FCLLI5_the_financial_policy

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The financial policy of the British government and the 
relationship with the colonists 
England needed more money to support the growing empire. Unless the taxpayer in 
England was to supply it all, the colonies would have to contribute. Colonists were 
very dissatisfied with the taxing. Here are some examples of the taxes and laws 
created by England and their consequences: 
*Sugar Act (1764) 
- Forbade the import of foreign rum. 
- Put duties on molasses, wine, silk, coffee and other luxury items 
- Aroused a lot of discussion among colonists, who were afraid of losing 
their “independence” 
* Currency Act (1764) 
- To prevent paper bills of credit issued in the colonies from being made 
legal. 
- A problem because colonists were often short of “real’ money. 
* Billeting Act (1765) 
- Required colonies to provide quarters and supplies for royal troops 
* Stamp Act (1765) 
-Revenue stamps should be affixed to all written documents, including 
newspapers. 
Violent reaction in the colonies- Organization for resistance- Less trade 
with England; Parades on the streets; Destruction of the stamps in some 
colonies. 
* 1766 
- Parliament yielded by repealing the Stamp Act and changing the Sugar 
Act. 
- Brief peaceful period. 
* 1767 
 
 
-More duties on paper, glass, lead and tea 
-Colonists react and British troops are sent to America 
*1770- ‘Boston Massacre” 
 
- Clash with British troops kills three Bostonians. 
- Parliament repeals all duties, except those on tea 
- Brief peaceful period 
* 1773- “Boston Tea Party” 
 
 
Boston Tea Party 
 
- Against monopoly of the East India Company 
- Samuel Adams, a very active patriot, brought unity to the resistance 
movement. 
- Real crisis: Parliament had to show they controlled the colonies. 
- New laws were created: “Coercive Acts” or “Intolerable Acts” 
- One of them: The port of Boston was closed until the tea was paid for 
- Another one: Town meetings would need the governor´ s approval 
- Colonies got together to help Massachusetts 
- Boston became a center of political activity 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Which movements were developed to help the colonies reach 
independence? 
 
*1774 
- Representatives of the Colonies met in Philadelphia “to consult upon 
the present unhappy state of the Colonies.” (1st Continental Congress) 
- No obedience to the “Coercive Acts” 
- Formation of an “ Association to make resistance against British acts”. 
* April 1775 
- 1st bloodshed for independence: 8 patriots dead and many losses in the 
British troops 
* May 1775 
- 2nd Continental Congress: John Hancock (president), Thomas Jefferson, 
Benjamin Franklin 
-War was the issue to be discussed 
- Colonel George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the 
American forces. 
* 1776 
- Thomas Paine publishes “Common Sense”, valuing the honest working 
man, and ridiculing monarchy- Brought many to the cause of 
Independence. 
* July 4, 1776 
- Declaration of Independence ( Thomas Jefferson- Virginia- and others) 
* Revolutionary War 
- Lasted more than 6 years 
 - French helped: Revenge for 1763; enthusiasm for the American cause 
 
 
 - Later, King Louis XVI sent a fleet to help and British surround 
 * 1783 
 - Independence was acknowledged