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Proclomation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a British boundry that was issued by King George the III on October 7, 1763. This prohibited all English settlement west of the Appalachians to build forts. The British did this to prevent any future wars with the natives. The British did not want to spend more money so this is part of the reason why they put this proclamation into place. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act cut the duty of foreign molasses from 6 to 3 pence per gallon. It also prohibited the importation of foreign rum as well as retaining a high duty on foreign retained sugar. This act was to take effect on September 29, 1764. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that imposed a tax on the American colonies. It taxed newspapers, almanacs, dice and playing cards, pamphlets, bills, and legal documents. It was placed to pay for the French and American war. Colonists were relatively okay with paying taxes but they wanted to be represented. It was placed on March 22, 1765 by the British Parliament. -
The Boston Massacre
In the last afternoon of March 5, 1770, nine British soldiers were shooting into a large crowd. A mob was harassing British soldiers who fired their muskets into that large crowd. They killed three instantly, two others dying of their injuries later, and injuring another six. This was not actually a massacre, but the colonists were mad and responded to this with propaganda about it being a massacre. -
The Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773, the "Sons of Liberty," a group of men, went to the Boston Harbor. They were all dressed as Indians. They were boarding three British ships, the Eleanor, the Beaver, and the Dartmouth. They boarded them and proceeded to dump forty-five tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. This action was a direct response to Britain for the Boston Massacre. -
The Boston Port Act
British Parliament decided to close the Boston Port as the first Intolerable Acts law on March 25, 1774. Closing the port meant that it would no longer be the entrance and it would cause a decrease of money from new colonists and port fees. -
The Intolerable Acts
These acts were five laws passed by British Parliament as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. This brought back earlier anger that the colonists felt for the earlier Quartering Acts that expired in 1770. These laws were passed by British Parliament on March 31, 1774. -
Massachusetts Regulating Act
The Massachusetts Regulating Act was an act to basically give New England more power over Massachusetts and Boston. This act stated that all law officers were now subject to appointment by the Royal Governor and didn't allow town meeting that didn't have the approval of the Royal Governors. This act was made on May 5, 1774 and was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. -
Impartial Administration of Justice Act
The Impartial Administration of Justice Act ensured that Royal Governors could move trials to other colonies or even England if they thought the juries in those colonies wouldn't judge a case fairly. Really, they were scared the jury would agree with the colonists at trial and things like that. This act was set in place on May 20, 1774. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act stated that soldiers were allowed to stay in peoples' homes if no barracks were avilable. This didn't mean only housing the soldiers, this meant feeding them, providing them a bed, washing their clothes, and doing everything for them. This angered colonists because they had originally had a quartering act that was taken away in 1770. This Act was passed by British Parliament on June 2, 1774. -
The Quebec Act
The Quebec Act granted Quebec Catholic religious freedom. Boston had heard about this and they had wanted religious freedom for a long time. When Boston asked the British government to have it granted as well, they said no. This was because they were still mad about the Boston Teat Party. This act was granted on June 22, 1774.