Taxation Timeline by Annabelle Lee and Sophie Park

Navigation Acts

Oct 9, 1651

This is where the colonists were required to transport goods on British ships. More smuggling occurred and many colonists ignored this law.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

The Sugar Act successfully reduced smuggling but it disrupted the colonies and angered many. Increasing the cost of many imported items, and reducing exports to non-British markets.

Quartering Act

Mar 24, 1765

The Quartering Act was an unjustified taxation that required colonists to pay, provide shelter, and feed any troops stationed in their colony.

Stamp Act

Oct 7, 1765

The Stamp Act’s purpose was to help regain the British government after losing a great amount of military money from the French and Indian War. It placed tax on almost all forms of papers such as newspapers, deck of cards, and even letters.

Declaratory Act

Mar 18, 1766

The Declaration Act was the final repeal of the Stamp Act in 1765. Not only did this act end the Stamp Act but also gave the government the absolute power to make or change laws of the colonial government.

Townshend Act

Jun 29, 1767

The Townshend Act was four acts that were passed by the British Parliament, the Suspending Act, the Revenue Act, the Indemnity Act, and the Commissioners of Customs Act. These acts were viewed as an abuse of power from the colonists.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

The Boston Massacre was the following event caused by the Townshend Act in 1776. The Townshend Act mostly affected the Bostonians because they relied on imported items which were what it taxed. The Boston Massacre occurred in Boston where a patriot mob raised a violent protest toward British troops. 5 colonists were shot which led to a trial involving John Adams.

Tea Act

Apr 27, 1773

The Tea Act was passed by the British Parliament. The law forced the colonists to only buy from this one company and because they could only buy from that company, the company added taxes which they had to pay. Of course the colonists opposed this because it was another “no taxation without representation”.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This occurred when a group of men disguised as Indians, boarded British ships, and dumped tea into the harbor. They dumped 342 chests of tea. Colonists did this because they were frustrated and angry with Britain for imposing “no taxation without representation”.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

These acts were meant to punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party. They tried to isolate Boston from the rest of the colonies. They closed the Boston harbor until colonists paid for the tea that they dumped.