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Proclamation of 1763
Issued by King George III, occurred after Great Britain gained the French territory in North America after the French and Indian War. It outlawed settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to give land and ease tensions with Indians, and the Colonist's felt hurt and angered by this act as it took away their right to travel and settle in a number of locations previously possible while also increasing taxation. -
Currency Act of 1764
Britain passed this act to regulate forms of material and paper money issued or created by the American colonies. This act was passed to further protect British merchants from being underpaid in a different colonial currency. This made it so the colonies were not allowed to give paper money, resulting in inflation and an overly complicated system of currency. Colonists became nervous and tense after this act, as they worried that Britain was trying take over the colonies currency policies. -
Sugar Act
Declared by British Parliament, this act was meant to stop the smuggling trade dealing with molasses and sugar from the French and Dutch indies. This act increased enforcement and upkeep of smuggling laws, and it disrupted the colonies economy by increasing the cost of imported items, while decreasing costs of exports to the non-British. This heavily angered the colonists, and organized boycotts dealing with imported luxury goods were soon established, furthering their ideas of revolution. -
Quartering Act (Passed between 1763 and 1770)
Required the colonies/colonists to keep and house British soldiers in barracks or other locations such as local inns, stables, and houses or private homes. Colonists resented this act, because they were being taxed to provide for the army, which they believed was unnecessary during a time of peace. This led to a rise of fear within the colonists, as they were worried that the army may be used to fight them in the events of a rebellion. -
Stamp Act
Passed by the British Parliament, this act put taxes on almost all paper products and other items for their colonies in North America. The British were heavily in debt when they declared this act, and colonists were angered and opposed to having to pay taxes towards the British Parliament rather than just their local councils/governments. This act would later be repealed in 1776, and would encourage the American Revolution between Great Britain and its colonies. -
Declaratory Act
Declared by British Parliament, stated that their tax and authority was the same in the Colonies as it is in Great Britain. This accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act, and colonists were divided on how they felt about this act. Some were celebrating, others, were furious as this act hinted at other acts forthcoming in the future. -
Townshend Act(s)
Passed by the British government, these acts placed new taxes and repealed freedoms from their colonists in North America. These new taxes included taxes on the imports of items such as glass, lead, tea, and even paper and paint products. Colonists resented and opposed these acts, as they felt they had no or little representation within the government to aide their financial situation. This led to colonists boycotting many British goods, furthering ideas of revolution. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred when British soldiers within Boston start shooting at a group of American colonists, killing five men. This occurred shortly after the Townshend Act(s) were repealed on a number of items including glass, paint, and paper. Colonists were outraged by this massacre, which led to multiple rebellions occurring afterwards, including the infamous Boston Tea Party. Colonists were very hesitant towards British rule at this time, due to Britain's harsh amount of taxation. -
Tea Act
Passed by British Parliament, this act was meant to reduce large amounts of tea held by the British East India Company, who were having financial problems at the time of this act's commencement. It was meant to help the financially struggling company stay alive, however colonists were heavily opposed towards this act as they found it unconstitutional. This ultimately led to resistance from the colonies occurring, which would eventually lead to the infamous Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
This was ultimately a political protest which occurred at Griffin's Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts as American colonists were frustrated and angry at Britain for giving the colonies "taxation without representation," resulting in 342 different chests of tea imported by the British East India Company being thrown into the harbor. The British government grew angry over this protest, ultimately leading to an increase in taxes and to the development of the Coercive Acts. -
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts
Enacted by British Parliament after the British Tea Party, these five measures include the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, the Quebec Act, and the Quartering Act. These acts were meant to punish the Massachusetts Bay Colony, giving a warning to the other colonies. Colonists were outraged by these intolerable acts, leading to justification for the creation of the First Continental Congress, which would occur in 1774. -
First Continental Congress Meeting
Held by the colonies minus Georgia as called on by the Committees of Correspondence, this first meeting was held in order to respond to the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts. The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, ultimately deciding a ban and boycott of British goods in the colonies beginning on December 1, 1774 if Parliament didn't repeal the Coercive Acts. When this did not occur, and as backlash was given from King George III, the second meeting and the revolution would soon begin. -
Articles of Association of 1774
Adopted by the First Continental Congress, and written in response to the Coercive (Intolerable Acts), these articles prohibited most, but not all, importation, consumption, and exportation of goods from the colonies to Great Britain. This was enforced by civilian committees throughout the colonies, and the British were angered by these articles. This cut ties of trading between Great Britain and the Colonies, resulting in the beginnings of the American Revolution.
