The Problem of

Empire

The Flow of History

Why did the colonists believe their only option was war with
England?

England had upheld its colonial commitments by protecting the

colonies from French aggression.

In protecting the colonies the English had taken on huge debt and
were forced to maintain military garrisons in the colonies.

A Quick Recap

The French and Indian War leaves Great Britain in possession of

most of North America, East of the Mississippi River and all the
way north through Canada.

The War is hugely expensive and leave the British maintaining a

large garrison in North America.

The question for the British will be how to pay down their war
debts.

First point of conflict The Proclamation Line of 1763

The End of Salutary Neglect

The Sugar Act

The Sugar Act is a replacement for the unenforced Molasses Act of 1732.

The new British Prime Minister, George Grenville and would vow to end
corruption, smuggling and inefficiency.

This also means he planned to enforce the NAVIGATION ACTS.

To carry this out, Grenville gets Parliament to authorize writs of assistance

British Warships can now search colonial vessels without cause.

All smuggling trials will be held in a British Admiralty Court.

No Jury!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxdHoyHpVRI

Excellent song and film, made my 6th graders (Not to make any of you feel
inadequate)

Cont.
The British Rationale

The colonials should be taxed for

the cost of keeping up the
empire at a comparable rate to
those living in Britain.

The Colonial Response

No Taxation Without
Representation!

Britain had no right to tax the

colonies unless the colonies had
representation in the British
parliament.

The did not believe in the British

Concept of Virtual
Representation.

The Currency Act

The British Rationale

Required colonists to pay in

currency aka gold and silver.

The colonists preferred to pay in

inflated paper currency.

Inflated money benefits people in

debt.

The Colonial Response

Mercantilism drained the colonies

of resources and created a trade
deficit.

They felt they lacked the

resources to pay actual currency.

The Stamp Act

The British Rationale

The British imposed the tax on

the colonists for their own
protection.

The Colonial Response

The Stamp Act created the first

unified colonial resistance.

Colonial leaders organized the

Stamp Act Congress to protest.

The tax would cover the cost of

maintaining a British military
garrison in North America.

Held in NYC, attended by 27

delegates from 9 colonies.

No Taxation Without
Representation

James Otis

Patrick Henry

Resistance to the
Stamp Act

To resist the Stamp Act, colonial leaders call

for a boycott of all British goods.

Merchants sign agreements forbidding the

import of goods.

This hits the British hard, because of all

British manufactured goods are sold to the
American colonies.

The Sons and Daughters of Liberty are formed

to enforce the boycott. They burn effigies of
tax collectors.

The Boycott is so successful that the Stamp

Act is repealed in 1766.

The Declaratory Acts

The British Rationale

Parliament would back down on a

particularly hated tax, but would
maintain British Supremacy. (The
Boycotts Work!)

The Colonial Reaction

Gleeful at the effectiveness of

the Boycott/protests BUT
overlooked the implications of
the Declaratory Act.

Based on the Irish

Declaratory Act which was
meant to force a colony into
a subservient role.