The Townshend Acts sparked colonial outrage by taxing imported goods and asserting British control. Colonists protested through boycotts and political writings, fostering unity against British policies. These acts laid the groundwork for future resistance and collective action.

The Boston Massacre in 1770 heightened tensions between colonists and British troops. The deadly confrontation became a symbol of British oppression, fueling anti-British sentiment and calls for independence. It marked a turning point in colonial-British relations.

The Townshend Acts

Purpose and impact of Townshend Acts

• Raise revenue to help pay for the cost of maintaining British troops stationed in the colonies after the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)
• Assert Parliament's authority to tax the colonies directly, challenging the colonial distinction between internal and external taxes
• Placed duties on imported goods such as glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea (Townshend Duties) to be paid by colonists
• Established the American Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston to enforce trade regulations and crack down on smuggling
• Suspended the New York Assembly until it complied with the Quartering Act, which required colonies to provide housing and supplies for British troops
• Increased resentment and resistance against British taxation and control, as colonists argued that the acts violated their rights as Englishmen
• Led to widespread boycotts of British goods (non-importation agreements) organized by merchants and citizens
• Encouraged colonial unity and cooperation in opposition to British policies, laying the groundwork for future collective action

Colonial protests against Townshend Acts

• Non-importation agreements signed by merchants and citizens to refuse British goods and encourage domestic production and self-sufficiency
• Boycotts were effective in reducing British imports (up to 50% in some colonies) and pressuring Parliament to repeal the acts
• Political writings and propaganda argued against taxation without representation and defended colonial rights
  • John Dickinson's "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" (1767-1768) argued that the Townshend Acts were unconstitutional and violated colonial rights as Englishmen
  • Samuel Adams' "Massachusetts Circular Letter" (1768) called for united colonial resistance against the acts and was endorsed by other colonial assemblies
• Essays, pamphlets, and newspaper articles helped shape public opinion, galvanize support for the colonial cause, and foster communication between colonies

Colonial Governance and Economic Policies

• British Parliament asserted its authority over the colonies, leading to conflicts with colonial assemblies
• Mercantilism shaped British economic policies, aiming to maximize the empire's wealth through controlled trade
• Colonists engaged in smuggling to circumvent British trade regulations and taxes

The Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre and colonial tensions

• Growing tensions in Boston due to British troops stationed in the city to enforce customs regulations and maintain order after the Townshend Acts
• Clashes between soldiers and civilians over jobs, wages, and personal disputes, as well as resentment over the military occupation
• On March 5, 1770, a confrontation between a group of colonists and British soldiers escalated when colonists taunted and threw objects at the soldiers
• British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists (Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr) and wounding six others
• Intense propaganda battle followed, with colonists portraying the event as a massacre and British authorities defending the soldiers' actions
  • Paul Revere's engraving depicting the event as a brutal massacre by British soldiers
  • John Adams, future President, defended the British soldiers in their trial to demonstrate the colonists' commitment to the rule of law
• Increased anti-British sentiment and calls for independence, as the incident symbolized the growing divide between the colonies and Great Britain
• British eventually removed troops from Boston and repealed most of the Townshend Acts, except for the tax on tea, in an attempt to defuse the situation
• The Boston Massacre demonstrated the escalating tensions and the increasing likelihood of future violent confrontations between colonists and British authorities