Timeline 1763-1774

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

Enacted after the end of the Seven Years' War, this act proclaimed that the colonists could not settle west into the territory gained from the French after the war. It also prohibited any deals for land with the natives inhabiting the rest of North America. The colonists decided to somewhat ignore the act and settled into the western territories. Due to the distance away from the British, there was little that could be done about expansion.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

This was an edited and revised version of a similar, previous act. This enacted a tax on things such as sugar, molasses, rum, coffee and some wines to name a few. This tax added difficulty in the ability for the colonists to import and export goods effected by the act as the tax targeted some of their central exports like rum. The colonists spoke out about this as they were being taxed without any say which of course is a violation of their rights.

Currency Act

Sep 1, 1764

This act banned the ability of the colonists to print and manufacture currency for themselves, it now being regulated more by the British. This was especially an issue as this is mostly how they were able to pay the British merchants. There was already a shortage of currency in the colonies and this act also introduced fines to people who didn't follow. The colonists, again, protested this act as it was violating their rights and severely effecting their economic situation.

Stamp Act

Mar 18, 1765

The Stamp Act was the act that imposed taxes on several goods that were imported and exported. For proof of paying the tax, goods or papers would be stamped with a seal. Due to the outrages amount of taxes, this promoted the colonists to smuggle or make their own goods to avoid the crippling tax.

Quartering Act 1765

Mar 24, 1765

This was an amendment to an act known as the Mutiny Act. This act forced colonists to support British soldiers by providing food and shelter, but not housing them in their private residence. This was mostly an issue in New York and Boston, leading to tension and anger between colonist and soldiers. When there was too many soldiers for the given areas, they started showing up in public places like Inns and alehouses.

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

This act stated that the British had the same power to tax the colonists just they they had over the people in Great Britain. It gave them complete authority to make laws onto the colonist just as they could to the population of Great Britain. This act was to make the colonist more controlled and dependent on Great Britain as they were becoming somewhat autonomous. This upset the colonist, so in response they took to the streets and protested.

Townshend Acts

Jun 15, 1767

In order for Great Britain to get revenue, they enacted these acts which added even more taxes to goods without the colonists having a say, which was of course a problem. This taxed things such as tea, paper, paint and glass. These were mostly imports that the colonists did not make themselves. Given they had no parliament representatives, this violated their rights and the protested this, no pretty much no avail.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

This event was a riot in Boston between a few British military personnel and a crowd of colonists. This conflict escalated quickly as the colonists began to get verbally violent and even started throwing things. Eventually the end result was they military firing on the colonists, killing a few of them. This of course, promoted disdain and violence towards the British. This served as a great push to revolutionize.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This was a political protest against the several things Great Britain had been doing such as imposing taxes and unfair laws upon the Colonists. Tea was a very coveted resource and as retaliation, the colonists board ships and threw the tea shipment into the harbor. This was a big affront to Great Britain and it further spark colonist revolt.

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

May 20, 1774

In response to the Tea Party, Parliament cracked down on laws and control of the Colonists with the several Intolerable Acts. This was a series of 4 laws that greatly restricted colonist autonomy and freedom. It closed the Boston Harbor, took away autonomy and put direct control over Massachusetts, removed the ability to try British officials and finally it put in a new Quartering Act .

Quartering Act 1774

Jun 2, 1774

Part of the Intolerable Acts, this Quartering Act gave royal governors the ability to to find places to board soldiers as opposed to colonial legislatures. It also further gave British soldiers the right to house closer to the colonists homes. This took away the right that the colonists had to keep unwanted people out of their cities and towns. It basically gave governors the right to house these soldiers instead of the actual denizens.

Quebec Act

Jun 22, 1774

The Quebec act was a reformation act around the Canadian area. It enacted a central government and control over the area in Quebec, giving the king power there. It aided in the governmental and administrative issues in the rather newly acquired territory. It gave Parliament quite a lot of power to this area, save the ability to tax. This act also expanded the boundaries of the province out to beyond the Proclamation line. The colonists saw this a threat to their freedom and government.