What caused the anger among the colonists in Boston?
Social Studies · College · Tue Nov 03 2020
Answered on
The anger among the colonists in Boston prior to the American Revolution was primarily due to a series of taxes and laws that were enacted by the British Parliament. The colonists felt these taxes were unfair because they had no representation in Parliament, leading to the rallying cry "No taxation without representation." Here are some of the key factors that fueled the anger:
1. The Stamp Act of 1765: This act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. This included legal documents, magazines, playing cards, and newspapers.
2. The Townshend Acts of 1767: Named after Charles Townshend, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, these acts imposed duties on the importation of paper, paint, lead, glass, and tea, which were widely used in the colonies.
3. The Boston Massacre of 1770: This incident, where British soldiers shot and killed several people while being harassed by a mob in Boston, increased tensions significantly.
4. The Tea Act of 1773: Although this act actually lowered the tax on tea, it gave a monopoly to the British East India Company, cutting colonial merchants out of the trade. Colonists opposed it as it seemed to be a tactic to get them to pay the tax and thus acknowledge Parliament's right to tax them.
5. The Intolerable Acts of 1774: In response to the Boston Tea Party, where colonists dumped an entire shipment of tea into Boston Harbor as a protest against the Tea Act, the British government enacted punitive measures, including the closing of Boston Harbor and the establishment of British-appointed government in Massachusetts, which further incensed the colonists.
6. Local Enforcement of Tax Collection: Customs officials, supported by British troops, were often seen as oppressive and corrupt, further fueling resentment among the colonists.
These grievances led to widespread protest and civil disobedience in Boston, which was a major hub of resistance against British policy and eventually contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.