Conflicts in the Colonies

Conflict in the Colonies1. Native Americans

-land-religion

2. English Power-Mercantilism: England used colonies to provide

products they could not produce-Development of naval power-Desired a favorable balance of trade (when

exports exceed imports

Conflict Continued3. Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1663

-Passed to protect English mercantilism-Colonists were forced to use English ships and

trade directly with England4. Parliament forces James II out of power

-Demonstrates that Parliament has final say5. Monarchy changes colonies

-Enforce and tighten navigation acts-Parliament kept the right to veto any colonial

laws

Uniting for Peace– Albany Congress (1754)

• Ben Franklin• Colonial leaders and Iroquois leaders• Aid against the French• Both reject the idea– no treaty

Added Tension

• Relations with Native Americans worsen• Royal Proclamation of 1763: colonists could not cross the

Appalachian Mountains• England acquired a large debt from the war

Problems after the War

-Indians in the Ohio Valley revolt against British forts

-conflicts were becoming costly for Britain

-Proclamation of 1763stated that colonists could not cross the Appalachian Mtns

-Colonists ignored the law and continued to provoke Indians

Tensions Build

-British heavily in debt because of war

-standing British Army in the colonies

-Trading restrictions established to levy duties (taxes) on certain products

-smugglers avoid paying taxes

Tensions Build

-writs of assistance

-Sugar Actaffected merchants and traders

-protests began against taxation without representation

James Otis

Stamp Act

-Parliament passes Stamp Act

-placed a direct tax on the colonists

-required stamp on all legal documents, newspapers, license, and cards

-affected many colonists rich and poor

-Quartering Act, 1765

Townshend Acts

-new tax placed on imports such as tea, glass, paper, paint

-colonists again reacted with protests

-British reacted by sending more troops

Parliamentary Acts

• Sugar Act (1764)• Quartering Act (1765)• Stamp Act (1765)

– Stamp Act Congress– Repealed by Parliament (1766)

• Declaratory Act (1766)• Townshend Acts (1767)

Colonial Reactions• “No taxation without representation.”• “Virtual Representation”-felt unrepresented in Parliament• Sons of Liberty organize boycotts• Committees of Correspondence

– Organized colonial resistance against the crown• Merchants create non-importation associations not buy

British goods

Boston Massacre-March 1770

-protests by colonists

-British troops fire on crowd

-5 colonists killedCrispus Attucks

-Most soldiers found not guiltyJohn Adams served as attorney for the soldiers

http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/winter96/enlargement.html

The Revolutionary Cause• Boston center of colonial protest and

rebellion (strained heavily by acts)• British Army sent to enforce laws• Boston Massacre (1770) Townshend

Acts repealed

Boston Tea Party (1773)Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts

-harsh acts imposed to punish Boston-closed Boston Harbor-military governor over Boston

First Continental Congress – September 1774– Colonial representatives– Complete boycott of British goods, raise local militias, repeal all

Parliamentary laws

Divided Loyalty

• Loyalists/Tories-opposed independence; loyal to Britain

• Patriots/Whigs-supported the war with Britain; American colonists