British on the FrontierAfter the French and Indian War, British

stopped giving gifts to the IndiansSquatters moved into Indian lands (Indian

feared the British would support this)o As a result many Indians (Pontiac – Ottawa) led

attacks against the British in 1763 – Pontiac’s Rebellion

o Indians suffered food & ammunition shortages as well as a small pox outbreak

o Peace achieved in 1766

Proclamation of 1763In an effort to pacify the Indians, British

passed the Proclamation of 1763o Respect Indian land rights and control colonial

expansion

Molasses Act 1733 -Presentation

Writs of AssistanceDue to the Molasses Act in 1733 and the

increase in taxation, many colonists turned to smuggling to bring goods into the colonies

o Often this led to trading with the French, which hurt the British in the French and Indian War

o As a results Writs of Assistance were issuedBasically these were search warrants that allowed British

officials to enter homes or businesses that they suspected had smuggled goods

This was effective in reducing smuggling, but was intrusive in the fact that it allowed officials to ransack homes without Probable Cause

Sugar Act 1764 - Presentationo Sugar Act allowed colonies to export goods to

other countries (lumber, iron, skins, etc)o Many confusing forms to fill out (if not filled

out properly, cargo could be seized)o British thought it would bring in more revenue

as the tax was lowered from 6 pence to 3 pence (molasses) – less likely to smuggle (still cheaper to smuggle as custom inspectors were paid 1.5 pence bribe)

o Smugglers tried in juryless vice-admiralty courts, not colonial courts (with jury)

• Stamp Act 1765 – Presentationo Needed due to British citizens paying 26

shillings a year in taxes; colonists paying 1.5o Colonists argued that it was wrong with no

representation in Parliament; Prime Minister claimed they were “virtually represented” as Parliament tried to take care of all subjects

o This tax affected everyoneo Colonists understood need to be loyal to the

Crown, but felt they should be self-governed

• Opposition to the Stamp Act– Violent protest; destruction of homes and

business (of stamp collectors)– Led to the formation of the Sons of Liberty

• Controlled violence; less destruction• Eventually led to the boycotting of British goods• Due to economic loss (in Britain), Stamp Act

repealed in 1766

• Quartering Act – Presentation– New York had the most British soldiers in it –

bore the brunt of the cost of quartering soldiers- refused to comply with this.

• Townshend Acts - Presentations– A series of taxes to specifically raise money to

reduce debt (glass, lead, paint, paper & tea)– Never brought in as much money as the

British had hoped, but did stir up the colonists– Townshend also wanted to use the revenue to

create a pool of money to pay colonial royal governors

• Colonial response to the Townshend Acts– Letters started circulating condemning the taxations

without representation and Britain paying of royal governors not the colonies. (Samuel Adams – Mass.)

– Parliament saw the letters as the “seeds of rebellion” and ordered the letters recalled – Massachusetts refused to do this

– Boycotted many goods– Many British officials started really supervising trade;

used paid informants to find violations• Informers were often tarred and feathered if found• Goods seized on technicalities (John Hancock)• Colonists had voluntary agreements not to consume Tea –

lack of income led to Townsend Acts dying

• British troops landed in America in 1768 to try and stop violence– March 1770 Crispus Attucks shot while

protesting outside a Boston custom office – known as the Boston Massacre (John Adams defended the British troops)

– Sam Adams convinced Boston town councils to provide for Committee’s of Correspondence

• To link all colonies together to encourage colonial liberties

Tea Act– British East India Company had exclusive

monopoly to tea to America– Boston Tea Party

• Most destructive response to date• Some colonists saw this as a heroic act; other saw

them as radicals

Intolerable Acts– Series of Act to try and restore order in the

colonies• Boston Port Bill

– Closed Boston Harbor (Bostonians had to pay British East India Company for damages)

– Restricted public assemblies

• Quartering Act was reinstated• Canceled Mass. Charter• Quebec Act

– Extended Quebec’s control down into the Ohio region.