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To maintain control over the colonies, British Parliament passed the Proclamation of 1763 restricted colonist movement, reserving all land west of the colonies for Native Americans. The colonists believed this proclamation to be a sign that the British disregarded their right to travel and expand.
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The Currency Act prevented colonists from using their common currency, making it illegal to make transactions with it. The colonists were always short of hard currency, which was pounds sterling, making this act heavily burdensome for them.
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The Sugar Act of 1764 made the importation of rum from other nations illegal, placed a small duty on molasses, and placed taxes on wine, silks, coffee, as well as many other goods. This was passed in the hopes of making the colonists less dependent on nations and decreasing the amount of smuggling. However, following this act, colonists argued that it would be bad for business and protested it.
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The Quartering Act required colonists to provide food and shelter to British troops when necessary, which was also burdensome and caused the colonists to become even more resentful.
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To make up for the debts accumulated during the French and Indian War, Great Britain passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act required colonists to pay taxes on all paper goods, as well as playing cards and dice. In response to this, colonists reacted violently and became resentful, forming organizations in protest to the act.
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After repealing the Stamp Act and altering the Sugar Act in response to the American boycott, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act to appease those with conservative mindsets. The Declaratory Act stated that Parliament could assert its authority and make laws for the colonies, no matter the circumstances. So, the colonists' anger only persisted because even though they were able to get the Stamp Act repealed, Parliament continued to assert its authority over them.
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Because of high taxes in Great Britain, Charles Townshend helped pass the Townshend Acts, which placed taxes upon goods imported into America, such as paper, glass, and lead. Townshend believed that external taxes, such as those put in place by the Townshend Acts, were fine, but internal taxes, such as those placed by the Stamp Act, weren't. However, the colonists believed both were wrong, stating that Parliament should not have the authority to place taxes upon them.
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As tension grew, some colonists began to handle customs officials who were tasked with collecting taxes violently. On March 5th, 1770, British troops were in Boston, and arguments between them and colonists soon became violent, leaving three colonists dead. They were shot by British troops, and in response to this, colonists began to view the British as heartless.
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Because of the tension after the Boston Massacre, Parliament repealed the Townshend taxes on imported goods with the exception of tea. Even with the taxes on most imported goods gone, colonists still believed that having to pay taxes meant submitting to Parliament. Later, tea prices were lowered because of issues with the East India Company, but colonists refused to pay for the tea, either returning or warehousing it. But agents still imported it, resulting in men dumping the tea into the sea.
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Along with the Coercive Acts, Parliament passed another Quartering Act in 1774 that required local officers to find shelter for British troops, even if that meant that they would live on private property.
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The Quebec Act extended the borders of Quebec, expanding all the way to the Ohio River. This act restricted colonies from traveling and expanding North, and because of the time it was passed, which was the same time as the Coercive Acts, colonists associated them and became outraged, believing this to be another way of controlling American expansion.
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In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts. These acts closed the Boston harbor until the tea was paid for and banned unapproved town meetings. Colonists were, of course, resentful about the acts.