Five Major Economic Five Major Economic Impacts For American Impacts For American

ColonistsColonists

Allen A.Allen A.8/28/098/28/09Period: 6Period: 6

Intro:Intro:

• There are many varying factor’s that lead up to the American revolution; however there are only a few that were major colonial wide and drew the worlds attention . Most have to do with England's blatantly unfair and unjust taxes on the colonists. There are however, some that involve British disregard for colonists interests let alone there lives. As well as, the fact that Britain believed that since it was a massive world power that it was undefeatable and the colonists obliged them by proving otherwise.

The Stamp Act of 1765The Stamp Act of 1765 The stamp act of 1765 was a tax imposed by the British The stamp act of 1765 was a tax imposed by the British

Parliament in regards to all British colonies; mainly the Parliament in regards to all British colonies; mainly the America’s however. America’s however.

The harsh and unfair act required that many printed materials The harsh and unfair act required that many printed materials carry a tax stamp. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for carry a tax stamp. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for British troops that were in the American colonies.British troops that were in the American colonies.

However, many colonists strongly opposed the tax because However, many colonists strongly opposed the tax because they felt it encroached upon there rights as Englishmen to be they felt it encroached upon there rights as Englishmen to be taxed with their consent; which could be given by their state taxed with their consent; which could be given by their state legislatures.legislatures.

In the end the Stamp Act was strongly petitioned and In the end the Stamp Act was strongly petitioned and eventually wound up intimidating the stamp vendors into eventually wound up intimidating the stamp vendors into never effectively collecting any tax. Which led to the Act being never effectively collecting any tax. Which led to the Act being “replaced” in March of 1776, by Parliament, due to excessive “replaced” in March of 1776, by Parliament, due to excessive opposition from both colonists and British merchants. opposition from both colonists and British merchants.

The Stamp Act The Stamp Act of 1765of 1765

The Boston Massacre • A mass of British troops was sent to Boston in order to aid

officials in enforcing the Townshend Acts.• However, the colonists felt that the Acts were a violation of

natural, charter, and constitutional rights of British subjects in colonies.

• The Townshend Acts were so unpopular in Boston, that customs officials requested naval and military assistance. The ensuing violence that came after military support was there, wound up bubbling over into causing the Boston Massacre.

• The Boston Massacre started when a crowd of protesters to the Townshend Acts began harassing and jiving the British troops and then throwing snow balls as well. Then a local tavern owner struck down a troop with a club and then the British troops began firing on the crowd killing 11 and wounding a few more.

• In the end, in order to keep the peace, The captain of the brigade and 4 other customs agents alleged to have fired on the crowd were indicted for murder. As well as, all British troops were then pulled out 2 weeks after the incident occurred.

The Boston Massacre

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party• The Boston Tea Party was mainly caused by the new The Boston Tea Party was mainly caused by the new

Tea taxes imposed by Britain, in order to help pay for Tea taxes imposed by Britain, in order to help pay for the British troops stationed in the American colonies.the British troops stationed in the American colonies.

• When officials in Boston refused to return three When officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, the colonists of shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, the colonists of Boston decided to perform a direct action protest Boston decided to perform a direct action protest against Britain.against Britain.

• The colonists banded together and on the night of The colonists banded together and on the night of December 16, 1773; the colonists boarded the ships December 16, 1773; the colonists boarded the ships and dumped over all the tea onboard into the Boston and dumped over all the tea onboard into the Boston bay.bay.

• The Boston Tea Party is often referred to as one of The Boston Tea Party is often referred to as one of the key events that helped spark the American the key events that helped spark the American Revolution. However the ensuing reaction of British Revolution. However the ensuing reaction of British Parliament was equally as daring, because they then Parliament was equally as daring, because they then shut down Boston's commerce until the Tea was paid shut down Boston's commerce until the Tea was paid for in full.for in full.

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts of 1774Intolerable Acts of 1774 These Acts are a string of laws passed by British These Acts are a string of laws passed by British

Parliament that over strained the colonies Parliament that over strained the colonies relationship with Britain irreparably .relationship with Britain irreparably .

In the beginning Britain had only intended to curb In the beginning Britain had only intended to curb the rise of colonial rebellion, by making an example the rise of colonial rebellion, by making an example out of Massachusetts; mainly Boston.out of Massachusetts; mainly Boston.

In actuality though all colonists felt that the In actuality though all colonists felt that the Coercive Acts were a major violation of there Coercive Acts were a major violation of there constitutional rights, there natural rights, and on constitutional rights, there natural rights, and on there colonial charters.there colonial charters.

In the end, The American colonies came together In the end, The American colonies came together and had a meeting of the first Continental Congress and had a meeting of the first Continental Congress and passed a colony wide boycott on British goods. and passed a colony wide boycott on British goods. And eventually got the Intolerable Acts reversed, And eventually got the Intolerable Acts reversed, roughly a year after they were passed. roughly a year after they were passed.

Intolerable Acts of 1774Intolerable Acts of 1774

The Battles of Lexington and The Battles of Lexington and ConcordConcord

The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War. They sparked the engagements of the Revolutionary War. They sparked the American initiative to break all ties to Britain with a decisive American initiative to break all ties to Britain with a decisive victory for the Continental Army.victory for the Continental Army.

Due to good intelligence gathering and some good tip off’s, Due to good intelligence gathering and some good tip off’s, the local militias were able to thwart the British attack on the local militias were able to thwart the British attack on the militia supply for Massachusetts.the militia supply for Massachusetts.

Despite being massively outnumbered the American militias Despite being massively outnumbered the American militias were able to not only win the battle but outsmart the were able to not only win the battle but outsmart the biggest and most powerful army in the world. Although biggest and most powerful army in the world. Although these, battles lead to the siege of Boston, the militia men these, battles lead to the siege of Boston, the militia men proved that the American colonists had a chance against proved that the American colonists had a chance against the might of the British military.the might of the British military.

Many journalist’s at the time reported that the first shot Many journalist’s at the time reported that the first shot fired by the Militiamen could be heard “around the world”, fired by the Militiamen could be heard “around the world”, which show’s the significance of the battles; because if the which show’s the significance of the battles; because if the ‘Continental Army” had lost that battle it would have lead to ‘Continental Army” had lost that battle it would have lead to the demise of the American colonies rebellion. the demise of the American colonies rebellion.

The Battles of Lexington & ConcordThe Battles of Lexington & Concord

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Although England had the well trained and Although England had the well trained and experienced, overwhelming military force; experienced, overwhelming military force; the American colonists actively demonstrated the American colonists actively demonstrated that they were in it for the long haul. As well that they were in it for the long haul. As well as, that the colonists wanted to be free of any as, that the colonists wanted to be free of any British rule and become an independent British rule and become an independent country to govern themselves. In the end country to govern themselves. In the end America discredited everything the world America discredited everything the world thought when they began not only fight but thought when they began not only fight but winning the war against Britain with no winning the war against Britain with no outside help; at first. American’s took a stand outside help; at first. American’s took a stand and allowed the world to recognize that the and allowed the world to recognize that the American colonies were a force to be American colonies were a force to be reckoned with.reckoned with.