Complément cours CDM Martellet (stamp act crisis 1)

karuto Jeu 29 Nov - 19:06

18 october 2007

CDM / ANGLAIS

Cours 4

The Stamp Act Crisis(doc 3)

Doc A :
Several stamps acts before, it is the fourth. Different from the other : first attempt directly to impose taxes forcefully. The Stamp Act is only imposed in England = the crown didn't feel it was unfair.

To pay the English debt : 8 millions pou nds. Money back into royal coffers.
Political aspect :the crown was trying to have more direct control over the colonist them selves and taxation was a means to regain control over the colonies.

Several colonists had express the wish for taxes to be voted in each colony and in proportion with what the colonist could afford to pay : taxed only by they OWN representatives, not by London.

The minister of finance in England felt that colonies was part of kingdom and should be equally taxed with the British subject.

This text a series of excerpts (extract) of Virginia Resolutions, not all voted. Virginia General Assembly : the legislative body of Virginia : pass this law in reaction to the Stamp Act. Virginia was subjects to taxation only by his colonial s
assembly, two resolutions not voted : too radical :
- urged civil disobedience
- equated supports of the Stamp Act to an act of rebellion against the colonial authorities.
But unfortunately they were published into the press.

First : colonist were British subjects, so they should the same ... : not second class subjects.

Second : royal charters : became very common as the colonial period reach his end. 3 types of colonies :
* charter colonies : created with the King permission, by settlers who were given financing and management by a charter coming from a corporation based in England : Plymouth Company, Virginia Company of London issued stock to support colonial expeditions.
to issue stock : diviser le capital en actions.
Many charter colonies : The Massachusetts Bay company, the Hudson's Bay company ...
They defined relationship between colony and the crown. The charter gave the sponsors of the colony broad governing powers including the authority to appoint a colony's governor and to make its own laws.
In order to attract settlers, this sponsors made many concessions : habit of relative autonomy since the beginning.
In 1618 : the Virginia colonists obtain a charter which give them the right to call an assembly of representatives and all colonies ended up have colonial bodies
* proprietary colonies : Maryland, Pennsylvania
belonged to one person or to a group of persons instead of a company. The charter was made by us. This people were given the right of government over the land to be colonized.
William Penn.
This ... relinquished (gave up) a part of their powers to the people by accepting formation of legislative bodies elected by the colony. Even in this type of colony, we have a representative assembly.
* Incorporated colonies : Connecticut
The leaders of this colonies requested the charter from the crown but only after the colonies had been settled. The leader of the colony asks for the King protection ; the King doesn't impose him self.

As time past, changes happened. As the start, certain degree of autonomy, they owed (devoir) allegiance to the crown, but they removed from the direct jurisdictions of the crown : they were not directly governed by the king, this degree of autonomy : problem.
Some colonies were not very well managed, the King try to regain control of this colonies : wanted to have a closer look that was going done in colonies. How ? By changing the status of this colonies : became royal colonies (little by little all colonies became like that)
Characteristics : the King was represented by a royal governor, and he had the power of veto over the legislation of the colony ==> New Hampshire, Massachusetts.
When the Declaration of independence was published only four colonies were still not royal colonies but charter colonies : Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rode Island.

Third : taxed proportionally and more equally : nobody could escape taxation
London can't see the real situation in the colony. Ancient constitution : no constitution in England of we peak of a single document, but there is a plurality of documents which were considered like that
- 1215 : The Magna Carta : defined the relationship by the King and is Barons : could only be tried by their peers : the King couldn't try (?) somebody alone (to go to court)
- 1628 : the Petition of Rights : somehow limited the powers of the crown and increased the powers of the Parliament in the domain of taxation (had to be voted) and arbitrary imprisonments (due process of law : Habeas Corpus) : the beginning of parliamentary monarchy
- 1689 : The Bill of Right : confirm the increase in the prerogatives of Parliament and guaranties individual freedoms to the citizens. Glorious Revolution : established parliamentary monarchy.

==> this collection of text guaranties importance of Parliament and citizen freedoms => colonist have rights thanks to the constitution

Fourth : a number of taxation they accepted : external taxes : on goods coming from Britain : we are not obliged to buy this tax.
But internal taxes : we are obliged to pay those taxes.
Virginia always respected the King since 1607 (James Town)
Taxes law had always been voted by assembly without intervention of the King.
1624 : royal colony ! The colony lost part of its freedom.

Fifth : to extreme. Provided that the General Assembly had the monopoly to vote laws, any laws voted by the Parliament of London was presented as a law which vies with (concurrencer) the General Assembly's laws.
The inhabitants still claims to have the only controls over their tax laws : refuted by the King and his cabinet because the King felt a more direct intervention of the crown in the colony was necessary.
Last sentence : if the subjects of the King were not respect in their freedom in colonies, he could do the same in Britain.

Doc B :
Governor of Massachusetts after Governor of New Jersey.
He was not unsympathetic to the colonies grievances. He proposed that the colonies be granted the right to levy (to raise) their own internal taxes and that they will be given representation in the London Parliament.
Advice ignored.
As a loyal servant of the crown, he obeys. He dissolved the Massachusetts Assembly in 1768, after it had adopted the Massachusetts Circular Letter denouncing the Townshend Act.
Effort to mollify (adoucir) : Britain recored Bernard to England and he died here.
He immediately confess that the crisis were costing shadow of disgrace over the colony of Massachusetts.
This mans could foresee that troubles would grow, and became a great resistance, more than what expected.

This two articles not published stirred public protest : urged civil disobedience of the stamp act and equated support of the act to rebellion against colonial authorities.
But this resolves rakes the embers of revolt (mettre le feu aux poudre).
Verbal violence of the local press : full of defamation : right things which damage somebody reputation and which are against the law. Unpleasant and untrue.
He seems also to suggest that the King had also be incapable to evaluate the troubles : criticism.
He narrated an episode of the rebellion (summed up). Effigy of Mister Oliver : he was charges to distribute the stamp and he focuses the angry of the colonist. He want to show that violence will soon make real victims.
“boyish sport” : amusement, entertainment.
==> Boston tea party crystallized the opposition of the colonist to the crown.
The Virginia Resolves raised points that we can't understand but also point that we can discuss. Paradoxical. : they want two things which aren't really compatible.
They wanted to have their cake and eat it : avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre.