British Acts (Tax Laws)
Sugar Act: 1764
• This law raised the tax
on luxury items such
as wine, silk and
molasses.
• Tax collectors were
armed and searched
for smuggled
contraband.
Stamp Act: 1765
• This law required
colonists to pay for
stamps on deeds,
licenses, newspapers,
contracts, pamphlets,
and playing cards.
• Rallied the colonies
against England.
Quartering Act: 1765
• This law required
colonies to house,
feed, and provide
supplies to British
troops.
• Most troops found
alternative housing
near ports.
The Colony of New Jersey's response to the King
November 1765
• That his majesty’s subjects in this colony are entitled to all
the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subject s
in Great Britain
• That the people of this colony are not, and from their
remote situation cannot be represented in the parliament of
Great Britain.
• Only the representatives of the people of this colony, are
persons chosen by themselves, and that no taxes ever have
been, or can be imposed on them but by their own
legislature.
Stamp Act Crisis (1765)
• In response to the Stamp Act the
colonists did the following:
- Formed the Sons and Daughters of
Liberty
- protested in the streets
- harassed tax collectors
- boycotted trade with England
- non-importation agreements
- Stamp Act Congress and Resolves
Stamp Act was repealed in 1766
Townshend Act: 1767
• Placed a tax on
imported glass, lead,
paint, paper, and tea.
• Tax money was used
to pay for military
costs.
**This violated the
agreement of having
“no standing army”
during peacetime.
Tea Act: 1773
• England lowered the
cost of tea, so it could
trade with the world,
but…
• They increased the
tax.
• This led to the Boston
Tea Party
Intolerable Acts:1774
• Punished the colonies
for the Boston Tea
Party.
• Closed Boston’s
Harbor.
• Placed Boston under
military control.
Questions
If you were living in the colonies, which tax
act would be the hardest to deal with and
why?
What would you do as a citizen of the
colonies to “fight” back against these tax
acts?
Homework
You are being sent from the 13 colonies to England to give
a speech in front of Parliament and to King George. Your
speech will try and persuade England to repeal the tax
acts from the colony.
Use historical information to make your case. You can use
one or all of the tax acts in your speech.
You must use at least 3 examples to support your position
and explain what will happen if England does not repeal
the tax acts.