Taxation WITHOUT Representation [APUSH Review Unit 3 Topic 3 (3.3)] Period 3: 1754-1800

Taxation Without Representation: The Prelude to Revolution

Introduction to the Topic

• The video begins with a recap of the previous discussion on the French and Indian War, setting the stage for understanding taxation without representation as a key issue leading to the American Revolution.

• The speaker emphasizes that the financial burdens from the war prompted Britain to impose taxes on American colonies, which they viewed as British citizens.

Salutary Neglect and Its Consequences

• Introduction of "salutary neglect," where Britain allowed colonies autonomy in governance, leading them to feel more independent than intended.

• Despite political sovereignty, practical governance was lax; colonists often ignored Navigation Acts due to minimal enforcement by Britain.

• This neglect fostered a sense of independence among colonists, who engaged in smuggling and illegal trade.

British Response: Stricter Control Measures

• With financial needs rising, Prime Minister George Grenville initiated stricter enforcement of laws and introduced new acts:

• Quartering Act (1765): Required colonists to house British soldiers.

• Sugar Act: Imposed taxes on luxury items like coffee and wine while enforcing existing molasses taxes.

• Stamp Act (1765): Taxed all paper products produced in colonies, igniting significant colonial unrest.

Economic Impact on Colonists

• The Currency Act restricted colonial assemblies from printing their own money, exacerbating economic strain amid rising taxes.

• Colonists felt suffocated by these restrictions during a time of declining wages and increasing unemployment.

Ideological Shift Among Colonists

• Growing discontent led to debates over the justice of taxing colonists without representation in Parliament; this birthed the phrase "no taxation without representation."

• Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke influenced colonist beliefs about social contracts and natural rights that should not be violated.

Disagreement Over Representation

• British officials argued for "virtual representation," claiming all British classes were represented in Parliament despite no direct representatives from colonies.

• Colonists countered that true representation required local voices from within their communities.

The Rise of Colonial Resistance

Organized Groups and Early Protests

• In the colonies, organized groups like the Sons of Liberty, Daughters of Liberty, and Vox Populi emerged to voice protests against British policies, particularly in response to the Stamp Act.

• The Stamp Act Congress convened in 1765 with 27 delegates from nine colonies aiming to petition Parliament for repeal due to "taxation without representation," while still expressing loyalty to the crown.

• Following these petitions, Parliament repealed both the Stamp Act and Sugar Act in 1766 but passed the Declaratory Act affirming its right to legislate for the colonies.

Escalating Tensions: The Townshend Acts

• The Townshend Acts of 1767 imposed taxes on imported goods like paper, tea, and glass, prompting widespread boycotts among colonists across all social classes.

• Women played a crucial role in these boycotts by producing homemade goods instead of purchasing British imports, further uniting colonial resistance.

The Boston Massacre: A Turning Point

• In March 1770, tensions escalated into violence during the Boston Massacre when British soldiers fired into a crowd after being harassed by colonists; four were killed.

• John Adams defended the soldiers during their trial; despite his success in acquitting six out of eight men, public outrage over perceived injustice fueled anti-British sentiment.

The Boston Tea Party and Coercive Acts

• In December 1773, following the Tea Act that granted exclusive rights to the British East India Company, members of the Sons of Liberty dumped 45 tons of tea into Boston Harbor as a protest.

• This act led Parliament to enact punitive measures known as the Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts), which included closing Boston Harbor until damages were paid.

Growing Militancy Among Colonists