Andrew W. Harp's Timeline: 1763-1774

  • Proclamation of 1763

    The Proclamation of 1763 was a line, a boundary so to speak, declared by the British that ran along the Appalachian Mountains. This line prohibited the colonists from settling on any land west of the Appalachian for fear of violence with the Natives, causing more debt; they were also afraid of westward expansion leading to a greater sense of independence in the colonies. In response, many colonists ignored the line and went westward anyway in hopes of better farmland; others simply opposed.
  • Sugar Act

    The Sugar Act's purpose was for an increase in revenue; Great Britain desired this added revenue, especially since they were in debt from the French and Indian War. The act raised taxes on the importation of non-British goods, like sugar or coffee, to the colonies. The colonists' response to this was protest in the form of a boycott; they began to boycott goods from Great Britain, practicing nonimportation.
  • Currency Act

    The Currency Act made it so that the colonists could not have their own currency system; they could not issue their own currency. The colonial response was anger. They protested strongly against this act, arguing that having already suffered a trade deficit with Britain, this act would simply make things worse because there would be a shortage of money. They could only use British sterling (Britain's currency).
  • Stamp Act

    The Stamp Act's purpose was to also raise money for Great Britain. This act taxed playing cards, dice, newspapers, almanacs, calendars, letters, court documents, and pamphlets (among others); and the stamps were to be present on the item to prove payment of the tax. The colonial responses were: organized protest; the Stamp Act Congress, writing "Declaration of Rights and Grievances"; nonimportation efforts; and the formation of the Sons of Liberty, who worked on scaring the tax collectors.
  • Quartering Act

    The Quartering Act of 1765 required the housing of the British military by the colonists in barracks, inns, houses, barns, or any place, as long as the British forces had a place to accommodate if need be. The colonial response was resentment and more anger. The colonists thought it was another form of unfair tax since they have to pay to house the soldiers, and they saw it as unnecessary since they were in peacetime, which also caused some fear of the soldiers being used against the colonists.
  • Declaratory Act

    The Declaratory Act was enacted on the same exact day the Stamp Act was repealed. This act states that Parliament has the complete authority to pass laws that apply to the American colonies whenever it wants to, "in all cases whatsoever." Parliament can also enact taxes on the colonies whenever or however. Even though the colonists were happy that the Stamp Act was repealed, they were concerned over the Declaratory Act allowing Parliament the right to tax without the colonists' representation.
  • Townshend Act

    The Townshend Acts of 1767 taxed the importation of goods in the colonies; these goods were British china, glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Like the previous acts, this one also attempted to raise money for Britain. The colonial response was anger and discontent. They viewed this as unfair and abusive to their rights and liberties. The colonists began to boycott British goods. However, tensions still began to rise when the British deployed troops in the colonies to enforce these new laws.
  • Boston Massacre

    Tensions in the colonies were high due to the previous laws, like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Act, and the presence of British troops. The colonists became increasingly rebellious against the British taxes. On March 5, 1770, on King Street in Boston, the colonists and a handful of British soldiers clashed, ending with the soldiers firing into the crowd and killing five colonists. Anti-British views began to spread, in huge part by figures like Samual Adams, Paul Revere, and John Handcock.
  • Boston Tea Party

    The Boston Tea Party was a result of anger with the Townshend Act and the tax on tea. Parliament eventually dropped all the taxes from the Townshend Act, except for the one on tea, which made the colonists still angry. The Boston Tea Party occurred at Griffin's Warf in Boston, Massachusetts; members of the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The tea was imported by the British East India Company.
  • Quartering Act

    This Quartering Act is much similar to the one passed in 1765; however, the main difference is that now colonial governors had the ability to place British troops in unoccupied houses and buildings. The Quartering Act of 1774 was the last of the Intolerable Acts, but unlike the first three, it applied to every colony. The colonial response was quite the same as with the other one: the colonists see it as unfair because they are the ones who have to pay taxes to ensure housing for the British.
  • Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

  • Quebec Act

    The Quebec Act simply extended the border of Quebec down to the Ohio River (Quebec was a Canadian providence). Because of the largely French Catholic population in this region, the act provided acceptance of the right to practice Catholicism. However, the governor and legislation were not elected; they were chosen by Great Britain. The colonists did not like this act because they were largely Protestant; they were not ready to accept Catholicism in the colonies.