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Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a parliamentary measure taken to increase profits from North American sugar trade. This act placed taxes on sugar, wine, coffee, and other items imported by the colonies. Colonists were angry with the creation of this act, primarily because the English didn't get consent from the colonists before establishing it (no representation). Parliament repealed the act in 1765. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act required that revenue stamps be attached to all printed documents in the American Colonies. This act also affected some goods such as dice and playing cards. This caused uproar in the colonies, leading to the creation of activist groups against it and widespread boycotts on English imported goods. English parliament repealed it the following year due to economic strain caused by the boycott. (Image: "One penny stamp." Stamp Act, landofthebrave.com.) -
Quartering Act
Parliament passed this law to force colonists to provide housing, food, and other supplies to support English troops residing there. Colonists were once again offended that parliament never asked for their consent, but rather forced their policies upon them. This led to the colonists' refusal to comply with the act. This led parliament to pass the New York Restraining Act, prohibiting the governor of New York to pass any laws until they complied with the new law. -
Declaratory Act
This act was issued by English parliament that declared that they had full authority and power to make laws that people in the colonies were legally required to adhere to. Many colonists interpreted this as threatening to the self-governing way of life that they had grown accustomed to in the colonies. This caused a rift between the colonies and the mother land, pointing many colonists to the path of revolution. The English still tried to gain absolute control over the colonies. -
Townshend Act
This series of laws was an attempt to pay for the salaries of British governors and other officials residing in the colonies. Sponsored by Charles Townshend, it taxed imports such as glass, lead, paints, paper, silk, and tea. Reaction from the colonists resembled those of the Stamp Acts, with boycotts and shaming of those who didn't participate in the revolt. In 1770 the British issued a partial repeal, but the tax on tea remained. (Image: ushistory.org. "The Townshend Acts".)
