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Royal Proclamation of 1763
Overview- Issued by King George III and forbade all settlement west of a line drawn on the Appalachian Mountains. Significance- First thing that affected all of the colonies and was to both protect the colonists from Native American rampages and also was to protect Native Americans from attacks by white settlers. Colonists that had already settled west of this line were forced to move back, and they weren't too happy about it. This was also the end of salutary neglect, which -
Sugar Act
Overview- Royal Parliament passed the Sugar Act to help pay for war costs. It was the first tax put on American colonies. It taxed colonial trade and in order to crack down on smuggling, it made all colonial vessels fill out papers with details of their cargo and destination. Along with that it had to Royal Navy patrolling the coast to find and capture smugglers. If smugglers were caught they were tried unfairly & didn’t have a jury. Significance- Reduced smuggling and rattled American economy -
Stamp Act
Overview- Required colonists to pay a tax on every single piece of printed paper they used, from legal documents to playing cards. Significance- Intensified colonial opposition and was a major turning point in the road to revolution. Another result of this act was the Stamp Act Congress. The Stamp Act Congress was a group of representatives that got together to find a way to protest British taxation. -
Quartering Act
Overview- Passed by British Parliament and stated that troops that weren't able to fit in their barracks were able to be quartered in people's homes and public inns. Also stated that colonial governments had to provide goods for the troops like food, beverages, and bedding. Significance- Built up troop presence in the colonies and increased the colonist's anger toward Britain. The New York Assembly resisted this act and as a result they got suspended for 6 months. -
Declaratory Act
Overview- Stated that Parliament's authority and ability to make laws was the same in America as it was in Britain and it wouldn't change under any circumstances. This act was only passed because parliament repealed the Stamp Act... on one condition, which was the passing of the Declaratory Act. Significance- Turning point for both sides. Britain began to crack down more, and it gave the colonists fear that Britain would pass more laws/acts. Made the idea of revolution more definite. -
Boston Massacre
Overview- Street fight between a colonist mob and a group of British soldiers led by Captain Thomas Preston, the soldiers opened fire on the mob, killing 5 and injuring 6. Trial ended up being held and only two soldiers were guilty of murder. Significance- Had a major impact on relations between the American colonists and the British and further enraged the colonists, who were already angry because of unfair taxation from parliament. It also made a revolution more apparent. -
Lexington and Concord
Overview- Signaled the start of the Revolutionary War. The British attacked Lexington in an attempt to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were both rebel leaders, and they attacked at Concord in an effort to destroy the American’s cache of ammunition and weapons. Significance- First battle between colonists and the British and initiated the Revolutionary War.
