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The first tax act by the British on the American Colonies, the Sugar Act put taxes on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies.
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The Currency Act was the next tax act to be placed upon the already upset colonists. This act was one of many acts, like the Currency Act of 1751 and the more recent Currency Act of 1746, that placed regulations on paper money issues by American colonies. These acts forbid the issuing of paper currency which caused problems due to inflation as well as other financial issues.
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One of the more well known acts, the Stamp Act was put into play in March of 1765. This act put a tax on all paper that was used for printed material. It made it so that all printed paper in the colonies was marked with an official stamp. From pamphlets to legal documents, if it was printed then it was stamped. This was the first act of the lot that spurred public protests within the colonies.
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The Townshend Acts was a series of acts enacted between 1767-1768. These acts consisted of the Revenue Act of 1767, the Commissioners of Customs Act, the Vice Admiralty Act, and the New York Restraining Act. The passing of these acts were highly unpopular and were met with resistance, no more so than in Boston. As a result, more British troops were sent to Boston to help enforce the new taxes in 1768. The Daughters of Liberty were formed as a result of these acts.
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The Tea Act was passed in 1773 and was intended to be relief for the British East India Company. It allowed for to to be shipped by British companies duty free to the colonies, meaning they could sell it for a discounted price. This gave the British companies a monopoly over the tea trade and even though it was meant to subtly persuade the colonists to comply with the taxes by offering cheaper tea prices it only angered them further. The Tea Act is what prompted the Boston Tea Party.
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The Coercive Acts, dubbed the Intolerable Acts by the American Colonists, were the last straw for the colonies. The Coercive acts, passed in 1774, consisted of 5 acts meant to suppress rebellion in the Massachusetts colony and isolate it from the rest. The Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Quartering Act, and two others. Instead, the other colonies rushed to the aid of Massachusetts and the First Continental Congress was formed to discuss forming a united front against the British.