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Royal Proclamation
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 stated that settlement west of the Appalachian mountains was barred to end fighting between the settlers and Natives. Fur traders needed royal permission to enter the territory. Settlers ignored the Proclamation; they continued to go into the territory. The colonists resented the proclamation and their anger towards the British started to grow. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act put an import tax on foreign sugar, molasses and other items entering the colonies, so the British could raise money to rid of their debt from the French and Indian War. This was the second time the duty was imposed, but the first time it was strictly enforced: Royal inspectors searched ships and homes for smuggled goods. Colonists then formed committees to protest the law and refused to cooperate with Royal Navy officers. The colonists became enraged at the British for the taxes. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was imposed to, again, raise money for the British. It put tax on printed matter of all kinds. To show the tax was paid, people had to put special stamps on their printed matter. Colonists intensely resisted the act: colonial assemblies protested and the Virginia House of Burgesses passed a series of resolutions that condemned the act. The colonists grew even more angry at the British and felt it was time to express their discontent. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was put in place to allow the British to maintain power over the colonies. It asserted the full power of authority of Parliament to make laws to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever. This angered colonists because it made them less independent. Protests against the British continued. The act made the tensions between the colonists and the British continue to grow. -
Townshend Act
This act was made to raise more money for the British. The act put import duties on items like tea and lead. British officials used "writs of assistance" (search warrants) to enforce the acts. This act caused powerful resistance in the colonies and colonists objected the new taxes, which were just for money. Most courts even resisted the law by refusing to issue the search warrants. The Crown then stationed more soldiers in the colonies, but this only caused colonists to protest with more anger. -
Boston Massacre
A crowd of 50-60 angry colonists faced off against a small group of British soldiers, who were sent to silence protests and enforce search warrants. The crowd yelled insults and closed in on the soldiers. One soldier fell, his gun went off, and the others opened fire. Five colonists were shot dead. Bostonians were furious and the word quickly spread, and this caused much anger across the colonies. In the end, two soldiers were convicted of manslaughter, were branded on their hands, and released. -
Tea Act
This act was imposed to save the British East India Company from bankruptcy. It excused the company from paying certain duties and permitted it to sell tea directly to American agents. The company could charge the lowest prices even after consumers paid the tax. Colonists boycotted tea, protested, and were concerned the company would develop a monopoly on the tea trade. In protest, a group of colonists dressed as Indians, boarded the ships and dumped 342 chests of tea in the water. -
Intolerable Acts
These were acts designed to punish mainly Boston, MA. and to strengthen British control over all colonies. The laws closed the Boston port until people paid for the lost tea, banned colonists in MA. to hold town meetings, let royal officials charged with crime in MA. to be tried elsewhere and made local officials provide food and shelter to soldiers. Colonists helped MA. and denounced the actions of the King as threats to colonial liberty in response. Colonial hate towards Britain was deepened. -
Quebec Act
The act was imposed to make the French, who were previously conquered by the British, happy. This act extended Quebec's boundary south to the Ohio River, overriding claims of CT., MA. and VA. to the disputed western lands. It also granted full religious freedom to French Roman Catholics. Colonists then concentrated their anger on what they say as a growing pattern of oppression. The act angered and upset colonists and Protestant colonies and quickened the movement toward colonial unity.
