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Stamp Act (1765) Date Enacted: March 22, 1765
Description: The Stamp Act imposed a direct tax on printed materials such as newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards.
Colonists' Reaction: The colonists vehemently opposed the Stamp Act, considering it a violation of their rights as English subjects to be taxed without representation.
The British Government's Reaction: The British government faced significant resistance from the colonists and eventually repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. -
Sugar Act (1764) Date Enacted: April 5, 1764
Description: The Sugar Act aimed to raise revenue from the American colonies by increasing duties on sugar and other imported goods.
Colonists' Reaction: The colonists were angered by the increased taxes and perceived this act as an infringement on their rights so they started protesting.
The British Government's Reaction: The British government saw the Sugar Act as a way to increase revenue and regulate trade. -
Townshend Acts (1767) Date Enacted: June 29, 1767
Description: The Townshend Acts imposed duties on various imported goods, including glass, paper, lead, paint, and tea.
Colonists' Reaction: The colonists responded with outrage, boycotting British goods and claiming that taxation without representation was unjust.
The British Government's Reaction: The British government deployed troops to keep order in the face of resistance. The Townshend Acts were eventually partially repealed in 1770. -
Tea Act (1773) Date Enacted: May 10, 1773
Description: The Tea Act granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies.
Colonists' Reaction: Colonists were still opposed to the principle of taxation without representation and saw the Tea Act as a ploy to impose British control.
The British Government's Reaction: The British government responded with the Coercive Acts, which aimed to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and assert British authority. -
Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) (1774) Date Enacted: 1774
Description: The Coercive Acts were a series of measures aimed at punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and asserting British control.
Colonists' Reaction: The colonists saw the Coercive Acts as severe violations of their rights and freedoms.
The British Government's Reaction: The British government intended the Coercive Acts to restore order and assert its authority.