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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was created by King George III and it stated that no settlement could be created to the lands that were north and west of the Appalachian Mountains. They formed this proclomation because they wanted to avoid the crises that had caused the Seven Years War. The colonists were very upset. Why shouldn't they be allowed to expand and grow? Eventually, they simply ignored the line. This act is one that helped to begin the ill feeling towards the British from the colonists. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed in 1764 to reduce smuggling. It increased the taxes on foreign imports, like coffee, and lowered the taxes on importing molasses. But, it also allowed smuggler's goods to be taken without going to court. Colonists felt like their rights were being taken away, and felt as if they were not secure in their own houses. James Otis, pictured, was a Boston based lawyer who spoke out against these taxes. Taxation without representation is tyranny.
-James Otis -
Currency Act
In the 1700s, their was a interminable shortage of British money that they could use in trade negotiations, because they could only acquire it through trade. So, colonies started to manufacture their own. The Currency Act prohibited use of this currency. The colonies were greatly angered by this and had to endure trade deficit. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed so that the British could raise more money to pay off their huge debts. It required that every document that was either a legal document, like wills, or a public document, like pamphlets, had to have an official stamp on them. The stamps cost money. The colonists were extraordinarily upset by this act and had various demonstrations. These gave way to the Repeal of the Stamp Act. -
Repeal of Stamp Act
After the Stamp Act endured such negative feedback, English officials were under immense pressure from the public to eradicate the Stamp Act. In exchange for getting rid of it, Lord Rockingham agreed to pass the Declaratory Act. William Pitt, a British leader of the House of Commons, spoke openly out against the Stamp Act. He said "William Pitt was a British member and leader in the House of Commons. Even he spoke out against the Stamp Act. He said "I rejoice that America has resisted." -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was passed by the British in order to both cut costs of the army as well as protecting the colonists. The Quartering Act required that the colonists supply the British soldiers stationed in their colony with basic necessities. This list included firewood, candles, cider and bedding. The colonists were overwhelmed by the costs of providing for so many people. Secondly, they were afraid of the British army and their motives. -
Declaratory Act
After eliminating the Stamp Act, the British created the Declaratory Act. The Declaratory Act gave the British the power to control taxes, laws, and decisions for everything. Colonists felt powerless and furious. A quote from the act that expresses clearly it's immense power is "[T]he King’s majesty…had, hath, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of it" -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were produced to raise revenue, without gathering as much public outcry. They taxed impporting basic goods, like paper and tea. The colonists had no other way of obtaining these materials because they were not manufactured in the colonies, so they had to pay the taxes. By this time, the colonists hated all taxes that the English created, and protested them. Many women created groups to boycott the British goods that were being taxed. Occasionally, these groups were called the -
Tea Act
The Tea Act did not create more taxes on the colonists. Instead, it lowered the price of tea from the East India Company in order to boost their sales. The colonists still felt angry because they felt as if they were not able to purchase tea from other companies without spending much more money. Their angry response was to not unload the ships tea, and caused the Boston Tea Party.
