Colonial Leaders

Colonial Leaders

British Leaders

The British leaders supported the idea of raising taxes on the American colonists to help pay for debt from the French and Indian War. The British government taxed the colonists living in the British colonies in North America to increase Britain’s control over the colonies. The British leaders we will be discussing include William Pitt, George Grenville, and Charles Townshend.

William Pitt

• He served as the Prime Minister and wanted to build Britain into a great imperial empire.

• He devised a strategy to defeat the French in the French and Indian War. 

• He criticized the government for being to harsh on the colonies. 

• He thought the taxation went too far!

• Resigned in 1761. 

George Grenville

• He became Prime Minister after the French and Indian War. 

• He was well prepared but lacked speaking and leadership skills. 

• Britain faced a heavy financial burden after the war. 

• His solution was to make the colonies pay for the war. 

• He created heavy taxes in the colonies called the Sugar Act & Stamp Act. 

• His taxes caused the colonists to protest.

The Sugar Act and The Stamp Act

• The Sugar Act taxed sugar and molasses. The colonists used these things almost every day. They put sugar in their tea. They used molasses for baking. 

  
  

  
  

• The Stamp Act taxed things that were made of paper. Letter, newspaper, and even playing cards had to have special stamps.

Charles Townshend

• He served as the financial leader in the British government.

• He wanted to increase British control over the colonies.

• He hoped to raise money from the colonies, by creating new taxes called the Townshend Acts.

• The Townshend Acts placed taxes on glass, paper, and paint.

• The Townshend Acts further divided the relationship between the colonists and Britain’s government.

Multiple Choice

Who was a British leader who criticized Britain’s treatment of the American colonies?

• William Pitt

• George Grenville

• Benjamin Franklin

• Charles Townshend

Multiple Choice

What was George Grenville’s opinion on taxing the colonies?

• He though the colonies should not be taxed at all.

• He thought the colonies should be taxed to pay for debt from the war.

• He thought the colonies should collect their own taxes.

Multiple Choice

What did Parliament do to address the huge debt created by the French and Indian War?

• It created new trade agreements with the colonists.

• It created new taxes for American colonists.

• It created new trade agreements with American Indians.

Multiple Choice

Which tactic did Charles Townshend use to increase British control of the American colonies?

• He created new taxes on the American colonists to raise revenue.

• He established new trade measures and prohibitions.

• He drew a new boundary between French and English colonies.

Colonial Leaders

The colonial leaders during the Revolutionary Era included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Firebrands- Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry, Business leaders- John Hancock and Paul Revere, and John Adams.

George Washington

• He was a military leader in the French and Indian War. 

• He was a wealthy estate owner in Virginia after marrying Martha Washington.

• He served in the House of Burgesses (Virginia’s Colonial Legislature) He supported the colonial protests against British taxation.

• He will lead the Continental Army in the American Revolution.

• He will become the first President of the United States of America.

Benjamin Franklin

• He was a well known American all over the world in the 1760s.

• He was a printer and writer.

• He made great advances in math and science.

• He lived in London for many years, since he was chosen by the Pennsylvania Assembly to represent PA. 

• He wanted to ease the tensions between Britain and the colonists after the French and Indian War.

Multiple Choice

Benjamin Franklin, the best-known American colonist in the 1760s,

• often delivered fiery speeches against the British.

• was an wealthy merchant and smuggler.

• gained success as a printer and a writer.

Multiple Choice

How did Benjamin Franklin approach the growing dispute between America and the British government?

• He tried to smooth over tensions through discussion and compromise.

• He actively supported higher taxes on the colonists.

• He worked to cause conflict by leading protests against the British.

What is a firebrand?

• A person who encourages

• An agitator

• A troublemaker

• Promoter of a cause

• Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry were aggressive promoters against British taxation on the colonies

Samuel Adams

• Politician of the American Revolution

• Cousin of John Adams

• Often wrote letters to newspapers speaking about independence from Britain, but used lots of different names – why? He wanted people to think that all of Boston was fighting for independence!

• Started a protest during the Stamp Act of 1765 – he was afraid that they would start taxing everything!

• Helped plan the Boston Tea Party as a founding member of the Sons of Liberty

• Demanded- “No Taxation without Representation”

Patrick Henry

• A lawyer from Virginia

• Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses – one of the first representative governments in the colonies

• Fought against the Stamp Act Gave many speeches, urging them to take up arms in self-defense because Britain had gone too far

• Famous ending – “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

• Spoke out against British taxation and led radical opposition against the British government

John Hancock

• He was one of the few wealthy men who was not a loyalist

•  He was strongly against the Stamp Act – why? He owned a huge shipping business and had to sign lots of legal documents, all of which were being taxed

• Owned a ship, the Liberty, that was seized by the British who thought he was smuggling goods (he actually was!)

• Involved in the boycott on tea and played a behind-the-scenes role in the Boston Tea Party

• Financed the arming of the Minutemen

John Hancock continued...

• He was a merchant from Boston

• He often smuggled goods to increase his wealth, especially during the time of taxation

• He was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.

• 
  

Multiple Choice

How did John Hancock react to British colonial policy?

• He created silver engravings to promote colonial protests.

• He smuggled goods into the colonies, avoiding customs regulations.

• He joined the Sons of Liberty to speak out against British policies.

Paul Revere

• A well-known silversmith and engraver 

• Joined the Sons of Liberty- A group that protested British government policies.

• Spread word of the Boston Tea Party to NY and Philadelphia

• Received instructions from Dr. Warren to ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Sam Adams (2 “wanted” men) of the British approach – warning the colonists that the British are coming!

Multiple Choice

How did Paul Revere use his profession as a means of protest during the 1760s?

• He was a silversmith who created engravings to promote colonial protests.

• He was a lawyer who drafted legal arguments criticizing British policies.

• He was a speaker who delivered fiery speeches against the British.

John Adams

• Became Massachusetts’ leading attorney.

• He has a sharp legal mind and used his intelligence to question Parliament's rights to tax the colonists.

• He criticized the corrupt nature of British politics and opposed British taxes on British imports.

• He was highly against the Stamp Act .

• He defended the British soldiers after the massacre in Boston Delegate to both Continental Congresses – fought for independence!

• He was the 2nd President of the U.S.

Multiple Choice

Which colonial leader became the second president of the United States?

• Patrick Henry

• John Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the background of John Adams?

• He was a merchant who smuggled goods to avoid customs.

• He was a plantation owner and former military leader.

• He was a lawyer who questioned Britain’s tax policies.

Abigail Adams

• Abigail's mother taught her to read and write.

• She was the wife of John Adams

• She was well-informed about current events

• She managed her family's farm

• She supported women’s rights and opposed slavery.

• She argued for more educational opportunities for girls.

Multiple Choice

Who was a first lady who lobbied for educational opportunities for women?

• Abigail Adams

• Mercy Otis Warren

• Martha Washington