Turmoil Over Taxation (Chapter #5, Sections #2+3)
Setting The Scene:
The French and Indian War had plunged Britain deeply into debt. By 1760, Britain had driven France from the Ohio RiverValley and began heading west into that region. In 1762, the British sent Lord Jeffrey Amherst into the frontier. Amherst raised the price of trade goods and built farms and forts on Native American lands. The western frontier led to pressure between Native Americans, colonists, and the British government. In 1763 an Ottawa chief named Pontiac led other Native American nations to capture FortDetroit and other British forts in the OhioValley. Pontiac’s War ended with the Treaty of Paris in Oct. 1763. Britain’s response to these and other events was a series of acts passed over the next ten years. Increasingly unpopular in the American colonies, each act brought the colonies closer to war with Britain.
British Perspective:
Because Britain had spent a great deal of money, military, and time to protect the colonies from the French during the French and Indian War, the fury of the colonists shocked the British. In addition, citizens in Britain were paying much higher taxes. “Our colonies must be the biggest Beggars in the World, if such small Duties appear to be intolerable Burdens in their Eyes.”
Colonists’ Perspective:
Each act passed by Britain was viewed as unjust. No taxation without representation (a concept rooted in English tradition) was emphasized. Since the colonists did not elect the representatives to Parliament, Parliament had no right to tax them.
Your Task:
You may work alone, with a partner, or in a group of three. Read through the acts passed by Britain (on back). Pick one and design a propaganda piece that protests the act. Select a format from the project list and use the rubric to meet all content and presentation requirements.
Project List:
Poster / Banner / 3-5 minute speech Political cartoon / 20 line poem
2 artifacts (buttons, hats, bumper stickers) / 1-4 minute rap
Web page / 1-4 minute song
Pamphlet / Newsletter / 1 minute TV commercial
2 page newspaper editorial / 3-5 minute play / skit
2 page creative short story / 3-5 minute movie
You may do something not included on this list as long as it is discussed with and approved by me.
The Acts:
#1. The Proclamation of 1763
Drew an imaginary line along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains and forbid the
colonists to settle west of that line. All colonists west of the line were to remove
themselves at once. In addition, Britain sent 10,000 troops to the colonies for
enforcement at the expense of the colonists, who were forced to pay for the troops.
#2. The Sugar Act (1764)
A new, reduced tax on molasses. The previous tax was so high that it led to smuggling
& bribes. Renewed and tighter enforcement was exercised to ensure the tax was paid.
#3. The Stamp Act (1765)
This act taxed print materials. Documents (including wills, diplomas, marriage papers,
newspapers, & almanacs) were taxed as well as playing cards & dice. All items were
required to carry a stamp that showed the tax had been paid. One British official
claimed, I will “cram the stamps down American throats” at the point of my sword.
#4. The Townshend Acts (1767)
These acts taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea. They also set up new
ways to collect taxes using writs of assistance, legal documents allowing inspection of a
ship’s cargo without giving a reason. Colonists protested because under British law, a
government official could not search a person’s property without good reason for
suspecting that the person had committed a crime.
#5. The Quartering Act (1767)
Under this law colonists had to provide housing, candles, bedding, and beverages to
soldiers stationed in the colonies.
#6. The Tea Act (1773)
This allowed the British East India Company to bypass colonial tea merchants and sell
directly to the colonists. Merchants lost money and colonists protested, believing it was a
British trick to make them accept Parliament’s right to tax the colonies.
#7. The Intolerable Acts (1774)
These acts:
- Shut down Boston harbor until colonists paid for the tea destroyed & the damage to personal property during the Boston Tea Party.
- Forbade town meetings more than once a year without the governor’s permission.
- Allowed customs officers and other officials charged with major crimes to be tried in Britain or Canada instead of Massachusetts.
- Required colonists to house British soldiers in their homes when no other housing was available.