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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamationof 1763 was issued to limit settlement in North America. This Proclamation prohibited colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains. This allowed the British to control westward expansion. The colonoists saw this Proclamation as a limit of their freedoms. This contributed to more distrust between the colonists and Great Britain. -
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Road to Revolution
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Sugar Act of 1764
The Sugar Act of 1764 lowered the tax on molasses imported by colonists. Also, officers were allowed to seize goods from smugglers without going to court. The colonists were angered by this, and thought their rights as Englishmen were being violated. James Otis said, "no parts of [England's Colonies] can be taxed without their consent...every part has a right to be represented." -
Currency Act of 1764
The Currency Act of 1764 was passed in effort to control colonies' printing and usage of paper money. In this act, usage of paper money in the colonies was banned. The British government tried to have more control over the individual colonies when passing this act. The colonies were angered by this act because colonists were constantly having a shortage of currency to trade with. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 placed a tax on almost all printed material in the colonies. All printed material had to have a stamp on it, which was put on by the British officials. This angered the colonists because in passing the Stamp Act, the Parliament ignored the colonial tradition of self-government. Samuel Adams protested against the Stamp Act, "If our trade be taxed, why not our lands, or produce... in short, everything we possess? They tax us without having legal representation." -
Quartering Act of 1765
The Quartering Act forced the colonists to pay for housing British troops in taverns, inns, vacant buildings, and barns. The colonists were also expected to provide food and drinks. The colonists believed it was time for action because the Parliament had interfered in colonial affairs by taking the colonies directly. Also, the Parliament taxed the colonies without their consent. -
Stamp Act Congress 1765
In October, delegates from nine colonies met in New York at the Stamp Act Congress. The delegates drafted a petition to the King and Parliament stating that the colonies could not be taxed, except by their own assemblies. People in the colonies refused to use the stamps, and many people boycotted. In March 1766, the Parliament repealed the Stamp Act. "AN ACT for granting and applying certain stamp duties....towards further defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing the same." -
Declaratory Act of 1766
The Declaratory Act followed the Stamp Act, and stated that the Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the British colonies. The colonies beat the Parliment by ending the Stamp Act, but the Parliament still made the decisions for the colonies. -
Townshend Act of 1767
The Parliament passed a set of laws in 1767 known as the Townshend Act. The taxing in these laws only applied to imported goods, and taxing was paid at the port of entry. The imported goods that were taxed were basic items that the colonists had to import because they did not produce them. The colonists were outraged, and started boycotting like they did against the Stamp Act of 1765.
