HISTORY 1DD3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Crispus Attucks, Tea Act, Navigation Acts
19 Jun 2018
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Customs Racketeering
● Townshend also sought to increase revenues through stricter enforcement of the
Navigation Acts and in 1767, he introduced the American Board of Customs
Commissioners. Townshend’s goal was to bring honesty and earn revenue.
●
● This law raised the number of port officials as well as provide money for secret
informers who would be awarded one-third of all goods from smuggling.
● Revenue agents commonly filed charges when there was no evidence of illegal trade.
● Commissioners also made sailors angry by treating sailors’ chest (previously private)
as cargo.
●
● Chests were ruthlessly broken and confiscated as it was not listed on the captain’s
papers. This cost crewmen several months’ wages worth of trading stock.
●John Hancock, reportedly America’s richest merchant and a leading opponent of
British taxation, became the target of commissioners who fined him $9,000.
●
● A crowd began assaulting customs agents and eventually drove off all revenue
inspectors from Boston.
● Britain reacted by sending 4,000 soldiers to Boston. Bostonians resented this
because of their threat to liberty as well as the financial burdens they brought.
● Acts like these expanded colonists’ opposition from “taxation without representation”
to “legislation without representation.” Violence escalated in the years to come.
Boston Massacre (Mar 1770)
●Background Info: Boston took on the atmosphere of an occupied city with so many
troops. Furthermore, the fact that most of these soldiers competed for the same
jobs, and the fact that they were Irish Catholics generated a fierce environment.
● Resentment erupted into violence on Feb 22, 1770 when a informer shot into a
crowd, killing an 11 year old boy.
● On Mar 5, 2010, a crowd led by Indian-African seaman Crispus Attucks fell victim
in a shooting (Boston Massacre). 11 were shot, 5 of whom died (incl. Attucks).
● The shock that followed marked the emotional high point of the Townshend crisis.
● Patriot leader John Adams served as the soldiers’ attorney.
●
● All but two of the soldiers were found guilty, and they suffered only a branding on
their thumbs.
● The shooting of unarmed men and the light punishment led some colonists to think
the British govt. was bent on suppressing them through force.
Lord North’s Partial Retreat (Apr 1770)
● Lord North became the new British PM and was keen to stabilize relations with the
colonies by eliminating most of the Townshend Duties.
● At the same time, he wished to emphasize Britain’s authority, and kept the tax on
tea.
● This partial retreat produced a dilemma for American politicians as to whether strive
for a total victory or only boycott tea. They opted for the non-consumption of tea.
● Meanwhile, the British govt took steps to rein in the powers of the American Board of
Customs Commissioners and the smuggling charges against Hancock were dropped
to avoid a possible conviction to England.
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Document Summary
Townshend also sought to increase revenues through stricter enforcement of the. Navigation acts and in 1767, he introduced the american board of customs. Townshend"s goal was to bring honesty and earn revenue. This law raised the number of port officials as well as provide money for secret informers who would be awarded one-third of all goods from smuggling. Revenue agents commonly filed charges when there was no evidence of illegal trade. Commissioners also made sailors angry by treating sailors" chest (previously private) as cargo. Chests were ruthlessly broken and confiscated as it was not listed on the captain"s papers. This cost crewmen several months" wages worth of trading stock. John hancock, reportedly america"s richest merchant and a leading opponent of. British taxation, became the target of commissioners who fined him ,000. A crowd began assaulting customs agents and eventually drove off all revenue inspectors from boston. Britain reacted by sending 4,000 soldiers to boston.
