From Protest to Rebellion Constitutional Issues

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Todd Owens
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1 From Protest to Rebellion Constitutional Issues Parliamentary Sovereignty: Only Parliament passes laws; it does not share this power with anyone. Were the colonies represented in Parliament? Yes: Virtual Representation Did Parliament have the right to tax the colonists if they had the right to regulate trade? Yes: Navigation Act John Locke s Social Contract: Consent (of whom?)

2 Who should pay for the Seven Years War? Will the British continue to protect the colonists from the Native Americans? Can they continue to protect the colonists? Pontiac s Rebellion : The attack on Detroit The Paxton Boys in Pennsylvania: Murder and then the march on Philadelphia: Chaos? Proclamation of 1763

3 Prime Minister George Grenville Stamp Act A tax on all legal documents Newspapers Playing cards Rum Simple Rule: Enforce the law! Salutary neglect comes to a close Sugar Act Admiralty Courts (to stop smuggling; British Officers acted as Judges; no juries) Currency Act

4 George Grenville s Programs Sugar Act 1764 Tax on imported Fr. sugar lowered but strictly enforced. Result: a drop of trade with the Fr. West Indies - who usually bought our lumber, flour, cheese & farm products 2.Currency Act Quartering Act Stamp Act -1765

5 Sam Adams Radical Sons of Liberty Used mob violence to force all stamp agents to resign Stamp Act Congress calls for a boycott of British goods. States that Parliament had no right to tax colonists without their consent Adams Brothers actually 2 nd cousins.

6 Townshend Duties Crisis: William Pitt, PM. & Charles Townshend, Sec t. of the Exchequer Shift from paying taxes for war debts & quartering of troops paying colonial govt. salaries. He diverted revenue collection from internal to external trade. Tax these imports paper, paint, lead, glass, and tea. Increase custom officials at American ports established a Board of Customs in Boston.

7 Taxes continue: Townshend Acts: paint, paper, glass and tea

8 Colonial Response to the Townshend Duties 1.John Dickinson 1768 * Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania nd non-importation movement: * Daughters of Liberty 3. Riots against customs agents: *John Hancock s ship, thelibertyis seized (unpaid tax on wine) * 4000 British troops sent to Boston.

9 Violence increases against these taxes, the Writs of Assistance, Quartering Act and then, in Boston How many must die for it to be a massacre??? Actual # 5 P R O P A G A N D A

10 Regulators Unrest in North Carolina Again, class issue. Revolt of 2,000 unarmed, landless North Carolinians protesting their lack of representation in the colonial legislature of North Carolina. More chaos & disorder: Prevent the collection of taxes - Chaos Disorder - Vigilantism??? Crushed by state militia.

11 The Burning of the Gaspee 1772 British customs ship chasing smugglers. After running aground, boarded, captain wounded, crew set ashore and the ship BURNED! No one prosecuted! British threaten extraterritoriality which angers colonists.

12 Parliament repealed Stamp Act but asserted its rights (Declaratory Act) to regulate colonies in all ways whatsoever. [Parliamentary Sovereignty] This did not get the result they expected

13 Tea Act and the Tea Party 1773 Parliament responded with The Coercive or Intolerable Acts Closed Boston Harbor / Ended Town Meetings / Removed trials involving royal officers out of New England Specifically allowed quartering of troops

John Dickenson Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer 14 essays Argued that Townshend Acts were unconstitutional because they pretend to be trade regulations but

14 John Dickenson Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer 14 essays Argued that Townshend Acts were unconstitutional because they pretend to be trade regulations but are actually an internal tax Taxation without Representation is Tyranny! Popular slogan of the time; first coined in 1750 in a sermon by Rev. Jonathan Mayhew

First Constitutional Congress 1774 Declaration of Rights and Grievances; Condemned Coercive Acts; Denied Parliament s right to tax colonies but promised obedience to the

15 First Constitutional Congress 1774 Declaration of Rights and Grievances; Condemned Coercive Acts; Denied Parliament s right to tax colonies but promised obedience to the king British move to destroy military supplies at Concord and Worcester. Minutemen respond with gunfire at Lexington and Concord 73 British soldiers killed 49 colonists killed

16 Second Continental Congress May 1775 Olive Branch Petition (written by John Dickenson) sent to London Let s negotiate Undermined by J. Adams letter Washington chosen to head colonial army Trusted by his soldiers Refused to be paid Virginian Wealthy Aristocratic - Not from N.E.

17 Thomas Paine Common Sense The Crisis These are the times that try men s souls

18 Give me Liberty or give me Death! Patrick Henry 1775

19 Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Independence List reasons for rebellion Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness Colonies are independent

20 Great Britain s Advantages: Disadvantages Population Wealth Navy and Army Experienced Officers Ineptness Lack of will 3 K miles from home Vast colonial territory America s Advantages Leadership Moral High Ground Defensive War Agricultural base Disadvantage Congress: no action No written constitution No currency, inflation Desertions No military supplies

Toward Independence: Years of Decision

Chapter 5 Toward Independence: Years of Decision Salutary Neglect would give way to imperial authority! Problems Begin colonial troops treated poorly governors shared power army in peacetime Distance 1762