From the Proclamation of 1763 to the Intolerable Acts: British laws and colonial reactions

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   New taxes after the war, 1763 to 1766 (cards A to E). Card A, the Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763 (Avalon Project; spelling and capitals as printed): the king declared it "just and reasonable, and essential to our Interest, and the Security of our Colonies, that the several Nations or Tribes of Indians with whom We are connected, and who live under our Protection, should not be molested or disturbed in the Possession of such Parts of Our Dominions and Territories as, not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are reserved to them". He ordered "Our Royal Will and Pleasure, for the present as aforesaid, to reserve under our Sovereignty, Protection, and Dominion, for the use of the said Indians, all the Lands and Territories not included within the Limits of Our said Three new Governments". A summary in our words from the Massachusetts Historical Society says the proclamation was issued "in order to avoid confrontations with Indian nations". Card B, a summary in our words from the Massachusetts Historical Society and the National Park Service: the war with France ended in 1763 and left England with "a soaring debt to service." In 1764 George Grenville told the king: "it is just and necessary, that a revenue be raised, in your Majesty's said dominions in America, for defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing the same." The Sugar Act, passed April 5, 1764, was for the first time directly imposing a tax on the colonists, cracked down on smuggling and sent violators to courts without juries. Colonial merchants feared it would cut their profits. The Society says Grenville knew the Sugar Act would not raise enough revenue in the colonies, so he had a stamp tax drafted. Card C, a summary in our words from the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Historical Society: the Stamp Act, enacted March 22, 1765 and due to take effect November 1, taxed legal documents, newspapers, playing cards and dice. It passed the House of Commons by 245 to 49 and the House of Lords unanimously. It was expected to bring in only 60,000 pounds a year, but had to be paid in hard currency. Twelve of the thirteen stamp distributors in the colonies resigned before distributing stamps. In October 1765, twenty-seven delegates from nine colonies met as the Stamp Act Congress and adopted fourteen resolutions. Card D, a summary in our words from the National Park Service, with a quotation from the Avalon Project: on March 18, 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act (the Commons voted 275 to 167, and the Lords by a narrow majority of 34 votes) and passed the Declaratory Act unanimously. The Declaratory Act said Parliament had "full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever". Card E, a summary in our words from the National Park Service: Grenville told Parliament in March 1764 that he hoped "that the power and sovereignty of Parliament over every part of the British dominions, for the purpose of raising or collecting any tax, would never be disputed." Colonial writers pledged loyalty to the King and Parliament but denied the claim that colonists "are virtually represented in Parliament." In January 1766, William Pitt upheld Parliament's right to make laws for the colonies but not to tax them, and called virtual representation "the most contemptible idea that ever entered into the head of a man."

2. 1.

   Card A is the king's own proclamation. What is it best evidence for, Ari asks?

   • Why Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765
   • How most colonists felt about the western lands after the war
   • The orders and reasons the Crown gave, in its own words
   • How much land settlers actually bought in the west
3. 2.

   Cards B and C show Britain moving from the Sugar Act to the Stamp Act. Which link explains the move, Esme asks?

   • The Sugar Act would not raise enough revenue, so a stamp tax was drafted
   • The colonial boycotts of 1765 showed that the Sugar Act had already failed
   • The Declaratory Act of 1766 required Parliament to pass a new stamp tax
   • The Stamp Act came first, and the Sugar Act was written later to replace it
4. 3.

   Card C: the Commons passed the Stamp Act 245 to 49. About what share voted against it, Jun asks?

   • About 83 percent, because 245 voted yes
   • About 17 percent, roughly one vote in six
   • About 17 percent, so the colonists accepted the Act
   • About 20 percent, found by dividing 49 by 245
5. 4.

   A student writes: "Every stamp distributor resigned, so the Stamp Act raised no money." How strong is that claim, given card C, Kira asks?

   • Strong: card C says the distributors resigned in the colonies in 1765
   • Weak: card C says twelve of thirteen resigned, not all of them
   • Strong: the repeal in 1766 proves no stamps were ever sold
   • Weak: card C says the Act was repealed before taking effect
6. 5.

   Cards B and C describe reactions to two taxes. What do they show together about colonial reaction, Luz asks?

   • The Stamp Act upset people, but the Sugar Act was welcomed by merchants
   • Merchants opposed the Sugar Act; distributors and delegates opposed the Stamp Act
   • Colonists as a whole opposed both acts equally and in exactly the same ways
   • The colonists wanted the Declaratory Act and asked Parliament to pass it in 1766 after the repeal
7. 6.

   A student says: "In 1765 the colonists rejected all of Parliament's authority." How strong is that claim, given card E, Milo asks?

   • Strong: Grenville's words show that Parliament was not willing to listen
   • Strong: card C shows that stamp distributors resigned in protest at the Act itself
   • Weak: card E says the colonists were already represented in Parliament
   • Weak: card E says colonial writers pledged loyalty and objected only to taxes
8. 7.

   Cards B to D cover 1764 to 1766. What changed, and what stayed the same, in Britain's position, Noah asks?

   • Parliament agreed that the colonial assemblies alone could ever tax the colonists
   • Parliament repealed both the Stamp Act and the Declaratory Act on the same day
   • Parliament gave up its claim of power over the colonies and kept the Stamp Act in force
   • The Stamp Act was repealed, but the Declaratory Act kept Parliament's claim of power
9. 8.

   Card E gives Grenville's and Pitt's views. How do they differ, Pia asks?

   • Grenville denied Parliament's right to tax the colonists; Pitt defended that right in Parliament
   • Both men said that the colonists were already represented in Parliament
   • Grenville said Parliament's power to tax was not to be disputed; Pitt denied that right
   • Both men said that Parliament had no right to make laws for the colonies
10. 9.

    Card C: the Act was due to take effect on November 1, 1765. Card D: it was repealed March 18, 1766. About how long was it in force, Ren asks?

    • About 4 and a half months (137 days), a short time
    • About 4 and a half months, with the stamps sold throughout the colonies
    • About 12 months, counted from the March 22, 1765 passage
    • About 2 months
11. 10.

    Grenville spoke to Parliament, and colonial writers wrote for the public and the King (card E). How might each audience shape the message, Tala asks?

    • Both wrote mainly about the Proclamation of 1763 and the lands in the west
    • Both stressed the price of stamps and how much each colonist would have to pay
    • Grenville stressed Parliament's authority; colonial writers stressed loyalty and no representation
    • Grenville stressed his loyalty to the colonists; colonial writers stressed Parliament's authority over them