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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonist from purchasing/settling any land west of the Appalachian Mountains. It reserved a lot of western territory for Native Americans. 10,000 British soldiers were stationed in the colonies in order to enforce this Proclamation. The colonist viewed this as something that was denying their right to settle western land. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act made it illegal to import rum from any country other than Great Britain. It also put taxes on coffee, wines, indigo, textiles, as well as other luxury items. This act was imposed with the intent to eliminate the smuggling of sugar and molasses. Colonists were angry with this act, shipmasters whos cargo were taken by British customs held a special hatred for the act. -
Currency Act
The Currency Act rendered the form of money that colonists used obsolete and stated that taxes should be paid in British currency. Colonists often did not have British currency so this act created hardship for the colonial economy. Colonist reacted in protest against this act. They felt like this act would only lead to increase in the debt they owed. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act placed taxes on things ranging from playing cards to calendars. It stated that any skins that may have been used for letters and such should have some sort of stamp on it. Colonists reacted by boycotting the goods Great Britain normally exported. Some men in power in the colonies banned together to create an organization called the "Sons of Liberty". Colonists also banned together to create mobs that caused custom agents to resign their offices and destroy the stamps. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act made it where Parliament could make laws concerning the colonists. Colonists reacted with fear believing this meant that many more unfair taxes were incoming. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act placed taxes on lead, paint, glass, paper and tea imported in the colonies. This act was aimed at raising revenue to pay the salary of British officials. The colonists responded by boycotting imports, instead choosing to get by on what they had at hand. When officials came to collect the taxes they were often roughhoused. John Dickinson reacted by arguing that Parliament had no right to impose taxes on imports or exports. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was when British Soldiers opened fire on a crowd in Boston killing five colonists. The colonists viewed this as undeniable proof of how violent and harsh the British government had become. -
Boston Tea Party
Despite most of the Townshend Acts taxes being repealed there was still a tax on tea. Besides this the East India Company were being allowed by Great Britain to sell tea directly to the colonists, this disrupted wholesalers ability to generate revenue. In reaction to this colonist in Boston disguised themselves as Indians and boarded three ships and dumped tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
The Intolerable Acts shut down Boston Harbor until all the tea lost was paid for, it banned town meetings unless first given consent by the governor, any trials pertaining to British officials in the colonies would be held in Great Britain. The colonists reacted to the Intolerable Acts by creating the First Continental Congress. This congress was aimed at figuring out how to deal with these restraints. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act made Royal governors find living quarters for British troops, even if it meant in the homes of colonists. Colonists reacted with outrage, feeling it was wrong to have soildiers within their own homes. They felt it very clearly infringed and belittled local authority. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act enlarged the province of Quebec to include areas south of the Ohio River and west of the Mississippi. This meant more land under French law, meaning more land where there was no right to a jury and no representative assembly. This as well as some of the other Intolerable acts led to the First Continental Congress to decide how to react to these acts.