Writs of Assistance

General search warrants that permitte dcustoms officer sto enter and search any ship, home, or warehouse for smuggled goods.

James Otis, a Boston lawyer representing a group of Massachusets merchants, challenged the legality of the Writs. He said they violated one of the fundamental rights of English men: "To e free of unreadsonable searches and seizures." The British continued to use the Writs, but Otis rallied public opinion against the Writs.

Proclamation of 1763

Pontiac, cheif of hte Ottawa Indians, led a war gains teh English. Before he was defeated, he massacred many settlers. The British, to avoid further trouble with the Indians passed the Proclamation of 1763; it forbade establishment of new settlements west of teh Appalachians and ordered all settlers back East of the Appalachians.

The settlers mostly ignored the roclamation and migrated westward into forbidden land.

Sugar Act (1764)

Raised taxes (Duties) on sugar and any other goods imported from any place other than England. Added to a list of things that could be sold only in England.

The Merchants smuggled goods into he country and carried on trade with foreign nations.

Quartering Act (1765)

Required the colonial legislature to provide funds, living quarters, and supplies to help meet the expense of maintaining british roops in America.

The colonists objected. When New York refused to provide all the supplies requested, parliament suspended the assembly's legislative powers until it agreed.

Stamp Act (1765)

Placed a tax on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, plying cards, legal docments (wills , licenses, deeds, etc.). Required taht stamps be purchased from the government and be affixed to thes articles.

Patriotic societies such as Sons of Liverty were organized to resist. Tax collectors were mobbd and driven from teir homes. "No taxation without representation!" Became their "battle" cry.

The colonies called the Stamp Act congress in 1765 in New York City to decide what to do.

Declaratory Act

England took off the Stamp Act, but put on the Delcarator Act, which said that Egnaldn had full authority over the colonies in all matters.

Colonists continued to protest.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes were put on colonial imports of paper, paint, glass, and tea. Tobe used to pay the slaries of colonial governors.

Under the leadership of Sam Adams, hte colonies decied to respond with a severe boycott of English goods.

Committees of correspondence were organized to keep each colony informed of new developments.

Boston Massacre (1770)

A crowd ofBostonians shouted insults and threw snowballs at a detachment of British soldiers. The soldiers got excited and fired into the crowd, killing five townseople and woulding six others. This incident was blown up by Sam Adams and John Hancock and termed the Boston Massacre.

The angry citizens of Boston, led by Sam Adams, emanded the removal of British troops from Boston.

The Tea Act (1773)

Teh British East India Company was in financial distress, partly as a result of the colonial boycott ofEnglish tea. To save this big company, England allowed the company toship tea to America without pying the existing heavy duty in England. This enabled teh company to under sel the colonial importers of English tea as wlel as the smugglers of foreign tea.

During the night of December 16, 1773, the Boston tea party took place. Bostonians disguised as Indians boarded the English ships and disguised as Indians, andumped 342 chest of tea (worth 75,000 dollars) into the Harbor.

The Intolerble Acts (1774)

As a result of the Tea Party,England passed the intolerable acts which:

1. closed the port of Boston to al commerce until the tea was replaced.

2. Suspended Colonial government in Massacusetts.

3. Required all colonies to quarter soldiers.

With the Port of Boston closed, the people of Boston were faced with economic ruin.

Other cities and colonies sent supplies and food to Boston. A call went out to convene an inter-colonial congress.