts • The Sons of Liberty began to attack the houses of custom (after John Hancock’s ship was seized) • Governor Francis Bernard broke up the Massachusetts legislature and British soldiers arrived in October of 1768 to occupy Boston

5. The Boston Massacre • Many people of Boston felt the troops were there to silence critics (especially Sam Adams) • On March 5, 1770, a mob grew and threw snowballs at British soldiers, shots were fired and several colonists were killed (Crispus Attucks)

6. The Boston Massacre • Sam Adams used the event for propaganda– information giving only one side of the argument • The shooting was called the Boston Massacre by the colonists

7. The Boston Massacre • John Adams defended Thomas Preston and the soldiers • Jury found the soldiers not guilty first degree murder • Two soldiers were found guilty of accidental murder and were branded on the thumb

8. A Tea Tax • Parliament repealed most of the Townshend Acts but it kept one tax on tea • The British East India Company was offered an opportunity to sell tea directly to colonists at a lower rate • This Tea Act was passed in 1773 • Colonial merchants and smugglers felt they would be put out of business

9. A Tea Tax • Some felt the East India Tea Company would gain a monopoly in colonies • Colonists united under the protest of the Tea Act

10. A Tea Tax • On the night of December 16, 1773 colonists disguised themselves as American Indians snuck onto the ships and dumped 342 tea chests into Boston Harbor • This would be known as the Boston Tea Party

11. The Intolerable Acts • In the Spring of 1774, Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts to punish Boston • Boston Harbor was closed until tea was paid for • The Legislature was not to meet again • Royal officials charged with a crime were sent to Britain to stand trial • Colonists were forced to quarter (house and supply) British soldiers • General Thomas Gage became the new governor of Massachusetts

12. The Intolerable Acts • Instead of making an example of Massachusetts it made more colonists angry • Mercy Otis Warren wrote plays that criticized the British soldiers and administration • Colonial leaders in Boston proposed a boycott of all British goods in the colonies and tried to bring together leaders to decide the best way to respond

13. Focus Questions • How did the colonists respond to the Townshend Acts? • Why were the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party significant events? • What was the purpose of the intolerable Acts?