Question

document 4: the quartering act (1765)
1 i have said that the tension between britain and america is likely to return. here is
2 why: in the same parliament session as the stamp act, a law was passed to organize
3 the quartering of soldiers in america. the law said that empty houses, barns, and so
4 on could be rented for soldiers, and that the colonies where they stayed must pay the
5 cost and provide heat, bedding, food, drink, and other items for the soldiers, for free.
6 the only way any colony can do this is by raising taxes. pennsylvania has passed
7 such a tax law. the new york assembly has refused.
8
9 the governors reasons for new yorks refusal are: first, they believe the law should
10 mean giving such things to soldiers only during wartime, not to large groups of
11 soldiers staying in the colony during peacetime - the cost is more than people can
12 afford. second, it would allow the head of the british army to oppress the colonists if
13 he wished... there is also another reason, though not stated clearly: they feel this is
14 like an internal tax placed on them by parliament, which has no right to do so without
15 the colonies having representation in parliament.
16
17 meanwhile, every act that feels like oppression will make their feelings worse... and
18 speed up their final revolt. the seeds of liberty are spread everywhere there, and
19 nothing can remove them...
source: benjamin franklin, letter to henry home, lord kames, 25 february 1767, excerpts on
the quartering act and the resurgent \tension between the two countries\

1. which broader colonial concern is reflected (shown) in new yorks opposition (rejection)

to the quartering act, as described in franklins letter?
a) fear of military control and violation of local self - government
b) desire to expand trade with european powers
c) support for permanent british military presence in the colonies
d) willingness to raise taxes to support imperial (empire) defense

1. how does benjamin franklins point of view in the excerpt help explain the growing

divide between britain and its american colonies in the years before the revolutionary
war?
\he argues it felt like ________ and could lead to ________\

Explanation:

For question 1:

• Option A: The text mentions that New York believes the law could allow the British Army head to oppress colonists (military control aspect) and they also have issues with what they perceive as an internal tax without proper representation (violation of local self - government as they have no say in Parliament).
• Option B: There is no mention of trade expansion in the text related to the opposition to the Quartering Act.
• Option C: New York is refusing the act, so they do not support a permanent British military presence in the way the act is structured.
• Option D: New York has refused to pass a tax law related to the act, so they are not willing to raise taxes for this imperial defense - related cost.

For question 2:

• The text says “every act that feels like oppression will make their feelings worse... and speed up their final revolt”. So Franklin argues it felt like oppression and could lead to revolt.

Answer:

1. A. Fear of military control and violation of local self - government
2. He argues it felt like oppression and could lead to revolt.