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Proclamation
King George III declared that the Appalachian Mountains were the temporary western boundary for the colonies. This angered the people, especially those who owned shares in land companies. The investors were angry that Britain ignored their land claims because they had already bought land west of the mountains. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act lowered the tax on molasses imported by the colonists. This angered the colonists.
"... No parts of England's colonies can be taxed without their consent... Every part has a right to be represented."
-James Otis, a Boston lawyer -
Currency Act
This act prohibited the issue of any new bills and the reissue of existing currency. The colonies protested, and they did not think it was fair to destroy their currency and favor the Pound as the only acceptable form of currency. -
Stamp Act
This act placed a tax on almost every printed material in the colonies. This affected almost everyone in the colonial cities, and the act convined many colonists the need for action. The colonists protested against the Stamp Act. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering act forced the colonies to pay for housing British troops in taverns, inns, vacant buildings, and barnd. Colonists were also expected to provide for drinks and food. The colonists reacted very negatively because they were angry at the fact that the costs of housing army units would be expensive. -
Stamp Act Congress
This was a meeting held in New York, and they drafted a petition to the king and Parliament declaring that the colonies could not be taxed except by their own assemblies. The colonists boycotted the merchants, and the merchants signed agreements stating that they pledged not to buy or use goods imported from Great Britain. Finally, The Stamp Act was cancelled because merchants begged Parliament because of their loss of business. -
Declaratory Act
This act stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make desicions for the British colonies. The colonists did not react much to this because they were too busy celebrating the repealing of the Stamp Act. -
Townshend Act
This was a set of laws that was made by the British leaders, so they could try to avoid some of the problems the Stamp Act caused. The new taxes only applied to imported goods. By the time that these laws were passed, the colonists were angry towards any taxes that Parliament passed. The colonists brought back the boycott that they used against the Stamp Act.
