Timeline 1763-1774

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

This forbid the colonists from purchasing any western land specifically in the Appalachians. Some colonists chose to ignore the Proclamation because there was little to no effective enforcement.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

The Parliament imposed charges on molasses, wine, coffee, textiles, and indigo that were imported into the colonies. Colonists began to object and started to smuggle sugar in. They also protested against the Sugar Act.

Currency Act

Sep 1, 1764

This act banned the colonies’ government from providing paper money and requires all debts to mer be paid in British currency. This became a burden on the colonists and their economy, so they refused to pay and continued to protest.

Declaratory Act

1765

This act essentially declares that the Parliament has the right to make laws to govern/manage the colonists. The colonists were relieved that the Stamp Act was repealed and the Sugar Act was modified. Therefore there was no worry about this act.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

The Parliament required a tax stamp on legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, and even playing cards. Colonists boycotted goods, protested this act, and formed the Stamp Act Congress. Creating the popular phrase “No Taxation Without Representation”.

Quartering Act

Mar 24, 1765

The Quartering Act required colonists to open their homes/quarters to British soldiers whenever needed. Colonists in New York specifically did not like this act, so the governor of New York convinced the Parliament to revise the act.

Townshend Act

Jul 29, 1767

The Townshend Act was a series of taxes placed on colonial imports of paper, lead, glass, paper, and tea from Britain. Colonists believed that this was an abuse of power, stopped paying for imported goods, and made their own replacements.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Colonists were angered by the constant acts and taxes so they protested. As they protested, a simple snowball fight had begun but eventually turned into a “mob attack” with 5 killed and 6 injured. The Parliament decided to repeal all duties except for tea after realizing the taxes’ little impact.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Parliament passed the Tea Act which made English tea cheaper than tea smuggled into the colonies. Colonists dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded three British ships to dump 342 banisters of British tea into Boston Harbor. The British closed Boston Harbor to trades.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

The Intolerable Acts or coercive acts were essentially five acts & laws passed to “punish” the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The First Continental Congress was formed to organize opposition to the British laws as colonies were in an unhappy state.

Quartering Act '74

Jul 2, 1774

The 1774 Quartering Act required all the colonies’ “local authorities”(not only Massachusetts) to find homes and quarters for British troops instead of the colonists. Colonists disliked this act because their colonial officials would have to pay for the troops’ shelters/quarters.

Quebec Act

Jul 22, 1774

The Quebec Act expanded French Quebec to cover the Mississippi River and the Ohio River Valley. This act allowed French law to have higher power and for Catholics to have more privileges. Some were “fearful” about the spread of Catholicism but most colonists did not believe this was a punishment but it was associated with the coercive acts.