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Declaration Events
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Sugar Act
Parrliament passes the Sugar Act. The Sugar Act raises taxes on items such as sufar, wine, coffee, dyes and cloth. The act reduces taxes on molasses from the French Caribbean. The colonies protest. -
Currency Act
Parliament passes the Currency Act prohibiting the colonies from issuing paper money. Because silver and gold are not permitted to be imported into the colonies, it is difficult to conduct buisiness. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act provide the British troops a place to live and provides them with certain provisions such as salt, blankets and candles. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act imposes a tax on most paper goods-playing cards, books, pamphlets-and all legal documents registered are taxed as well, such as wills, deeds and tax documents. Opposition to the Stamp Act is formed quickly. Open demonstrations take place. Protest groups form. Tax collecters are harassed and threatened. The sons of liberty organize to resist and to gain repeal of the Stamp Act. -
Declartory Act
The Declaratory Act reaffirmed Parliament's right to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever." Under pressure from British merchants suffering from a depression and the colonial boycott of British goods, Parliament repeals the Stamp Act on the same day it passed the Declaratory Act. The Declartory Act reaffirmed Parliament's right to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever." -
Restraining Act
The Restraining Act suspends the New York legislature until the colony supplies and houses the British soldiers stationed there under the provisions of the Quartering Act. -
Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act moved the capital to Salem and established Marblehead as the port of entry. It also provided that the port of Boston would remain closed until the tea that had been dumped at the Boston Tea Party was paid for. -
Justice Act
The Justice Act gave the governor the power to move trials from Massachusetts to other colonies and to England. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act passes Parliament granting Quebec large grants of land that the American Colonists considered theirs for settlement. -
Adoption
Lee's June 7th resolution is adopted by Congress. On which congress orders the Declarationg of Independence be encrossed on parchment suitible for signing. In Septemper, Richard Henery Lee, Elbridge Gerry and Oliver Wolcott signed the Declaration. In
November, Matthew Thornton signs the Declaration. -
Declaration
The Declaration of Independence, as amended, is adopted by Congress. A committie of five is appointed by the Continental Congress to draft a DEclaration of Independence. Benjamin Fraklin, Roger Sherman, John Adams, Robert Livingson and Thomas Jefferson are appointed to the committee to write the Declaration of Independence. Adams wrote that Jefferson "brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent for composition. -
The Signing
The Declaration of Independence is signed by the 50 members of Congress present. Sometime during the year, After hearing someone comment that all signers "must hang together," Bejamin Franklin remarks, "Yes, we must all hang together or we shall hang seperatly." Colonel Thomas McKean signs the Declaration of Independence. Though present during the voting, he had been absent on August 2, 1776, when most menbers of congress signed the parchment. McKean is the last person to sign the document.
