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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation eliminated tensions with the Indians, insured royal control over settlements, and helped raise British revenue after the French and Indian War. Settlers were kicked out of western settlements that were occupied for the Indians, and they took this as a disregard of their right to settle these western lands. -
Sugar Act
"Taxation without representation"
This Sugar Act outlawed the importation of foreign rum, and it placed a tax on molasses and levied taxes on wines, silks, coffee, and other luxury items. The British hoped lowering the tax on molasses would lessen the temptation for people to smuggle it from the Dutch and the West Indies for rum distilleries in New England. Merchants believed that even the smallest of these taxes would ruin their businesses. Them, as well as legislatures protested the law. -
Currency Act
After the war, the colonies had no money to conduct trade, so Parliament passed the Currency Act to take control of the colonial currency system. It regulated the issue and legal tender status of paper money in the economy. Since it was forbidden to issue paper money, the colonists would have a harder time paying their debt and taxes. -
Stamp Act
This tax measure sparked the greatest colonial resistance. The Stamp Act required all newspapers, broadsides, pamphlets, licenses, leases, and other legal documents to have a revenue stamp. The money, which would be collected by American customs agents, would be used in "defending, protecting, and securing" the colonies. Having equally affected business owners, the act aroused many of the most powerful groups in the population such as journalists, lawyers, clergymen, merchants, and businessmen. -
Quartering Act
Just as objectionable as the Stamp Act for the colonies was the Quartering Act, where the colonies were required to provide troops with provisions, barracks, and feeding. The New York colonial assembly didn't like being forced to provide such quarters, instead they would have preferred being asked and give consent, if they were going to have to deal with the soldiers at all. They never complied with the act, and because of this, Parliament suspended the Province of New York's Governor. -
Declaratory Act
The British Parliament was rejecting the colonial contentions. They yielded in 1776 by repealing the Stamp Act and modifying the Sugar Act, but to appease the supporters of central control over the colonies, they passed the Declaratory Act. This act asserted the authority of Parliament to make laws binding the colonies in all cases. The colonies were only partially getting their way. -
Townshend Act
Charles Townshend, British chancellor of exchequer, made a new attempt to mollify the colonial discontent over the high taxes at home. Hoping to reduce the British taxes by making a more efficient collection of duties levied on American trade, he tightened administration and enacted duties on the colony's imports of paper, glass, lead, and tea from Britain. The Townshend Acts was based upon the fact that taxes imposed on goods imported by the colonies were legal, whereas internal taxes were not. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between British troops and colonists in Boston. Troops were sent over to America to protect custom officials as they collected duties. The presence of British troops in Boston was very unwelcoming to the colonists, and to show just how much, a riot began where a few citizens began to snowball one of the soldiers. from there it got extremely violent, and in the end, 3 citizens were shot and killed. The event solely represented the tyranny of British. -
Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were induced in a Boston town meeting held by Samuel Adams. Adams wanted the colonists to realize their own power and importance, arousing them into action. This committee was to state the rights and grievances of the people. Committees were set up in virtually all the colonies, and out grew a base for revolutionary organizations. This was Adams major attempt in opening up the eyes of the colonists and encouraging them to fight for what they deserve. -
Boston Tea Party
During this event, a group of Massachusetts colonists dressed up as Mohawk Indians and led by Samuel Adams, boarded three British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston's harbor. Fearing that the countrymen would go against them, they thought that if the tea landed, the colonists would end up purchasing the tea and paying the tax. If the tea's destruction went unpunished, the Parliament would go about as having no control over the colonies. The colonists needed to be set straight. -
Intolerable "Coercive" Acts
In response to the the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed new laws called the Intolerable Acts. The first act, the Boston Port Bill, closed Boston's port until the tea was paid for. Cutting off Boston's access to the sea meant an economic downfall. Other acts restricted local authorities and banned any town meetings that were held without the governor's consent. This was one of the British's attempt to gain firm control over the America's. -
The First Continental Congress
From a suggestion from the Virginia House of Burgesses, representatives met in Philadelphia to talk about the current unhappy state of the colonies. Delegates attending this meeting, known as the First Continental Congress, were chosen by popular conventions. Total number of 55, large enough for diversity of opinion, yet small enough for good debate and effective action. The difference if opinion within the colonies posed a dilemma, but they would have firm unanimity to make concessions. -
The Continental Association
The First Continental Congress creates this association that called for a complete ban on all trade between Britain and America. They set up a system of committees to inspect entries, publish the names of merchants that violated the agreement, confiscate the imports, and promote frugality, economy, and industry. The association immediately assumed their leadership within the colonies and gained their supporters, ranging from the professional class, to planters, to a number of merchants.
