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molasses Act
The Molasses Act, which levied a stiff tax on rum, molasses, and sugar produced in the British West Indies for sale to the colonies, produced vigorous opposition on the grounds that it sought to protect English economic interests at the colonists' expense. -
Sugar Act
To maintain the army and repay war debts, Parliament decided to impose charges on colonial trade. It passed the Sugar Act, imposed duties on foreign wines, coffee, textiles, and indigo imported into the colonies, and expanded the customs service. -
Iron Act
After Parliament passed the Iron Act, which impeded the development of iron manufacturing in the colonies, Benjamin Franklin published a treatise denouncing the absurdity of restraining the colony's economic growth -
Currency Act
The Currency Act prohibited colonial governments from issuing paper money and required all taxes and debts to British merchants to be paid in British currency. -
Stamp Act
To increase revenues to pay the cost of militarily defending the colonies, Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which required a tax stamp on legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards. This was the first direct tax Parliament had ever levied on the colonies and a violation of the principle that only the colonies' legislative assemblies could impose taxes. Suspected violators were tried in admiralty courts without juries. -
Tea Act
Parliament passed the Tea Act that authorized the East India Company to bypass American wholesalers and sell tea directly to American distributors. Cutting out the wholesalers' profit would make English tea cheaper than tea smuggled in.The British government responded harshly. -
Britain's suspension
In September, the first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to orchestrate resistance to British policies. It declared that all trade with Britain should be suspended.
