3.3 - Taxation without Representation

Rise of Colonial Awareness and Dissent

• John Adams's Observation: By the 1760s, colonists were increasingly conscious of their liberties and determined to defend them against perceived British encroachments.

• Shift in British Policy: Post-Seven Years’ War, Britain intensified its enforcement of trade laws and began imposing direct taxes, leading to widespread colonial discontent.

Key Legislative Acts and Colonial Responses

1. The Proclamation of 1763: Restricted settlement west of the Appalachians to avoid conflicts with Native Americans; met with colonial defiance.

2. Sugar Act (1764): Imposed duties on foreign sugars and luxuries, tightened enforcement of Navigation Acts; accused smugglers faced admiralty courts without juries.

3. Quartering Act (1765): Required colonies to house and supply British troops, further straining colonial resources and goodwill.

4. Stamp Act (1765): The first direct tax on the colonies, requiring stamps on all printed materials. Sparked widespread protest and the formation of the Stamp Act Congress which asserted that only colonial legislatures could tax the colonies.

Colonial Unity and Protest

• Stamp Act Congress (1765): Delegates from nine colonies met and declared that only their elected representatives had the authority to levy taxes.

• Sons and Daughters of Liberty: Formed to oppose Stamp Act enforcement, often using intimidation and violence against British officials.

• Boycotts and Economic Pressure: Widespread boycotts of British goods were highly effective, leading to significant economic impact in Britain.

Repeal and Continued Conflict

• Declaratory Act (1766): Accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act; asserted Parliament's authority to legislate for the colonies in all cases, setting the stage for renewed disputes.

• Townshend Acts (1767): Imposed new duties on tea, glass, and paper to pay colonial officials, bypassing colonial assemblies. Led to renewed protests and boycotts.

  • Writ of Assistance: These acts also authorized the use of general warrants allowing customs officials to search any location for smuggled goods without specific cause, further inflaming concerns about violations of personal liberties.

Crisis Deepens

• Boston Massacre (1770): Tensions escalated when British troops fired on a crowd in Boston, killing five, including Crispus Attucks. The incident was heavily publicized by Samuel Adams as a massacre, intensifying anti-British sentiments.

  1. Propaganda: The widely circulated engraving by Paul Revere, depicting the incident as a brutal massacre, served as powerful propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment and rally colonial support against British policies.

Continued Dissent and Organizational Efforts

• Samuel Adams and the Committees of Correspondence (1772): Samuel Adams initiated these committees in Massachusetts to maintain colonial opposition against British policies through regular communication. This idea quickly spread, notably to Virginia, enhancing intercolonial unity.

• The Gaspee Incident (1772): Colonists attacked the British customs ship Gaspee as it ran aground in Rhode Island, symbolizing escalating resistance. This led to British attempts to enforce stricter control by trying suspects in Britain, increasing colonial grievances.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

• Background: In response to the financial troubles of the British East India Company, Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773, lowering tea prices but retaining the tax, which many colonists saw as an affirmation of Britain's right to tax them without representation.

• Event: To protest, colonists in Boston, disguised as American Indians, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, an act that received mixed reactions within the colonies.

The Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Reaction to the Boston Tea Party: British Parliament enacted the Coercive Acts to punish and regain control of Massachusetts, particularly Boston, viewed by many colonists as draconian measures:

  • The Port Act: Closed Boston's port until the tea was paid for.

  • The Massachusetts Government Act: Curtailed democratic processes by reducing the power of the local assembly and strengthening the royal governor's authority.

  • The Administration of Justice Act: Allowed royal officials accused of crimes in the colonies to be tried in Great Britain.

  • The Quartering Act (expanded): Allowed British troops to be housed in private residences throughout the colonies.

• Quebec Act (1774): Established Roman Catholicism as the official religion of Quebec, set up a government without a representative assembly, and extended Quebec’s boundaries south to the Ohio River. This act alarmed the Protestant, representative government-prone American colonists, intensifying fears of similar authoritative measures being applied to them.

Rising Demand for Independence

• Colonial Division: Intensified enforcement of British policies polarized colonial society. Supporters of the British measures included some segments of the merchant and planter classes, while opponents, particularly in New England, actively protested against these measures.

• Increasing Radicalization: As confrontations grew, more colonists were prepared to publicly advocate for independence, engage in protests, and financially support the resistance movement.