The French and Indian War and Its Aftermath

Financial Impact on Britain

• The war doubled Britain's national debt.
• Britain needed to defend its North American colonies from potential threats.
• Raising revenue was crucial to cover war debts and defense costs.

Ascension of George III

• George III became king in 1760 at age 22.
• He was inexperienced and less knowledgeable about the empire.

Role of George Grenville

• Grenville, Chancellor of the Exchequer, managed colonial relations and treasury.
• Developed the Grenville Plan for raising revenue post-war.

The Grenville Plan

Royal Proclamation Line

• Established along the Appalachian Mountains.
• Restricted colonists from crossing without a trade license.
• Aimed to secure profitable trade with Native Americans for taxation.

The Sugar Act (Revenue Act of 1764)

• Imposed an import duty on molasses, lowering previous taxes but enforcing collection.
• Affected New England's rum production, leading to protests.
• Protests were mild as tariffs were common.

The Stamp Act (1765)

• Required a royal stamp on all official and print documents.
• Led to widespread protests due to direct impact on all colonists.
• Patrick Henry's Virginia Resolves claimed only colonial assemblies could tax colonists.
• Stamp Act Congress petitioned the king against it.

Repeal and Declaratory Act

• Stamp Act repealed in 1766 due to colonial unrest.
• Declaratory Act reaffirmed Parliament's right to tax colonies.

The Townshend Plan

Charles Townshend's Duties

• Aimed to offset troop costs through import duties on goods like lead, paint, and tea.
• Led to increased colonial protests due to lack of representation.
• Troops were sent to Boston to enforce peace and tax collection.

Boston Massacre (1770)

• Tensions between soldiers and colonists escalated, leading to a deadly conflict.
• Five colonists killed; Crispus Attucks, a former slave, was the first casualty.
• Soldiers were acquitted or given light sentences, further angering colonists.

The Tea Crisis (1773)

East India Company Monopoly

• East India Company had exclusive rights to tea trade in colonies.
• Black market undercut the company's prices.

Tea Act of 1773

• Lowered tea taxes to eliminate black market competition.
• Colonists feared it would lead to price hikes once the competition was gone.
• Led to a boycott of East India Company tea.

Boston Tea Party

• Protesters, led by the Sons of Liberty, dumped tea into Boston Harbor.
• Crown responded with the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts).

The Coercive Acts

• Closed Boston Harbor and restructured Massachusetts' assembly.
• Aimed at forcing repayment for the lost tea.
• Viewed as punitive and unfair by the colonists.

Prelude to Revolution

• Intolerable Acts intensified colonial unrest.
• Samuel Adams rallied other colonies, warning of similar fates.
• Set the stage for the American Revolution.