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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Crest (the Appalachian Mountain line). It also ordered any settlers who were not living within the lands of the colonies to move to a place where they would be within the bounds of the colonies. The colonist did not agree with this, so they kept pushing to settle west of the Appalachians. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act attempted to stop or lessen by a lot the smuggling of sugar and molasses in the colonies by reducing the previous tax rate and enforcing the collection of the taxes. It also added several products such as hides, skins, and potash to the list of things that could be legally exported. The colonists responded by promoting the boycott of British luxury goods in some colonies and gave some boost to local manufacturing. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act prohibited the issue of any new bills and the reissue of existing currency. Parliament favored a "hard currency" system based on the pound sterling. It also simply abolished the colonial bills. The colonists were not happy with this because they thought it would worsen the trade deficit they already had with Britain. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was issued by Britain so they could gather the money to pay back the debt of the French & Indian War. The act required several different documents to have a stamp which was, of course, paid for by who needed the stamp. Some of the items were newspapers, licenses, trade letters, or legal documents. The colonists were not happy so they insisted that only the colonial assemblies had the right to tax the colonist. Protests were carried out and petitions were issued against the act. -
Quartering Act of 1765
The Quartering Act listed the locations and conditions in which British soldiers are to find hospitality in the American colonies. The act required the colonies to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies by whatever means necessary. If there wasn't enough room, they had to find it. The New York colonial assembly did not like that they were being ordered to house soldiers. They wished that they would be asked permission, so they didn't follow the law. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act stated that the British’s taxing authority was the same in the colonies as in Great Britain. So, this meant that they could pass any law they found appropriate and it would affect the colonies as well as Britain. The colonist feared that this would just let Britain do whatever they wanted, but they chose to celebrate the fact that the Samp Act was gone. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts placed a tax on British china, glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea imported to the colonies. These items were chosen since Britain thought that the colonies couldn't manufacture these things on their own. The colonist's response to these Acts was to boycott British goods, and some merchants in New England and New York agreed to not import British goods for a year.
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/townshend-acts -
Boston Massacre
The arrival of troops in Boston provoked conflict between citizens and soldiers. A group of soldiers surrounded by an unfriendly crowd opened fire, killing three Americans and fatally wounding two more. The soldiers were tried for murder but were only convicted of lesser crimes with John Adams as their lawyer. -
Tea Act
This act gave British merchants an unfair advantage in selling their tea in America by reducing the tax on imported British tea. American colonists condemned the act, and many planned to boycott tea, leading to protest. -
Boston Tea Party
When British tea ships arrived in Boston harbor, many citizens wanted the tea sent back to England without the payment of any taxes. However, the royal governor insisted on payment of all taxes. One day, a group of men, the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea in the harbor as a way to protest the Tea Act and the statements of the royal governor. -
Coercive Acts
Parliament passed many acts to punish Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Port Bill banned the loading or unloading of any ships in Boston harbor. The Administration of Justice Act offered protection to royal officials in Massachusetts, allowing them to transfer the court cases against them to England. The Massachusetts Government Act put the election of most government officials under the control of the Crown, essentially eliminating the Massachusetts charter of government. -
The Administration of Justice
This act made it to where a case in the courts involving British representatives which also involved murder, they were allowed to take it to Britain where they would have a trial there. -
Quartering Act of 1774
Parliament broadened the previous Quartering Act of 1765, so British troops could now be quartered in any occupied dwelling. -
The First Continental Congress
Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent fifty-six delegates total to the First Continental Congress. Only Georgia was not represented. One accomplishment of the Congress was the Association of 1774, which urged all colonists to avoid using, exporting, or importing British goods and to form committees to enforce this ban. It was held from September 5 to October 26, 1774. To make sure people followed this, they punished whoever was found importing, exporting, or using British goods.
