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Stamp Act
One of the acts Britain set on the Americans because they needed money to repay the debts they owed after the French-Indian War. The Stamp Act was the first act where the colonists were directly taxed, and this infuriated the Americans of course. The Stamp Act basically said that all documents, papers, etc. of the sort must have a stamp on it to be legal. -
Townshend Act
Townshend Acts, 1767, originated by Charles Townshend and passed by the English Parliament shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act. They were designed to collect revenue from the colonists in America by putting customs duties on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonials, spurred on by the writings of John Dickinson, Samuel Adams, and others, protested against the taxes. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Continental Congress in July 1775 in a fortified attempt to avoid a full-blown war between the Thirteen Colonies that the Congress represented, and Great Britain. The petition affirmed American loyalty to Great Britain and entreated the king to prevent further conflict. However, the Petition succeeded the July 6 Declaration of Taking up Arms which made its efficacy in London dubious.
