2) ENFORCING THE COLONIAL RELATIONSHIP 1764-1774
Changing Relationship:
Proclamation Line 1763 – prohibited westward expansion of Appalachian mountains, ignored by 1768 30,000
Americans had expanded west, Daniel Boone and Cumberland Gap to Kentucky
Pontiac Rebellion 1763 – tribes allied to fight British, conquered all forts except Duquesne/Pitt and Detroit
but these were recaptured and peace treaty agreed
Writs of Assistance – Gov Bernard of MA allowed general search warrants for customs officers who had any
belief of smuggling – Boston merchants hired James Otis to challenge this in Petition of Lechmere
Strengthening relationship (Jones) – easy going imperial system, 25000 militia men fought for British in 7
years war, British institution united colonists, inter-colonial disputes, very different systems in 13 colonies
Weakening relationship (Middlekauf) – colonies developing rapidly, diverse mix (less British), self-
government, reluctant to enforce authority, colonists revolted when they did, peace settlement with France
removed common enemy
Grenville’s Policies:
PM in 1763, wanted to reduce national debt (£132 million in 1763, with cost of colonial admin being
£350,000) and cut smuggling
Anti-smuggling measures - Customs officials had to live in America (no sinecures), jurisdiction in revenue
cases transferred to vice-admiralty court in Nova Scotia, £500 fine for officials receiving bribes, case of John
Robinson
Sugar Act 1764 – reduced from 6d to 3d but strictly enforced, affect distillers in New England who turned
molasses to rum, wine, coffee, silk added to enumerated commodity list, James Otis ‘no taxation without
representation’
Currency Act 1764 – banned colonial paper money to reduce inflation, affect VA who had printed more
money during 7 years war
Support for radical MP John Wilkes grew, arrested in 1763 and fled to France
1765 – nine colonial assemblies sent letters saying the Sugar Act abused British power
Stamp Act:
Plans heard in March 1764, bill introduced Feb 1765, into force Nov 1765 – required 50 types of documents
to be affixed with stamps, estimated revenue £70,000
American reaction
- Eliphalet Dyer (elite) – lawyer from CT, act was ‘slavery and thraldom’, called for unity of colonists
- Patrick Henry (elite) – VA resolves in House of Burgess, treason speech, only 5 adopted but all 7 printed
- Stamp Act Congress (elite) – MA suggested intercolonial meeting, met in NY in Oct, delegates from 9
colonies attended, 14 resolves agreed
- Sons of liberty (below) – mob action, effigies of Oliver and Bute from liberty tree, destruction of property
forced stamp collectors to resign
- Non-importation
- Pennsylvania Journal
Repealed March 1766 after Grenville replaced by Rockingham – Declaratory Act
Townshend Duties:
Pitt replaced Rockingham, but in ill health, Townshend dominated proceedings
Townshend duties:
- Nov 1767 Revenue Act – duties on China, lead, glass, apint, paper, tea
- Indemnity Act 1767 – salaries of judges, governors and officials were paid by these duties to ensure
loyalty to Crown, not colonial assemblies
- American Board of Customs Commissioners established in Boston
- Supreme Courts could issue writs of assistance
- Vice-Admiralty Court Act 1768 – increased to 4, Nova Scotia, Philadelphia, Boston and Charlestown
, - Quartering/Mutiny Act 1765 had made colonies responsible for quartering and supplying British troops –
NY refused to comply due to disproportionate burden as headquarters of British army was located there,
NY Restraining Act 1767 suspended the assembly, eventually complied
American Reaction (Townshend died)
- Dickinson’s letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer (elite) - published newspapers, argued colonists could not
be taxed without consent
- MA Circular letter (elite) – Feb 1768, denounced Townshend duties, violated ‘no taxation without
representation’, seven colonies approved letter, VA issued a similar one, April 1768 Lord Hillsborough
(Secretary of State for America) ordered recission, all assemblies who endorsed it were dissolved
- Boycotts – New Hampshire imposed 2 years later, by 1769 all colonies (except RI), unofficial committee
enforced it, tarring and feathering
- Tension in Boston – June 1769 John Hancock’s liberty seized by American Board of Customs
Commissions, threats and tarring and feathering of officials forced them out of harbour
- Wilkesite movement – Wilkes returned to England and imprisoned, 30,000 people gathered outside
prison, 6 killed and 20 injured, Parliament illegally elected a rival when Wilkes was elected 4 times whilst
imprisoned, colonists sent donations to the cause
Boston Massacre - Sept 1769 600 British troops in Boston, 5 th March 1770 troops opened fire at Bostonians
throwing snowballs, 5 killed, Paul revere’s propaganda
Townshend duties repleaded by Lord North March 1770, except tea duty for mark of parliamentary
supremacy
Committees of Correspondence emerged to improve communications, first by Sam Adams in MA
Boston Tea Party:
Colonists smuggled tea from Holland and Dutch West Indies to avoid paying tea tax
Tea Act 1773 – bailed out EIC, allowed direct exportation to colonies and reduced price (fear it would cause
collapse of industry as had happened with Philadelphia China industry)
Unpopular – violence to merchants who imported tea, NY and PA rejected and sent back tea, tea agents
forced to resign
Dartmouth, Eleanor and Beaver arrived in Boston with tea, Gov Hutchinson insisted it was unloaded
(consigned to his merchant sons)
16th Dec – sons of liberty dressed as Native Americans threw 342 chests overboard – condemned by elite
(GW, Franklin) as it was an attack on property
Coercive/Intolerable Acts:
1) Boston Port Act June 1774 – closed port of Boston until cargo was paid for
2) MA Gov Act May 1774 – legislature appointed by King, no elections, no meetings without Governors
permission
3) Administration of Justice Act May 1774 – royal officials omitting capital offences tried in London – more likely
to be let off
4) Quartering Act June 1774 – colonists had to provide shelter and supplies for British troops on demand
5) Quebec Act – disbanded representative assemblies in Canada, revoked right to trial by jury, expanded
Quebec boundary – fear this would spread to America
American Reaction
- June 1774 – Boston Committee of Correspondence drafted Solemn League and Covenant committing to
boycott
- May – June – VA and 7 other assemblies denounced acts and were dissolved, continued to meet in extra-
legal conventions
- Jefferson’s ‘Summary of the Rights of British America’ and John Adams under ‘Novangulus’
- Committees of Safety/Inspection set up to enforce boycott and non-importation
- Militias drilled and arms stockpiled from Sept 1774 – MA, NH and RI
