THE SUGAR ACT, 1764

What was it?: The Sugar Act of 1764 raised taxes on colonists sugar to make it
harder for the colonists to sell their own sugar.
Why was it important?: Colonists had been illegall smuggling sugar and
molasses with the !ritish knowing for man" man ears. The !ritish go#ernment
had not done anthing about it before the 176$s% there were &unishments but the
were not enough to sto& colonists from smuggling. The Sugar Act of 1764 was
designed to get rid of illegal sugar smuggling between the colonies and the
Caribbean b making &unishments for smuggling more extreme and b making it
harder for the colonists to sell their own sugar.
THE STAM ACT, 176!
What was it?: A tax on most &rinted documents in the colonies. Colonists now
needed s&ecial 'stam& &a&er( in order to do dail business.
Why was it important?: The !ritish go#ernment wanted to raise more mone for
itself" and tax on stam&s would do the trick. )owe#er" the colonists reacted angril
to the Stam& Act and &rotested b tarring*and*feathering roal stam& collectors all
o#er the colonies. The colonists belie#ed the Stam& Act went against their rights as
colonists+ it was 'taxation without re&resentation.( The !ritish go#ernment
e#entuall took awa the Stam& Act because of how much it had angered the
colonists.
T), -.A/T,/012 ACT" 1763
What was it?: A law re4uiring colonists to gi#e housing and su&&lies for !ritish
troo&s in America.
Why was it important?: After the Se#en 5ears 6ar the !ritish go#ernment left
1$"$$$ troo&s in the colonies to hel& defend them against the 7rench and 1ati#e
American tribes. The colonists had been gi#ing housing to !ritish troo&s for a long
time but the were u&set because it was now re4uired b law. The colonists
thought it was another exam&le of the go#ernment taking awa their rights as
!ritish citi8ens.
THE "EC#ARAT$R% ACT, 1766
What was it?: The 9eclarator Act of 1766 was &assed b the !ritish &arliament
and it stated that the !ritish go#ernment had com&lete authorit o#er the colonists
in all cases.
Why was it important?: The !ritish got rid of the Stam& Act because the
colonists had &rotested" but the !ritish &arliament &assed the 9eclarator Act"
which ga#e it extreme &owers o#er the colonists. 6hile the !ritish had backed
down from the Stam& Act" the 9eclarator Act &ro#ed that the !ritish had no
intention of ha#ing the colonists &ush them around. This act allowed the !ritish to
&ut more taxes in &lace.
THE T$W&SHE&" "UT'ES, 1767
What was it?: A tax on im&orts :tea" &aint" glass" &a&er; &ut in &lace b the !ritish
&arliament in order to raise mone for the !ritish go#ernment.
Why was it important?: The Townshend 9uties :or taxes; were another exam&le
of the !ritish go#ernment abusing its &ower. ! &utting taxes on man im&orted
&roducts" the !ritish go#ernment &ut a strain on the wallets of the colonists. <an
of the &roducts the colonists used e#er da were now going to be more ex&ensi#e.
)owe#er" the colonists &rotested the new taxes and got the !ritish to take awa all
of the taxes = exce&t the one on tea.