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Proclamation of 1763
Following the end of the French and Indian War, Britain established a boundary line to avoid further conflicts with Native Americans. This proclamation prohibited colonists to expand westward of the Appalachian mountains. The colonists disregarded this and settled where they pleased because they felt they should not be limited to where they could go about. Britain took note of this and did not hesitate to impose future taxes. -
The Sugar Act
This act, imposed by the British Parliament, was enacted to gain money to be able to pay off their debt. This act enforced taxes on products such as sugar and molasses, which were commonly consumed items. The colonists were enraged with this unfair taxation and successfully had it repealed in 1765. This did not stop the Parliament though, they continued imposing more strict taxes. -
The Stamp Act
This act imposed taxes on all printing materials as well as legal documents (licenses, published materials, newspapers...), basically taxing colonists for every sheet of paper they use. If the Sugar Act angered the colonists, this act angered them far more. A congress was established among them, where the belief of "taxation without representation" was practiced. The Parliament repealed the act after much protest, then placed an act stating they are able to tax the colonists when ever. -
The Declaratory Act
This act was passed in place of the Stamp Act. The British Parliament needed to assert their authority into the colonies and that was done through the establishment of this act whereby they were able to tax the colonies when ever they pleased. But the colonists reacted with the development of the belief "no taxation without representation". The Parliament kept pushing for control, as the colonists pushed closer to their revolution. -
The Townshend Act
The British Parliament attempted to take initiative control government wise by establishing this act. Taxes were placed on many British exported items to the colonies such as lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. This led to the Boston Tea Party led by the Sons of Liberty, where tea was dumped into the harbor to revolt against the tax. The British government then closed off the Boston harbor to merchant trading. This was one of the last straws before the American Revolution began.
