Who Was More To Blame For Worsening Relations

Question 1

Who was resistance to the Townsend duties to blame ?

Answer 1

• intended to send message to colonists that parliamentary sovereignty was a fact
• Massachusetts’s assembly in February 1768 circular letter by Samuel Adam’s: attacked duties ‘no taxation without representation’
• revival of sons of liberty
• New Hampshire did no parcipate in the organised boycott

Question 2

** Boston massacre:** why was the establishment of the American Board of Customs Commissioners in Boston, 1767 a mistake

Answer 2

Boston was a leading centre of economic boycott and government sent too few troops to effrctivly stop the smuggling
The commission then asked for Royal Navy support

Question 3

** Boston massacre:** the Seizure of the liberty ?

Answer 3

Captured by the commissioners and HMS Romney
- the liberty belonged to radical John Hancock who was a merchant
- it led to a brawl where officials were mobbed
By summer 1768 the sons of liberty controlled Boston

Question 4

** Boston massacre:** how was the situation made worse by the creation of Secretary of State for colonial and American matters ?

Answer 4

January 1768
- Earl of Hillsborough who decided on firm action
- Boston was to be punished as an example and he order the Massachusetts assembly to rescind the circular letter which was refused by a 92 to 17 vote however the governor closed the assembly

Question 5

** Boston massacre:** what did the closure of the masschuessets assembly do ?

Answer 5

Gave the colonists a set of heroes and sons of liberty got another grievance to campaign on

Boston became ungovernable and Governor Bernard requested forces to reinforce order

Question 6

** Boston massacre:** when do troops arrive ?

Answer 6

September 1768
- inflamed the situation further with the problem of quartering them and some troops looked for work
- their presence was a sign of British interference as many had grown used to salutary neglect

Question 7

** Boston massacre:** how do newspapers create stories ?

Answer 7

Made up stories of soldiers brutality and encouraged the idea of standing armies being equates with tyranny and despotism

Question 8

** Boston massacre:** what sparked outrage ?

Answer 8

The death of an 11 year old boy killed by riots and the sons of liberty turned his funeral into a demonstration

Question 9

** Boston massacre:** defence of customs house ?

Answer 9

Troops were attacked by colonists who took a soldier

Question 10

** Boston massacre:** 5 March 1770 troops firing ?

Answer 10

Whilst trying to reduce their captured soldier they were attacked and opened five killing 5 civilians
It altered the view that the arbitrary government was prepared to use an army to gun down civilians who simply wanted to uphold their rights

Question 11

What was the outcome of the Boston massacre ?

Answer 11

Changed popular opinion
- Lord North repealed the Townsend duties but kept the tax on tea to remind the power of government
- committees of correspondence set up in Boston and other places