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The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed to increase income for Great Britain to pay off their debt from the French and Indian War. The Sugar Act taxed sugar products to increase the income from the colonies to use for Britain's debt. The Act itself said that every gallon of molasses and syrups have to be taxed for. Neither could any rum or spirits be produced or manufactured in America. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was passed because the King sent British soldiers to the colonies who were charged with protecting against threats from the French and Native Americans enforcing some of the Parliamentary Acts. The act said if colonist refuses to obey the soldiers they will be sent to jail. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed when the Prime Minister took a different approach on the complaining from the colonists by putting a tax on stamps. The act said that taxes will be paid throughout the colonies for stamps (which was used for many documents) and the tax money will be put aside and reserved for the King's French and Indian War debt. This tax was different from the rest because it affected all of the colonists not just businesses and the government. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed to ease tensions in the colonies. The Prime Minister and Parliament repealed taxes on imported goods. The Tea Act allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonists, by passing the merchants in the colonies. This allowed the company to sell their tea cheaper than the merchants who were selling smuggled tea. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts: Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act was passed after the Boston Tea Party. The King was realizing that Britain was starting to loose control of the colonies. As an effect the King punished Massachusetts by giving them the Boston Port act which the colonists referred to as the Intolerable Acts. The act itself stated that until the damages of the Boston Harbor were Paid for, the Port of Boston would be closed. This made it impossible to import/export anything until the King was satisfied. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts: MA Government Act and the Administration of Justuce Act
The MA Government Act and Administration of Justice Act were passed as a punishment for Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party so that Britain could gain more control of the colonies. The MA Government Act states that they could not hold a government meeting without the British governor. The Administration of Justice Act states that anyone who is being sued for a capital offence in Massachussetts they must be tried in a different colony or in Great Britain. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts: Quebec Act
The Quebec Act was passed to give British citizens rights to guarantee the right to keep their Catholic faith, gave Quebec control of disputed land, and "reconstituted" the French Laws in Quebec. The act itself said that all of Britain's territories will be attached to Quebec to expand their territory. -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Act was passed when a man named Charles Townshend stated that the taxes Britain were giving to the Colonies was considered illegal so to address the colonist's frustration Parliament passed the Townshend Acts. The act itself placed duties on paper, paint, lead, and tea. It allowed for search warrants to enter homes and businesses to search for smuggled goods.
