Heimler's History: Taxation Without Representation

Context

• Previous Video: Discussed the French and Indian War as part of Unit 3 of the AP U.S. History curriculum.
• Current Focus: Taxation without representation as a precursor to the American Revolution.

Effects of the French and Indian War

• War was expensive, leading Britain to demand financial contributions from American colonies.
• British perspective: Colonies gained land and are British citizens, hence should pay taxes.

Salutary Neglect

• Britain had political sovereignty, but due to distance, colonies had autonomy in day-to-day governance.
• Trade: Navigation Acts restricted trade to British ships, but were loosely enforced, leading to smuggling.
• The casual enforcement led to a perception of independence among colonists.
• Change: Need for cash led Britain to end salutary neglect.

British Clampdown

• Prime Minister George Grenville's Three-Pronged Plan:
  1. Stricter enforcement of Navigation Acts.
  2. Extension of wartime provisions into peacetime (Quartering Act of 1765).
  3. New taxes: Sugar Act and Stamp Act (1765), Currency Act.

Colonial Reaction

• Economic Hardship: Declining wages, rising unemployment.
• Ideological Shift: Debate over lack of representation in Parliament, influenced by Enlightenment ideas.
• Famous phrase: "No taxation without representation."

British Justification

• Virtual Representation: British argued colonists were represented by Parliament members considering all British subjects.
• Colonial Counter: Only representatives from the colonies could truly represent their interests.

Organized Colonial Resistance

• Formation of groups like Sons of Liberty, Daughters of Liberty, and Vox Populi.
• Stamp Act Congress (1765): Petition against the Stamp Act, emphasizing loyalty to Britain.
• Outcome: Repeal of Stamp and Sugar Acts, but passage of Declaratory Act asserting British authority.

Escalating Tensions

• Townshend Acts (1767): Taxes on paper, tea, glass. Led to widespread boycotts, uniting colonists.
• Boston Massacre (1770): Clash leading to several colonist deaths, increasing anti-British sentiment.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

• Tea Act: Imposed taxes and monopolized tea trade to the British East India Company.
• Colonial Response: Sons of Liberty dump tea in Boston Harbor as protest.

Consequences

• Coercive Acts (1774): Closed Boston Harbor, new Quartering Act (Intolerable Acts).
• Response: Colonists arm themselves, forming militias in preparation for further conflicts.

Conclusion

• Unit 3 Topic 3 Summary: Detailed the path from taxation policies to rising revolutionary sentiments among colonists.
• Next Steps: Follow-up video will discuss subsequent events leading to the American Revolution.