Taxes on the colonies
The Murder Act
(The Involuntary Vacation Act). May 20, 1774. Jurisdiction - like act. If you commit or are charged with Murder or another capital offence in Massachusett's Bay, then the governor can move you somewhere else. For instance, he can ship you out to Great Britain for trial.
The Tea Act
... of May 10, 1773. You Ask....what has been going on the 8 years since the Stamp Act repeal? Good Question! There were the Two Townshend Duties (on tea as well) that were repealed in 1770 and a third still in force? The Tea Act was supposed to help the East India Company sell directly to agents in the colonies. However in the colonies it looked like Parliament was getting the colonists to pay a thrid Townshend Duty/ tax on tea. Especially since the East India Company now had a monopoly thanks to Parliament.
Intolerable Acts
.... of June 1st 1774. (Seems like Britain took a long time... was the tea party as big as we think? oor was it a teeeny party/) Ben Franklin does get a reprimand in January 1774! Eventually, British RESPONDS to the Boston Tea Party: (1) Boston Port Act (closed Boston pending repayment of tea); (2) Administration of Justice Act - giving governor power to exxport those accused of a capital crime: (3)Massachusetts Government Act - Altered Mass Charter by allowing King to appoint Council (v. elected by house of Representatives and no twon meetings), (4) Quartering Act (again?) and not quite in the same group (5) The Quebec Act June 22, 1776 (govt in quebec).
Boston Riot
...of Aug 26, 1765. Diary of riot (Uncle Andrew's Birthday BTW) (Think things HEAT UP over the summer in Boston). Boston mob, in protest of the Stamp Act proceeds to house of British Official "Chief Justice's" house. Diary of Josiah Qunicy states that he just managed to escape and valuable records were destroyed as well as everything of value in the house.
Patrick Henry
A Fast Virginia lawyer (famous as a result of Parson's Cause - a debate in Virginia). Also, a representative at the Virginia House of Burgesses (VA "elected" govt body), he persuaded it to adopt on May 30, 1765 (Think Men Moving Fast since may 30 is only 15 days after the Quartering Act) FIVE resolutions challenging Parliament's right to tax the colonies. He had more extreme ones but the House did not go that far.
Massachusetts Government Act
A long long proclamation.... Proclaiming that from August 1774 the charter from King William and Queen Mary is revoked and void. Mentions that the province of Massachusetts Bay has not been contributing (as if!). Mentions Boston. And there is a lot about his Majesty's governor having powers to appoint all sorts of officials.
The Declaration of the Stamp Act Congress
Ah HA! The Stamp Act Congress from October of 1765 makes a "Declaration" on October 19th 1765. (Looks like they're REITERATING the Virginia Resolves to start but they add lots of stuff). (1)Colonists get same rights as those in Britain. (2) No tax w/o consent (3) Only tax can come from people chosen "therein" (4) NEW Trial by jury is important (5)Stamp Act and other duties opposed stinks and subverts rights and liberties. (6) right to petition King, (7)call for repeal of Stamp Act (and more).
James Otis
An American writer who denounced (criticized ) the Stamp Act.
The Quartering Act
At the same session as the Stamp Act, British Parliament passed the Quartering Act (May 15, 1765). It was not a direct tax, but indirectly required colonists to house and feed, and furnish "officers and soldiers" with "diet and small beer, cider or rum," as well as be "placed in any buildings" and "furnished and supplied" with "fire, candles, vinegar, and salt, bedding, utensils... and small beer or cyder." It provided that provinces pay those housing solders with sums of money raised "in such a manner as the public charges... are raised." (taxes)
Petition by British Merchants
British merchants have role in the Repeal of the Stamp Act as they depend on exports to colonies. Jan 17, 1766 Merchants petition protesting losses because of Act. Believe act will hurt trade.
Repeal of Stamp Act
Cause: Sons of Liberty (colony wide) Pushed for Colonial Merchants to agree not to IMPORT European goods until Stamp Act was repealed and Sugar Act modified. (This led to a .... wait for it again.... "precipitous" (BIG) decline in consumption) By January 1766 Grenville's successor, the Marquis of Rockingham accepted colonists' and Merchants' request for a repeal. Britain Debates: William Pitt (British hero of 7 year's war)and Pratt praised colonists as heros v. Grenville). Ben Franklin gets involved and tries to make nice. In the end, on March 18, 1766 the Stamp Act is Repealed. HOWEVER, the Declaratory ACT (1766?) passes at the same time - stating that Parliament has "An absolute power of laying any tax upon America."
The Boston Tea Party
December 18, 1773 (Think TEA - THREE!) Voted by a "general muster" at the Old South Meeting House (Boston!) that tea should go out of the harbor. About 200 gathered upon Fort Hill and went to Griffin's warf, cloth'd in Blankets. Can't find it written but hear they dumped the tea in the harbor.
Daniel Dulany
English lawyer and resident of Maryland. Wrote a phamplet opposing "virtual" representation. "Considerations ofn the Propriety of Imposing taxes in the British Colonises, for the Purpose of Raising a Revenue, by Act of Parliament." (Long title - so DULL HA HA). (Published in October of 1765 - Section 5B of handout) While he was at it, he advocated a "legal, orderly" resistance.
Thomas Whatley
Friend of Grenville and essentially the British author of the Stamp Act. He wrote "The Regulations Lately Made" (Think "Whateley wrote Regs Lately") defending the Stamp Act and Britain's right to tax the colonies. (His writing was used to defend the Sugar Act as well). Whatley argued that colonists were "virtually" represented so they should be thrilled.
Finally... The Stamp Act Congress
In October of 1765, nine colonies participate in the Stamp Act Congress which adopted a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances" written by John Dickinson, a pennsylvania lawyer and "Penman of the Revolution" (think Dickinson college) who would become an advocate in constitutional debates.
The Quartering Act
June 2, 1774. Allows quartering of his majesty's troops in such manner "as is now directed by law." In force until March 24, 1776.
The Quebec Act
June 22, 1774 (not finished but outlining boundaries of some sort)
Sons of Liberty
June and November of 1765 Opposed the Stamp Act leading to riots in Boston. Move to "Nullify" act in all regions - Pushed for Colonial Merchants to agree not to IMPORT European goods until Stamp Act was repealed and Sugar Act modified. (led to a .... wait for it.... "precipitous" (BIG) decline in consumptions so that by January 1766 Britain was considering a repeal.
The Association and Resolves of the New York Sons of Liberty
Resolutions December 15, 1773 by New York (Finally these "extremists" get to do something in NY) about no taxation of free people without representation (Same as Tea Party). Resolved generally: those supporting Tea Tax are enemies to America. (Ask - did this encite the Boston crowd or vice versa?)
The Virginia Resolves
Resolutions by the House of Burgesses on May 30, 1765 (Think: w/Pat Henry, Men Moving Fast.... Only 15 days after the Quartering Act... ) Virginia calls people to resist stating (1) colonists have "all Liberties, Privileges" etc of people of Great Britain. (2) Taxation by chosen representative is the only fair way to tax.
The Stamp Act
Welcome to MARCH (think rhyms with START) of 1765. First Minister George Grenville (think "eville") gets the British House of Commons and Parliament to levy the stamp act in March of 1765. It required colonists to pay a tax on by way of stamp duties. Tis included tax on "legal papers, commercial papers, liquor licences, land instruments, indentures, cards, dice, phamplets, newspapers, advertisements, almanacs, academic detrees and appointments to office."
Boston (N0 im/ex) Port Act
of March 31, 1774 (Think Boston NO Port Act) (BEFORE Intolerable acts and IN RESPONSE to the Boston Tea Party of December 1773. States, following "dangerous commotions and insurrections" in Boston nothing may be put in or off/ exported from Boston. Oh.... that is except for his Majesty's stuff.
