Timeline 1763-1774

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

At the end of the last French and Indian War, the British forbade white colonists from encroaching on more Native land. Settlers felt that they were having resources held from them, and disagreed with their government's decision, thinking it was an act of unnecessary control.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

This legislation attempted to restrict unmonitored and illegal trade, and thus law enforcement became much stricter of sugar and molasses trajectory. The colonists felt the taxation price for these items was too high, and wished they were lowered for their sake.

Currency Act

Sep 1, 1764

The British government officially retracted most wartime-born currencies not standard amongst the motherland, but resulted in stunting economic growth, due to a lack of any currency period, let alone that of the official British use.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

The Stamp Act placed an extensive monetary tax on most paper or entertainment-based goods, with the knowledge that there was very little official currency in the colonies at all. The settlers thought this to be necessarily burdensome, and believed it would cause undue bankruptcy/economic stunting.

Quartering Act of 1765

Mar 25, 1765

The housing, feeding, and further care for British soldiers/forces were put onto any available household during times of complete peace. The colonists felt this was a violation of space and personal property,

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

Coming hand in hand with the repeal of the Stamp Act, the Declaratory Act legally solidified Britain's ability to legislate American colonies as they please without regulation from the colonists themselves. Settlers found this as a direct reproach on any sort of government representation whatsoever and did not approve of how their wishes were cast aside.

Townshend Act

Jun 15, 1767

The four acts commonly referred to as the Townshend Acts served in confirming Britain's allowance in removing representative American courts, using their power as a mother country to then instate very strict tax collection policies. Colonists felt this violated their past of self-governance, taking their freedom of representation in their own area.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

In Boston, there had been a practice of hanging effigies of those in favor of the stamp act. When disallowance of such and the removal of the tree in which this took place was threatened, colonists took to forming a mob in protest. Citizens threw snowballs at British soldiers, which resulted in the death of several colonists at the hands of the soldiers. The settlers no longer felt safe in sharing protest.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Following previous instances of civil unrest, a group of colonists threw crates of British East India Company tea in protest of unfair taxes without colonial representation. Many were inspired by this, and it furthered tensions between Britain and its colonies in America. Boston Harbor was shut down in an attempt to force the colonists to pay for the overboard tea.

Intolerable/Coercive Acts

Mar 31, 1774

Because of events like the Boston Tea Party, there were four retaliative acts passed which centered around solidifying Parlaiment's power in the States. Boston was especially affected, considering its especially aggressive protest in the past. The Quarting Act was renewed, British officials had better access to a fair justice system, some voting rights were removed from colonists, and repayment was demanded for the dumped tea. Colonists felt their rights were completely violated.

Quartering Act of 1774

Jun 2, 1774

With the Intolerable Acts came a renewed Quartering Act, which was allowed to retire in 1770 until this point. Now, all colonists could effectively be required to house and care for soldiers with minimal compensation. As this was already heavily protested, the fact it was returned into use was angering to the colonists, and Boston protestors blocked workers from repairing quarters for soldiers.

Quebec Act

Jun 22, 1774

Quebec's governing was under new regulation, and areas of colonial America were added to its province. Additionally, this act stripped settlers of many of their personally voted electors, instead creating a more Parliament- or appointment-centered rule. Colonists felt their preferred self-governance and lands were being taken, which fueled the fire amongst the North American settlers.