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Proclamation of 1763
Beyond the Appalachian Mountains, westward expansion is to be stopped, according to the British government. The colonist ignored this order, nevertheless, and kept settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonist directly defied a command, which infuriated the British and King George. King George was also concerned that future conflicts might result from establishing west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Sugar Act
To boost revenue from the trade in sugar in North America and the West Indies, the British Parliament passed the Sugar Act. This law imposed charges on the imports of sugar, wine, coffee, and other goods by the colonies. The colonists were furious as it damaged the colonial merchants who were suffering from a post-war economic crisis. Britain supported the measure since the war had caused their national debt to quadruple and they gave the colonies the paramount significance in enforcing the act. -
Stamp Act
This law mandated that all printed documents in the British colonies include revenue stamps. After the French and Indian War, the British levied this fee to assist pay British soldiers stationed in North America. The expression "No taxation without representation" was the colonists' response to this, and they believed the Stamp Act violated their rights as Englishmen. Britain responded by repealing and replacing the law with the Declaratory Act. -
Declaratory Act
The colonists' boycott of British products caused Parliament to abolish the Stamp Act and enact the Declaratory Act the same day. The Declaratory Act mandated that the colonies share the same level of power as Parliament in England. This infuriated the colonist, who stated that although they recognized the King, they still wanted independence from Britain. The response from Britain to the Declaratory Act was that they believed they controlled the colonies in America. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act levied taxes and tariffs on a number of imports, including glass, lead, paints, paper, silk, and tea in order to earn money to pay the salaries of British governors and other officials in the colonies. The British government was fiercely opposed by the colonists, and some people openly rebelled against the British government and British soldiers. As a response, British soldiers carried out the Boston Massacre in 1770.