Colonial Governments in the 18th Century

the colonial governments had power to pass laws and create taxes. they also decided how the colony's tax money should be spent. they also elected their own assemblies.

1) in 1755 the british sent 1400 british soldiers to virginia and the march there was a disaster. 2/3 of the soldiers were killed. this showed that the british weren't quite ready for war and they needed more time to prepare a battle tactic. 2) the turning point came in 1759 when british captured canada. in 1763, britain and france agreed to sign a peace treaty that ended the war after 7 years. france gave canada to great britain.

the outcome of the war was important because britain now controlled a large american empire. they could now continue to expand. they had a bright hope for the future.

colonists could not settle past the appalachian mountains. they couldn't go west of them.

colonists argued in letters and articles that it was tyranny, an unjust use of government power.

the government ignored them and sent more troops over.

colonists had to buy a stamp for any paper they used, including newspaper and cards.

they argued in letters and articles, refused to buy stamps, and attacked tax collectors.

they repealed the stamp act.

colonists had to provide soldiers with supplies and had to house them.

the new york assembly did not vote for any funds for salt, vinegar, and liquor.

they refused to let the new york assembly meet because the assembly decided not to vote for any funds. they also ignored the protests.

PRO: the indians need to have land and it would help create less conflict between the colonists and the indians. CON: many colonists went to america for land and the east half was already mostly settled so they wanted to go west.

PRO: people in britain were paying taxes on everything already, and the colonists were british citizens so they should be treated the same. CON: the british government didnt decideon the law with representation of the colonies, so the colonies had no say whether they wanted to be taxed or not.

PRO: the soldiers were there to protect the colonies from foreign attack, so colonists should help pay for them. CON: the colonists didnt ask for the soldiers, and the soldiers werent doing anything except taking up space. it was like an act laying taxes.

the townshend acts placed a tax on certain goods like glass, paint, paper, and tea. parliament passed them because charles townshend told them to because they needed to pay for the soldiers they sent to america.

lord north decided to repeal them because the townshend acts were losing britain money. he got parliament to repeal all of them except for the tax on tea.

they said that they were just minding their own business when the british soldiers began shooting them

they said that the patriots were antagonizing the british soldiers by shoving them to the ground and calling them names. they said that the soldiers fired in self defense.

he was the lawyer of the british soldiers even though he was a patriot. he agreed with both sides and believed that the soldiers deserved a fair trial.

the boston massacre and the repeal of taxes under the townshend acts began a period of calm across the colonies.

PRO: colonists could get the tea cheap and it tasted better. the tea also was cheaper to buy then smuggling in the dutch tea. CON: colonists still saw it as a way to tax them without consent.

they didnt like it because they were loyal to the king, and they wanted the tea but because the patriots attacked the ships so the didnt get the tea. it was all dumped into the harbor.

they saw it as a victory. they had won a small battle with england by dumping the tea. they proved their point.

he decided that the issue was no longer about taxes but about britain's control over the colonies. he became very angry and placed harsh laws on the colonies.

1) closed boston harbor to all shipping until the tea was paid for. 2) placed the government of massachusetts firmly under british control. they had to have governor's permission to hold a town meeting. 3) british soldiers who were accused of murder would be tried in england, not in the colonies. 4) more soldiers were sent to boston to make sure colonists followed the laws.

1) i agree with the boycott of british goods because it hurt britain's economy and they lost money. also, nothing physical took place. 2) i agree with the uniting of the colonies. instead of one small colony against big britain the colonies united america against britain. there's strength in numbers.

partick henry brought the idea that all of the colonies ahould think of themselves as one whole america and not separate places.

they decided that they should send a respectful message to king george, they called for a boycott of british goods, and they agreed to meet the following may if the boycott didnt get the intolerable acts repealed.

1) british troops leave boston and march to concord to seize gunpowder and weapons. 2) paul revere and william dawes warned colonists that the british were coming. 3) minutemen and british troops fight in lexington. 4) british troops continue to concord and searched for the gunpowder and weapons. 5) british troops cant find the supplies so they set the city on fire. 6) colonists fight british soldiers at concord's north bridge. 7) the british troops retreated back to boston after the americans attacked and many were killed.

a small army made up of ordinary citizens who are available to fight in an emergency

the unjust use of government power. a ruler who uses power in this way is called a tyrant.

to take back, or to cancel, a law.

to refuse to buy one or more goods from a certain source. an organized refusal by many people is also called a boycott.

american colonists who believed that the colonies had the right to govern themselves

american colonists who were loyal to the british government

the colonies were busting with growth by 1750. the british government had mostly left the colonies alone to solve their own problems. because of this, americans learned how to govern themselves. the assemblies that were elected had the power to pass laws, create taxes, and decide how the colony's tax money should be spent.

the colonists were upset because parliament decided to make them buy stamps without their consent. they felt that they shouldve had representation in parliament so they could decide whether they wanted to be taxed or not. because they didnt have representation, the colonies were upset.

the tea act was lord north's attempt to rescue the british east india company. the american boycott hurt the company badly and it was going to go broke if they couldnt sell the 17 million pounds of tea. the tea act lowered the cost of tea in the colonies. it was made to try and trick the colonists into buying the tea, but they werent so easy to fool.

it was a fight that broke out between colonists and soldiers in boston. on march 5, 1770 a mob started throwing rocks and snowballs at troops. they also yelled nasty names. someone knocked a soldier to the ground and the troops panicked and open fired. 5 bostonians were dead and 10 were injured after this.

in april 1775, a spy told general cage that colonists were hiding a large supply of gunpowder and weapons in concord. 700 troops began to march to concord. it was supposed to be a surprise but patriots knew everything. paul revere and william dawes warned colonists that the british were coming. minutemen gathered in lexington to try and stop the soldiers. the british arrived and a shot was fired. 8 colonists died and 10 were wounded. this says that the colonists were determined to get their independence. they would do anything.

~French and indian war: british troops took over canada and signed a treaty with the french in 1763. ~proclamation of 1763: said that colonists could not go west of the appalachian mts. colonists needed to be able to expand. ~stamp act (1765): britain needed to pay off debts from the french and indian war. required colonists to buy a stampfor every piece of paper used. colonists said it was unfair tax because they hadnt had a say on it. ~quartering act: colonists had to house and provide supplies for troops. colonists said unfair becuz the troops were just taking up space and not doing anything. ~townshend acts: required colonists to pay a tax onj glass, paper, paint, and tea. colonists boycotted british goods and sent letters protesting. ~boston massacre: brawl between colonists and soldiers. 5 colonists died, 10 wounded. ~tea act: sold tea for very cheapbut colonists thought it was a sneaky way to tax them ~tea party: dumped all tea shipped to boston into the harbor ~intol. acts: closed boston harbor, massachusetts government under brit control, soldiers were tried in britain, and more troops sent ~lexington: troops go to find supply of gunpowder in concord and stopped at lexington where minutemen were waiting. b died, 10 wounded. (1775) ~concord: soldiers couldnt find supplies and set concord on fire. minutemen fired at british at the north bridge and 74 soldiers died and 200 were either wounded or missing. (1775)