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Proclamation of 1763
Denied the colonists from expanding westward into Native American land, while focusing on Native American Trade with governors and colonial authorities, barring any individual from trade unless they had a license. The colonists did not like this as they had already settled some of the land that was denied to them, which meant they had to forfeit such land and move back to the existing colonies. They felt that the land they fought for in the French and Indian war was being given away. -
Sugar Act
Imposed a tax on molasses and other sugar-based goods, as well as restricting lumber trade. New England experienced economic losses as rum had a low profit margin and molasses became harder to smuggle. This resulted in boycotts and sporadic violence. -
Currency Act
Regulated paper money in the colonies, and prohibited colonial money from being used as legal tender for public and private debts, since England didn't want their currency to lose its value due to the colones. This created financial problems in the colonies, and raised tensions between the colonies and England -
Stamp Act
Imposed a tax on all paper in the colonies, and included harsh punishments for violation of the act. This was intended to help pay off their war debts. The colonies protested through violent means and claimed that the British were giving them "taxation without representation". -
Quartering Act
Required the colonists to find housing for British soldiers, which meant giving up room in their homes. The colonists disliked being told to do this and wanted a choice in the matter. Street brawls began to break out, and then when rioters were shot for throwing rocks at the soldiers, the colonies began to increasingly resent and vilify Britain and their rule over the colonies. -
Declaratory Act
Asserts Britain's authority by declaring that they have the rights to make laws for the colonies in all cases. The colonies would grow more disdainful of English influence over them. -
Boston Massacre
A riot that began as Bostonian citizens threw rocks at British soldiers, until one of the soldiers opened fire, leading the others to do so as well, resulting in the deaths of five colonists -
Repeal of the Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts, which were repealed in 1770, taxed imported goods from ports. This affected Boston the most, which resulted in riots. The English repealed all of the imposed taxes except for the one on tea, which led to the Boston Tea Party, and eventually the Revolutionary War. -
Burning of the Gaspee
Colonists angered by British restrictions on colonial trade board and set fire to the Gaspee, which was a ran aground in Rhode Island after attempting to pursue an American shipment. The ship's commander was wounded, but not killed. -
Tea Act
Granted the East India Company a monopoly over tea in the colonies. This ended up causing even more boycotts among the colonists, as well as being one of the main causes of the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
Protested British tea regulations and the East India Company monopoly over tea by throwing all of the tea from a shipment into the Boston Harbor. This protest was conducted by the Sons of Liberty and represented the colonists rejecting British rule. -
Intolerable Acts
Legislation meant to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. Infringed on the colonies' right to govern themselves and had trials of British soldiers be conducted in England, creating an unfair and biased trial. These acts eventually became one of the major causes of the Revolutionary War, as the colonies believed it infringed their rights. -
Association of the Continental Congress
An import/export boycott on British trade organized by the people, and was used to persuade Britain to repeal overbearing taxes and Admiralty Courts. Helped the colonies come together into a unified state.