The History of the Townsend Act - Term Paper Example

?Your History of the Townsend Act After outright failure of Stamp Act on March 18, 1766, English government could not accept the overwhelming defeat from the colonists. In order to reinstate their might and to remindAmericans about England’s sovereignty, Parliament imposed the Declaratory Act in 1766, as the Stamp Act was reversed (Burnett 41).The law was basically a remainder that said, “Don’t forget [and] we’re still in charge!” (qtd. in Burnett 41).At the same time, British treasurer George Grenville not only disappointed King on the matter of war debt payment but created even more problems in the colonies. Therefore, he was terminated and replaced by Charles Townshend. Though Townshend successfully named the next Act after his name, but he didn’t learnt lessons from Grenville’s experience with colonists (qtd. in Burnett 41). The year 1767 brought a different series of measures that stimulated and recreated the conflict. Considering the discontent over increased tax, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend introduced a new fiscal program (Clack and Alonzo 40).Partially influenced by Benjamin Franklin’s arguments in Parliament, Townshend wrongly assumed that contrary to the Stamp Act, colonists would accept the tax on imported goods (Mintz).The basis purpose was to reduce British taxes by means of increased and efficient collection of duties imposed on American trade. Therefore, he readjusted custom administration and enacted duties on goods that colonies imported from Britain, such as, lead, paper, tea, glass. The “Townshend Acts” were based on the assumption that taxed on imported goods from colonies was legal whereas internally imposed taxes, such as, Stamp Act were illegal (Clack and Alonzo 40). Stimulation for imposing the Townshend Acts was to collect revenue that would be partially used to support colonial administration, in addition to maintain and provide supplies to British army in America(Burnett 41).Mintz explains that the purpose of collecting duties was revenue collection for paying judges and governors because colonial assemblies were responsible to compensate colonial officials. The Townsend Act was received as an attack on American legislative authority. Colonists were outraged, they not only objected the implementation of new duties but also they way collected money would be spent and new administration (Mintz). Reacting to the whole situation, John Dickinson, a Philadelphia layer, argued in Letters 1of a Pennsylvania Farmer that despite the fact that Parliament can control imperial commerce, it is unlawful to tax the colonies, whether the taxes are imposed externally or internally (Clack and Alonzo 40). Townshend appointed a new board of customs commissioners who were supposed to be more efficient in setting and maintain customs system. On the other hand, American merchants considered new bureaucracy was an effort to setting up the system of official corruption in colonies (Mintz). Learning from their past lessons, success of the boycott, and successful rejection of the Stamp Act, colonists united again in order to achieve their goal(Burnett 41).Boston merchants acquires a non-importation agreement in 1768 in which they preferred not to import certain goods over paying taxes. By 1769, merchants from all over America joined hands with Bostonians and they gave a serious jerk to British exports (Mintz). Their boycott dropped British exports to over 40%, due to bleak financial conditions; British merchants pressurized Parliament to abolish the Act (Burnett 41).American women contributed actively in the protests against Townshend Acts. “Daughters of Liberty” successfully campaigned against imported tea and clothing (Mintz). At the same time, ministry closed some western forts and deployed British troops in coastal areas again. According to 1765’s Quartering Act, colonists were responsible to not only provide food but also housing for the troops. But New York’s refusal to provide for the troops infuriated the “rulers”. Townshend threatened to repeal all of all New York’s assembly laws until and unless Quartering Act was accepted. Other colonies united for New York’s support and threatened to reject all the laws imposed by British Parliament (Mintz). Considering the increased interference of Parliament in American economy, Virginia House of Burgesses compiled the Virginia Resolves. Principally led by George Washington and George Mason, Virginia Resolves drew upon American disregard and rejection for Parliament intervention (Burnett 41). Playing his cards masterfully, Townshend amended Quartering Act which asked soldiers to stay in barracks, vacant buildings, and barns rather than colonists homes, however, the comparatively weaker Act accelerated the resistance (Mintz).Clack and Alonzo further observe that enactment of Townshend Act created fewer disturbances as compared to the one followed by the imposition of Stamp Act, nevertheless, it was intense predominantly in the areas of Eastern seaboard. Merchants reinstated non-importation agreements, colonists used local products rather than imported ones, such as, they used locally made cloths, found alternatives for tea, used home made paper, and kept their houses without paint (4).Furthermore, Mintz states: Many colonists also objected to the unscrupulous actions of British customs officials, some of whom began to enrich themselves by accusing ship owners and merchants of smuggling and then confiscating ships and cargoes. In June 1768, a crowd attacked local customs collectors who had seized a sloop owned by John Hancock (1737-1739) one of the colonies’ richest merchants. According to Clack and Alonzo, “In Boston, enforcement of the new regulations provoked violence. When customs officials south to collect duties, they were set upon by the populace and roughly handled. For this infraction, two British regiments were dispatched to protect the customs commissioners” (40).Displeased with the Townshend Act’s rejection from Americans, Britain sent more troops in order to control and watch the colonists closely. The purpose was to control before they actually lose control. However, their arrival was rigidly disapproved by Americans (Burnett 42). Presence of British army in Boston proved to be an open invitation to chaos. Bostonians were extremely expressive of their anger through protests and they smuggled tea. In 1769, British Parliament introduced the Writs of Assistances, which permitted the search of colonists home (Kaplan 100). Hostility on March 5th, 1770 again flamed up into violence.2 Initiated as undisruptive snowballing from British army, it soon developed into mob attack followed by unknown order to open fire on people. The situation resulted in three Bostonian deaths3 and recalled as “Boston Massacre”. Later, the whole situation and consequences were dramatized and represented as British oppression and domination (Clack and Alonzo 41).American leadership stirred anti-British sentiments by reminding Americans about “Boston massacre” and motivated them for liberation (Woodworth 53). The impact of such representation was that Britain removed the troops from Boston and colonies made considerable progress during this period. However, the peace and affluence was not permanent (Burnett (42). Subjected to such an intense opposition, Townshend duties were annulled and Parliament decided to go far a strategic retreat. The duties on tea were not exempt, it was a luxury product and used by only a small group of people. For a majority of people, British withdrawal on duties was a major triumph of colonials and anti-England campaign went down considerably.4 The embargo on “English tea” was resumed but it was not observed religiously (Clack and Alonzo 41). British East India Company was facing financial lose as a consequence of embargo and they had tons of tea rotting on British ports. In order to drag the Company from loses; British Parliament permitted the Company to sell tea in America without charging them for export duties. This step made British tea comparatively much cheaper than those of sold by American local merchant. The British selling price was extremely low, American merchants could not compete with British merchants and lost considerable amounts which was unbearable. To express American disdain over unjust and forced implementation of taxation laws, some colonists5 entered into British tea ships and dumped the tea into the water. People who observed them doing so spread the incident throughout colonies and British tea was dumped everywhere in colonies and became known as Boston Tea Party (Burnett 43). Burnett further explains that extremely infuriated by Boston Tea Party, Parliament reaction came in the form of Coercive Acts; commonly attributed as Intolerable Acts by colonists in 1974(43).Burnett states, “These Acts closed all ports in Boston, prohibited the organization of private meetings, gave British soldiers the right to live in private homes, tried certain crimes in England and expanded boundaries of Quebee” (44).Quebee was the last Act, purpose of enforcing this Act was not to rebuke Boston but in colonists understand, it was symbolic Act that revealed British intent for extending their rule and power(Burnett 44). In order to argue on the American response over Intolerable Acts, all American colonies6 sent their delegations to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia which released Declaration of Rights and Grievances. During first declaration, it was stipulated that if King George III didn’t approve the demands then there will be another Congress. However, at second Congress, Revolutionary War had started. Now, the issue of concern was not compensation of grievance instead America was demanding independence and her bright future (Thotex et al. 21). Stamp Act failure urged British government for Declaratory Act in 1766 that reestablished British sovereignty on America. Disappointed by George Grenville’s performance, British Parliament replaced him with Charles Townshend who brought a series of Acts aiming for revenue collection in order to meet the needs of British administration in American colonies. Townshend Acts believed that imposing external tax and collecting revenue from them would be easier but it was just a misconception. American colonies soon proved that they would not tolerate injustice and will stand for their rights. John Dickinson’s Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer, non-importation agreement in 1768 and boycott, resistance to Quartering Act, Virginia Resolves, Boston Massacre, and The Tea Act and Boston Tea Party were the milestones which shaped the future of American colonies. Most important and inspiring is the stern determination and courage of American nation against the unjust forces and oppression which led them to independence and thus, bright future. Work Cited Burnett, Eric J.eds. The best American history book in the world. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc., 2003.Print. Clack, George, and Alonzo L. Hamby. Outline of U.S. history. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2007.Print. Kaplan.SAT: subject test, U.S. history 2009-2010.New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing Inc., 2009.Print. Mintz, S. “The Townshend Acts.” Digital History.uh.edu. Digital History Home, 2007.Web.12 Feb. 2011. Thotex, E, et al.US history.books.google.com.Wikibooks.1 March 2007.Web.12 Feb. 2011. Woodworth, Steven E.The essentials of Unites States history: 1500 to 1789, from colony to republic. Piscataway, New Jersey: Research &Education Association, 2000.Print. Read More