Issue of Customs Collection and Tea Duties
Nature of First colony in Virginia in 1607 and the second
colonial society major settlement was in 1620 following the
sailing of the Mayflower to Massachusetts
13 colonies founded between 1620 and the
establishment of settlements in Georgia in
1732
Life in the Colonies
The new colonies were agriculturally based,
but with distinct differences:
o New England colonies: farmed by
small subsistence farmers and had an
extensive fishing industry
o Middle colonies and Pennsylvania:
major source of wheat and flour
products
o Southern colonies: tobacco was the
predominant crop and is labour-intensive
to farm, so the majority of slaves were
transported here to provide labour
Majority of settlers were Protestant and many
of the British religious sects had chosen to
make the journey to establish a new life in a
new continent because of persecution at home
Availability of land allowed most white men to
work and own their own land
Most people were employed in agricultural
production linked to very small communities
In 1770 there were only 5 towns of any size –
skilled workers were able to command better
wages than in Europe because of scarcity of
labour – enjoyed a sense of independence and
had status as landowners and voters
Loyalties were to their local community and
churches
Politics
American colonists had a much higher level of
political experience than their European
contemporaries
Each was governed by a governor appointed
by the British Crown and a legislative
assembly
Assemblies were responsible for money bills
and controlling expenditure and the lower
house was elected by a very wide franchise of
at least 50% of the adult male population –
majority of colonial men were used to
, participating fully in the political process
Only 1 in 10 men were entitled to vote in
Britain
Women and slaves could not vote, and
members of the colonial elite were commonly
elected automatically because of their social
standing
Role of Colonial Assemblies
Were legislative assemblies whose role was
meant to be raising revenue for the provision
of local services, payment of local officials and
the passing of local legislation
During 1760s, the colonial assemblies had
consistently overstepped their constitutional
position
- Provided a focus for discussion and reaction
to the British taxes from the introduction of
the 1974 Sugar Act
- Sent representation and messages to
London, later petitioned against new
taxation and finally began to consult and
work together to formulate stronger and
more unified responses
Legislative assemblies were at the heart of
opposition to new British taxes and provided a
forum for debate and a coherent response to
the new laws
As there were 13 individual assemblies, the
opposition to the British came from individual
colonies which made it easier to ignore than a
national assembly would have been
When the colonies did form a national
assembly, there was a high degree of
agreement among the representatives as they
had been involved in unsuccessful protests for
10 years
Why were the The Seven Years’ War (1756-63) ended with
British the Peace of Paris in 1763
attempting to The British and colonial forces had driven the
tax the colonies French out of Canada and had been ceded all
in 1770? French land east of the Mississippi and most of
the French Caribbean islands
There had been a huge expansion in the
British Empire with new borders to defend and
new citizens to govern:
o American territories would require a
defence force to protect them possible
Nature of First colony in Virginia in 1607 and the second
colonial society major settlement was in 1620 following the
sailing of the Mayflower to Massachusetts
13 colonies founded between 1620 and the
establishment of settlements in Georgia in
1732
Life in the Colonies
The new colonies were agriculturally based,
but with distinct differences:
o New England colonies: farmed by
small subsistence farmers and had an
extensive fishing industry
o Middle colonies and Pennsylvania:
major source of wheat and flour
products
o Southern colonies: tobacco was the
predominant crop and is labour-intensive
to farm, so the majority of slaves were
transported here to provide labour
Majority of settlers were Protestant and many
of the British religious sects had chosen to
make the journey to establish a new life in a
new continent because of persecution at home
Availability of land allowed most white men to
work and own their own land
Most people were employed in agricultural
production linked to very small communities
In 1770 there were only 5 towns of any size –
skilled workers were able to command better
wages than in Europe because of scarcity of
labour – enjoyed a sense of independence and
had status as landowners and voters
Loyalties were to their local community and
churches
Politics
American colonists had a much higher level of
political experience than their European
contemporaries
Each was governed by a governor appointed
by the British Crown and a legislative
assembly
Assemblies were responsible for money bills
and controlling expenditure and the lower
house was elected by a very wide franchise of
at least 50% of the adult male population –
majority of colonial men were used to
, participating fully in the political process
Only 1 in 10 men were entitled to vote in
Britain
Women and slaves could not vote, and
members of the colonial elite were commonly
elected automatically because of their social
standing
Role of Colonial Assemblies
Were legislative assemblies whose role was
meant to be raising revenue for the provision
of local services, payment of local officials and
the passing of local legislation
During 1760s, the colonial assemblies had
consistently overstepped their constitutional
position
- Provided a focus for discussion and reaction
to the British taxes from the introduction of
the 1974 Sugar Act
- Sent representation and messages to
London, later petitioned against new
taxation and finally began to consult and
work together to formulate stronger and
more unified responses
Legislative assemblies were at the heart of
opposition to new British taxes and provided a
forum for debate and a coherent response to
the new laws
As there were 13 individual assemblies, the
opposition to the British came from individual
colonies which made it easier to ignore than a
national assembly would have been
When the colonies did form a national
assembly, there was a high degree of
agreement among the representatives as they
had been involved in unsuccessful protests for
10 years
Why were the The Seven Years’ War (1756-63) ended with
British the Peace of Paris in 1763
attempting to The British and colonial forces had driven the
tax the colonies French out of Canada and had been ceded all
in 1770? French land east of the Mississippi and most of
the French Caribbean islands
There had been a huge expansion in the
British Empire with new borders to defend and
new citizens to govern:
o American territories would require a
defence force to protect them possible
