British Laws Imposed on the American Colonists
Event
Date
Proclamation 1763
Act
Sugar Act
1764
Quartering
Act
1764
Stamp Act
1765
Declaratory
Act
1766
Townshend
Act
1767
Description
Prevent colonists from
settling west of the
Appalachian Mts. The
British gov’t bel’d this
would keep peace with
the Native Americans.
Collect taxes in order to
pay for the war debt.
Placed a duty on several
products, including
molasses. Called for
harsh punishment of
smugglers.
Save money on keeping
soldiers in the colonies
to protect against
natives. Kept about
10,000 soldiers in
colonies. Req’d
colonists to house and
feed soldiers.
Finance war debt.
Force colonists to pay a
tax on almost
everything printed on
paper—newspapers,
legal documents—even
playing cards.
Gain total authority
over the colonies.
Increase revenues from
the colonies. Taxed
items such as lead,
glass, paper, paint, and
tea imported to the
colonies.
Effect in the
Colonies
Colonists refused to
obey
Effects in England
Colonists organized
protests and
demonstrations
They created other kinds
of taxes in its place.
Colonists organized
protests and
demonstrations
More troops have to be
sent to the colonies to
keep order
Held Stamp Act
Congress, boycotts,
non-importation
agreements, and
protests by the Sons
of Liberty
Merchants loose money
because of the boycotts
Some colonists
protested
Parliament’s right
to pass laws to
govern the colonies
without their
consent
Colonists organized
protests and
demonstrations
The create more laws and
strengthen the military
presence in the colonies
Troops were sent to
enforce the law
Revoked the Act one year
later. Replacing it with
other laws and taxes.
They enforced the act,
stationing troops in
Boston, then the tax was
lifted on everything but
tea.
Tea Act
1773
Intolerable
Acts
1774
Intended to help the
British East India Co.
which was almost
bankrupt. Lowered the
price of tea because it
was shipped directly to
the colonists.
Boycotting tea.
Colonists resented
the tax even though
the tea price was
lower. They felt
the BEIC had a
monopoly on
selling British tea in
the colonies.
Smuggled Dutch
tea into the
colonies. Boston
Tea Party dumped
15,000 pounds of
tea into the harbor.
Punish the colonists for Tried to help the
boycotting tea and
people of Boston.
dumping the tea in
Gave food and
Boston. Tighten control other supplies.
over Mass.
Committee of
Correspondence
1. Closed the port
meets and makes a
of Boston.
decision to hold a
2. Increased the
meeting in
powers of the
Philadelphia in Sept
royal governor.
and Oct. of 1774.
3. Abolished the
upper house of Known as the First
Mass legislature, Continental
and cut the town Congress.
meetings.
Twelve of 13
4. Strengthened the colonies send
Quartering Act
delegates (not GA).
of 1765.
Congress demanded
the repeal (end) of
the Intolerable
Acts. Declared that
colonies had the
right to tax and
govern themselves.
Called for training
of militia and a new
boycott (protesting)
of British goods.
Voted to meet in
Punishing the colonists by
passing the Intolerable
Acts. And Quebec Act.
They didn’t agree to any
of the demands made by
the Congress.
Reinforced its authority
by using force.
Marched into Concord,
seized illegal weapons,
and battling colonists.
Quebec Act
1774
Set up gov’t from land
taken from the French
in 1763. Claimed land
between the Ohio and
the Missouri rivers as
part of Canada. New
boundaries took western
lands away claimed by
several colonies and
blocked colonists from
moving west.
May 1775 if their
demands were not
met.
Same as above
Same as above