Changes

In 1755, the British sent General [[Edward Braddock]] to confront French, but they ambushed and beat him badly nearly Fort Duquesne (pronounced DOO CANE).  In 1756, war broke out between the French and English in Europe and things got very serious.

In 1755, the British sent General [[Edward Braddock]] to confront French, but they ambushed and beat him badly nearly Fort Duquesne (pronounced DOO CANE).  In 1756, war broke out between the French and English in Europe and things got very serious.

Eventually a smart fellow named [[William Pitt]] was elected as Prime Minister in England.  The city of Pittsburgh is named after him.  Pitt believed in appointing generals based on merit, not seniority or friendship.  Pitt recognized the importance of the colonies and began investing significant money and resources.  He started beating the French.  Under Pitt’s leadership, he captured [[Fort Duquesne]] in 1758, then Quebec in 1759, and then Montreal in 1760.  He started winning other places in world also, including India.  In 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed, eliminating France and her Indian allies as a threat to colonists.

Eventually a smart fellow named [[William Pitt]] was elected as Prime Minister in England.  The city of Pittsburgh is named after him.  Pitt believed in appointing generals based on merit, not seniority or friendship.  Pitt recognized the importance of the colonies and began investing significant money and resources.  He started beating the French.  Under Pitt’s leadership, he captured [[Fort Duquesne]] in 1758, then Quebec in 1759, and then Montreal in 1760.  He started winning other places in world also, including India.  In 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed, eliminating France and her Indian allies as a threat to colonists. France agreed to give England as much of North America as it claimed East of the Mississippi, keeping only two islands off the coast of Newfoundland. 

But there was a change in the King of England even before 1763:  [[King George III]] assumed the throne in 1760, and wanted to end the war quickly.  Pitt wanted more war by England and resigned in 1761.  A new prime minister gains power in England in 1763: George Grenville.  England was angry that colonists didn’t pay fair share of war, and England wanted to make peace with Indians.  It passed the Proclamation Act of 1763 to forbid colonists from settling west of Appalachians and stop buying land from Indians.  Kind of like today’s problem with new Israeli settlements in areas claimed by Palestinians.  Like the Israeli settlers, colonists were angry at this restriction, and ignored it.

England also returned Cuba and the Philippines to Spain in exchange for Florida during this time.

Now that a new Prime Minister was in power who wanted peace, and wanted the colonies to pay its share of the war costs.  Prime Minister Grenville started taxing colonists, and enforcing the taxes.  He taxed sugar, then prohibited colonies from issuing paper currency.

 

 

 

Now that a new Prime Minister was in power who wanted peace, and wanted the colonies to pay its share of the war costs.  Prime Minister Grenville started taxing colonists, and enforcing the taxes strictly.  He taxed sugar, then prohibited colonies from issuing paper currency.

He humiliated the colonists with legal intrusions: writs of assistance to search businesses without a court order or warrant.  He violated ancient rights.  He passed the Quartering Act to require colonists to house British troops at their own expense.

He humiliated the colonists with legal intrusions: writs of assistance to search businesses without a court order or warrant.  He violated ancient rights.  He passed the Quartering Act to require colonists to house British troops at their own expense.

Next came the Stamp Act of 1765: it required that printed materials, like newspapers, bear stamp showing that coin tax had been paid.  The public, and especially the media, was outraged.  This sparked the colonies to meet with each other in the Stamp Act Congress, which was attended by 9 colonies.  Riots broke out, and colonists boycott tax and British goods.  Britain repealed the law, but passed the Declaratory Act asserting right to legislate for colonies in future.

Colonists disliked these events, but only with the passage of the [[Stamp Act]] did they become truly angry.  The Stamp Act was an undisguised attempt to bring the British more money, the first time Parliament directly taxed the colonies.  It required that printed materials, like newspapers, bear stamp showing that coin tax had been paid.  The public, and especially the media, was outraged.  This sparked the colonies to meet with each other in the Stamp Act Congress, which was attended by 9 colonies.  Riots broke out, and colonists boycotted the tax and British goods.   

 

Foolishly, the British government appointed colonists to sell the stamps, imagining that intimidation would persuade them to do as the government asked.  Instead, they simply didn't sell stamps, and the colonies kept doing business without them.  Realizing that it had underestimated the colonies, Britain repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 but passed the Declaratory Act asserting right to legislate for colonies in future.

The colonists developed a strong argument:  taxation without representation.  Britain said colonists had “virtual” representation.  Colonists said adequate representation was impossible because England is so far away.

The colonists developed a strong argument:  taxation without representation.  Britain said colonists had “virtual” representation.  Colonists said adequate representation was impossible because England is so far away.