Timeline 1763-1774

  • Proclamation of 1763

    This proclamation prohibited white settlers from expanding west of the Appalachian Mountains and restricted trade with Native Americans. However, the colonists defied the proclamation and expanded westward.
  • Sugar Act

    The Sugar Act was implemented to reduce molasses duty while imposing taxes on foreign refined sugar. This resulted in protests by the colonists due to taxation without representation, which in turn led to increased smuggling activities.
  • Currency Act

    The passage of the Currency Act barred the colonies from creating their own currency. This decision led to economic hardship since colonists believed it impeded trade and exacerbated financial difficulties.
  • Stamp Act

    This act imposed direct taxes on printed materials, leading to widespread protests, boycotts, and the formation of the Sons of Liberty.
  • Quartering Act 1765

    This act required colonists to house and feed British soldiers, fueling resentment and opposition to British military presence.
  • Declaratory Act

    This act asserted Parliament's right to enforce laws on the colonies, causing concerns about future taxation and control.
  • Townshend Act

    This act imposed taxes on goods such as glass, lead, paint, and tea, resulting in boycotts and heightened tensions between colonists and British authorities.
  • Boston Massacre

    This incident, where British soldiers fatally shot five colonists, heightened anti-British feelings and became a central element in the propaganda against British control.
  • Boston Tea Party

    In response to the British tea taxation, colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded ships and dumped the tea into the harbor, sparking discussions of united resistance.
  • Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts

    These acts were a punitive response to the Boston Tea Party, leading to the closure of the port of Boston and other measures. In response, the colonists united and formed the Continental Congress.
  • Quartering Act 1774

    This expanded Quartering Act allowed British troops to quarter in colonists' homes, further fueling the colonists' resolve to unite against British oppression.
  • Quebec Act

    The Quebec Act gave more territory to Quebec and appointed its governor and legislative body, leading to discontent among the colonists and further fueling their resentment toward British policies.