Taxes and Colonial Restrictions
All trade must be conducted in English ships. Certain goods can only be
sold to England. All foreign goods destined for the colonies had to be
shipped via England & were subject to import duties. The colonies could
not make/export items that competed with English products.
Navigation Acts
1651-1673
Molasses Act
1733
Placed heavy duties on sugar, molasses, rum imported by the colonies
from the West Indies.
Writs of Assistance
1761
Permitted customs officials to search homes or possessions, ships or
warehouse for smuggled goods.
Proclamation of
1763
1763
Colonists were forbidden to purchase or settle lands between the
Appalachians and the Mississippi River.
Sugar Act
1764
First law passed by Parliament for the purpose of raising revenues in the
colonies for the crown. Imposed heavy duties on sugar, molasses, calico,
silk, coffee imported to the colonies. Provided means to stop the
smuggling of molasses.
Currency Act
1764
Outlawed colonial issue of paper money.
Stamp Act
Required tax stamps on most printed materials. Purpose was to raise
revenue to support the new military force.
Quartering Act
1765
(repealed
1766)
1765
Declaratory Act
1766
Asserted Parliament’s ability to tax and legislate for the colonies in all
cases.
Townshend Acts
1767
(repealed
1770)
1774
Duties on paper, glass, and tea imported from Britain. Acts were
designed to raise money to pay royal official in the colonies.
Intolerable Acts
Colonist required to provide food and accommodations for British
soldiers.
Boston Port Bill: Closed the port of Boston until restitution made on the
tea destroyed during the Boston Tea party.
Mass Government Act: Annulled the Massachusetts colonial charter.
Abolished elected council, increased powers of the Governor, and
forbade special town meetings.
Administration of Justice Act: Persons accused of committing a murder
while suppressing a riot or enforcing the law, could be tried outside of
the colony in which the murder occurred.
Quartering Act: Gave authority to commanders seeking to house troops
in private houses.
Quebec Act: Created a highly centralized government for Canada.
Granted greater religious freedom to Catholics in Canada. Reinstated
French civil law. Annexed to Quebec the area east of the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio rivers.