-
Proclamation Act
This Act ensured a limit/boundary from the British colonies and the land that belonged to the American Indians. This line was set into place as an attempt from the British to avoid any confrontation that could lead to war. The colonies didn’t like this boundary though. Mainly because they believed it tampered with their right to travel. -
Sugar Act
This act was passed as a way of ending the crime of smuggling illegal goods. Some examples are sugar, molasses, and drugs. The colonies saw how the economy would stop making money with this law. So they went against it, and said the West Indies prices would grow due to not having enough resources. -
Currency Act
This act was passed so colonists banking and currency could be restricted. It denied the people the use of ‘Bills of Credit‘ which was essentially a different form of payment amongst the colonies. The people opposed this act because they believed it slowed down businesses and the economy. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a law set into place stating that when buying any form of paper, documents, dice, etc. a tax fee would have to be payed. With that fee comes a certain stamp that proved a person has payed the tax owed. Colonists really hated this act, so they protested and put up many petitions to get the Stamp Act appealed. -
Quartering Act
This Act allowed British soldiers the ability to house themselves in anyones house they pleased because of their acts of service. The soldiers were allowed to stay as long as they wished as well as make themselves as comfortable as possible in someone else’s house. The colonists were opposed to this act because it took away their privacy. Since soldiers could come and go whenever, the people were living off of very little to no privacy. -
Declaratory Act
A document that showed that the British Parliament agreed to the appeal of the Stamp Act, but also securing the power of the Government to make laws, and tax it’s people. Some people saw this act as a win, because it took down the Stamp Act, and completely ignored the new problem that was set for them. However, others already registered it as a warning that more acts would come fairly quickly. -
Townshend Act
The British Parliament want more wealth and power so all goods imported from American colonies would officially be taxed under this act. Things like tea, paint, glass and more would be duty to the colonies. The colonies noticed an abuse in power, and were upset with it. In response, they started to boycott British goods. -
The Boston Massacre
This is a riot that began with a bicker between a few colonists and some British soldiers. A crowd formed and a full on brawl started between the two sides ultimately leaving a few colonist dead. This lead to an ‘Anti-British’ division against the British higher-ups. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Parliament had a strong taxation on tea which angered many colonists later encouraging them to protest. The colonists in Massachusetts were especially upset, and threw many chests of tea in the sea. They wanted parliament to see how taxation without representation affected them. -
Quartering Act Pt2
Much like the original quartering act, soldiers were allowed to enter, and stay within peoples personal property whenever they wanted. The only difference now is that it was all soldiers and not just British soldiers. The people still felt as though this was a insult to their privacy, and rebelled against this act. -
Intolerable Acts
The intentions the British Parliament had for these four acts were to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. These four acts include the Boston Port Act, the. Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and finally the Quartering Act. The colonist saw these acts as a threat and violation of rights. -
Quebec Act
This act allowed a the people more freedom with their religion. It also cut ties with loyalty oaths. With this new found freedom, many religion based merchants were able to set up good businesses. Some colonists truly believed that their rights were being ignored by the higher ups, pushing them to start a revolution.