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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 set a boundary line that the colonists were not allowed to wander over known as the Proclamation line in order to stabalize the relations with the Native Americans. Many colonists, however, greatly disliked this restriction as it was a limitation on many things like having good farmland and being able to migrate or trade. They were very frustrated and a lot of them procedded to move that way anyways which lead to many conflicts with the Native Americans. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 reduced taxing on molasses and added them to other items while restricting trade of other goods and enforcing harsh penalties on anyone caught smuggling molasses. Merchants started to resist this Sugar Act because molasses was important to the colonial economy as well as being valuable in the triangular trade. Others argued that this tax was enforced upon them without representation and organized protests and wrote letters to Parlament. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act of 1764 prohibited the colonies from issuing new paper currency and made it so that the money already out there needed to be retired. Colonists protested and petitioned in opposition to this act and argued that it violated their rights and made the economic situation worse. -
Quartering Act 1765
The Quartering Act of 1765 required American colonist to give access to their homes and supplies to the British troops that were stationed in the American Colonies. The colonists viewed this act as an infringement of their rights and a burden upon them. They did not like having to house the soldiers and support them particularly when it was seen as just a way for Britian to gain more control over them. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first act that directly imposed taxes on the American Colonies. It required that any printed material be produced on stamped paper which had to be bought. The colonists argued that this violated their rights because there was no representation in parliament for the colonists when it was imposed. The colonists boycotted British goods, and formed groups like the Sons of Liberty. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act of 1766 was passed by Parliament and asserted authority of the American colonies. This act declared that Parliament had complete power to make laws and impose taxes on the colonies. The colonists reacted less strongly to this act but continued their boycotting of British goods, more opposition against British control was widespread, and more protests. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act of 1767 aimed to apply more control over the colonies and raise revenues. The act imposed taxes on imported goods like glass and tea and the money collected was used to pay the British officials in the colonies which got rid of colonial self-governance. It also increased the number of British troops in the colonies to enforce these taxes. The colonists reacted very strongly to this act and organized more boycotts, riots, and protests; eventually, some turned to smuggling. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot that resulted in the death and injuries of many colonists. 5 were killed and many others were wounded. The British soldiers were taunted and provoked and the soldiers ended up firing into the crowd. This event was publicized and used as propaganda by colonial leaders like Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. -
Boston Tea party
The Boston Tea Party, occurring on December 16th, 1773, was a response to the Tea Act of 1773 which allowed the East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, lowering the price of the tea. The colonists say this as an attempt to declare authority and undersell the merchants. A group of colonists disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians to conceal their identities and boarded three British ships they then threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts were laws passed by Parliament to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party. These were designed to reassert the authority of Britain and punish the colonies. These acts ended up unifying the coloniests to go against the British policies and contributed to the first Continental Congress where they laid down the grounds to the American Revolution. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act helped stabilize the colony, make the governing more effective, and lower the chances of Quebec joining the Colonies in rebellion. It also made sure the control over the disputed territories was retained to make sure the colonists didn't claim those lands. This act was good with Quebec as it increased their religious freedom but colonists did not like the religious freedoms the French got and they were resentful of certain territories being put under Canadian control.