-
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 was passed to address the smuggling of sugar into the colonies, and to increase revenue to help reduce debt from the French and Indian War. Also known as the American Revenue Act, it stated that colonists may not own a sugar plantation unless they pay taxes. This was the first tax enacted by the British. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act said that the colonists must find and provide room to accommodate British soldiers in exchange for their protection against threats from Frenchmen and Native Americans. If the colonists refused, they would be punished with criminal charges. -
The Stamp Act
Because the colonists were tired of the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act was passed because Prime Minister Grenville wanted to try a different or new approach to make taxes more fair because British people were paying taxes as well. This act instated that the colonists had to pay taxes on every piece of printed paper that they used. This could include ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, etc. The Stamp Act was the first act that colonists had to pay themselves. -
The Townshend Act
The act was passed because Charles Townshend, the British Chancellor of Exchequer ( Treasury) agreed that international taxes, like the Stamp Act, could be considered illegal. To address colonial frustration Parliament passed the Townshend Act. Charles Townshend thought that smuggling could be a problem for the colonies, like it was for the British. The Townshend Act extended the power of British soldiers stationed in the colonies to try and put an end to the smuggling problem. -
The Tea Act
To ease tension in the colonies, Parliament passed the Tea Act, which repealed taxes on all imported goods except tea from the East India Company. This was because tea was in high demand. Consequently, colonists began smuggling tea in order to avoid the tax. The East India Company got in financial trouble, so Parliament hoped they could help them by granting them a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts: Boston Port Act
Furious from the turnout of recent events, Parliament passed the Boston Port Act to show they had control and authority over the colonists. The king closed the Boston Harbor, making the ships unable to lade anything to the colonists. They also had to pay for the damages sustained through taxes. This was the first of five Coercive/Intolerable Acts, laws enacted by the British in retaliation to punish colonists for their defiance ( Only four of the five acts were meant to punish the colonists.) -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts: MA Government Act and the Administration of Justice Act
The second act of the Coercive/Intolerable Acts, ensured a fair trial for British officials who were charged with capital offenses while upholding the law in Massachusetts. The trials involving British officials charged with capital offense were meant to be relocated to England or another colony. The governor, a representative of the king, is in charge of the trials concerning the British officers to send them to that different place. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts: Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was passed because the British wanted to extend the territory of Quebec into the land that had formerly been claimed by the thirteen colonies. It said that "... all territories, islands, and countries have been made part of Newfoundland," will be annexed to and made part of the province of Quebec.
