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Molasses Act
The Molasses Act was a tax collected on sugar, rum and molasses that was imported from colonies that were not British to North America. This was a big tax that would cause higher prices. The tax was unrealistic to the Americans who found that it was too expensive, the Act caused Americans to begin smuggling sugar, molasses and rum to avoid being taxed. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763, does not allow westward expansion and forbids settlement in the Ohio River Valley. This prevents the Americans from going any further west then the Appalachian Mountains. The Americans are left arguing why the British just fought a 7 year war against the French to get land that they are not able to make money off from. The Americans explain that they will make Britain money by allowing them to use that land. This is like a slap in the face to the Americans. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act lowers the taxes from the Molasses Act to reduce smuggling. The tax is a indirect tax, meaning that it is added to the cost of the sugar. Along with the taxing the British start searching searching property to enforce this act and stop smuggling. This creates a problem of no search warrants, and there was such a long period of salutary neglect that it upsets the Americans. They protested the Sugar Act because it had such a huge impact on their economy and got it repealed in 1766. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax that was put in place on all printed goods. Unlike the Sugar Act this was a direct tax so it was paid separate from the item. The Americans formed the Sons of Liberty which protested the Act and the Daughters of Liberrty, where women made things to help support the protest. The Sons of Liberty rallied together to form boyotts and non-importation agreements. The Americans worked together and got the Stamp Act repealed in just one year. -
Ouartering Act
The Quartering Act required that Americans feed and house British soldiers. This upset the Americans because most did not even want the soldiers. It was also an extrta cost that the Americans did not want to have to deal with. The Americans felt that in a time of peace they should not have to quarter soldiers. The Americans felt so strongly that they should not have to quarter soldiers during a time of peace that after independence was won, this law made it into the Bill of Rights. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were used to replace the Stamp Act and was similar to the Navigation Acts. The Townshend Acts place a tax on goods such as glass, paint, tea and others. The money from this tax is being used to fuund soldiers in the colonies. When the colonists find this out they are upset because they do not even want the troops there. The Americans get this repealed after 4 years. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre started when someone yelled "fire"! It is unknown who yelled fire, but when they did the troops fired their guns killing 5 Americans. The Boston Massacre really upset the colonists and this is when they started to really have bigger problems with the British, and the troops who were watching them. The Americans were upset because yet again there privacy was being violated by the troops precense and now they were taking action against them. The Americans felt betrayed. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was a taxation on tea, because the British East India Co. was in danger of bankruptcy. The taxation was meant to give the East India Company a monopoly. This raised the prices for the Americans, because most drank tea at this time. As a result of the Tea Act the Sons of Liberty formed. The Tea Act also led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were put in place by King George III after the Boston Tea Party. He saw the Americans as a threat and decided that the Americans needed to come back into his control. The Intolerable Acts consisted of The Boston Port Bill, Administration of Justice Act, Massachusetts Government Act, and the Quebec Act. One of the harshest for the Boston economy was the Boston Port Bill, this closed the port off until all damages were paid for. The Acts led to the 1st Continental Congress. -
Lexington and Concord
The King gets nervous when he hears about the militias forming in the colonies and decides he wants to seize leaders and munitions. The plan was meant to be a secret because the colonists were doing nothing wrong so they choose the middle of the night, but they are very loud and end in a swamp area. The colonists react and are able to wound and kill 273 British troops, and move the ammo in Concord.This led to the 2nd Continental Congress and the colonists now have something to hold against them.