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Proclamation of 1763
The British Government locked away all their western territory and parts of Canada for the Native Americans, therefore halting colonial expansion. The colonists felt that this act violated their right to settle and own new land. -
Sugar Act
Rum was no longer allowed to be imported into the colonies from foreign countries and taxes were placed on luxury items, including wine, silk, and coffee. In order to prevent illegal smuggling, they also lowered the cost of molasses. Colonies protested against this act, declaring it unfair taxation and detrimental to their businesses. -
Currency Act
The paper currency of the colonies was restricted by the British government from being used as payment or to be further printed in any way, forcing them to used pounds as their form of money. This proved to be harmful to the colonies as they have little of this currency, disrupting their economy as a result. -
Stamp Act
A unreasonable tax was placed on all forms of papers and documents, including newspapers, pamphlets, licenses, and leases. This act caused particular hostility amongst the colonists, further their protest of "no taxation without representation" and causing them to boycott goods to Great Britain. The Sons of Liberty, prominent figures in the revolution, and the Stamp Act Congress, the first joining of colonies against the British government, also formed as a result of this act. -
Quartering Act of 1765
It becomes required for colonists to provide food and shelter for British troops in the colonies. This act makes the colonists extremely upset, furthering their distrust of their parent county. -
Declaratory Act
In response to the colonies' protest against the Stamp Act and its subsequent repeal, the British government passed an act that would reinforce their power over the colonies and their ability to pass laws affecting them, including their power to tax. The colonists felt that this was another breach in the independent nature of the colonies. -
Townshend Act
In another attempt to charge more money from the colonies to pay for their expenses for their army in America and colonial officers, the British government imposed charges for the import of goods such as tea, glass, oil, lead, paper, and paint. In response, the colonists and merchants settled to rely less on imports and focus on local goods. In some instances, the enforcement of the act would lead to violence between the royal officers and the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
Tensions from the preceding acts eventually hit a high and resulted British soldiers attacking crowds of colonists after a slight annoyance, leaving 3 dead and more injured. The soldiers got recieved a light punishment in relation to their crimes, letting the colonists once again to use the incident as an example of British tyranny. -
Boston Tea party
After authorization was given to the East India Company by the British government to have full control over tea distribution and imports to the colonies, colonial traders stood with the protesters against, thus resulting in a incident where colonists threw over the tea cargo to avoid paying tax. This event made the British government fully realize how out of their control the colonies have gotten. -
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British government passed several acts in the colonies as punishment, including demanding the Boston Harbor to be closed until the dumped tea has been paid off, banning town meetings without the governer's permission, and transfering trials for any accused British officers to be held in England or another colony. The Intolerable Acts aimed to isolate the Massachusetts from the other colonies, yet instead in resulted in the first continental congress. -
Quartering Act 1774
The Quartering Act of 1774 was another one of the Intolerable Acts, and required colonists to fully consent to having British soldiers quartered in their homes if neccessary. Similarly to the other acts in the Intolerable Acts, the colonists reacted strongly and tensions furthered even more. -
Quebec Act
The province of Quebec was extended to be past the Ohio River and established the Roman Catholic Church as its official church. The recognization of the Catholic Church in this colony angered many of the Protestants living in the American colonies. Many were also angered that the French settlers in the Quebec Act was given more land that the American colonies wanted as well, threatening their own expansion.