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The Road to Revolution
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Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a proclamation that was issued by King George III on October 7, 1763. It declared that the boundaries of the settlement for inhabitants of the 13 colonies to be Appalachia. The colonies did not accept this, because many of them had already began to plan on expanding their western boundaries, which caused tension among them. This affected colonial America because it blocked off the colonies plans to move westward, which also caused the colonies to get very angry. -
Primary Source - Proclamation of 1763
"No taxation without represention" - James Otis -
The Sugar Act of 1764
The Sugar Act was an act that put taxes on foreign molasses. It also increased taxes on coffee, indigo, and certain types of wine. Importation of run and French wines were also banned. This got the colonists mad, because the taxes were raised without their consent. This act affected the colonists, because it affected the merchants' pay. The Sugar Act was a very important moment during the pre-revolutionary period. It was one of the first times that colonists decided they wanted a say in taxes. -
Currency Act of 1764
The Currency Act was the act that eleminated colonial currencies. The colonies constantly suffered a shortage of currency to conduct trade, and many of the colonies felt no alternative to printing their own paper money. This had a big effect on colonial America because it created financial difficulties in the colonies, where gold and silver were in short supply. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was the first British tax on the American colonists. The act stated that every newspaper, pamphlet, and other public and legal document had to have a stamp, or British seal, on it. This is an important time because the stamp costed money, but the colonists didn't think they should have to pay for something they had been doing for free, so they responded in force. It is also an important time because the Sons of Liberty were formed because of this act. -
Quartering Act of 1765
The Quartering Act was an act that stated the local American governments had to provide housing and food to the British soldiers during their time of service in the colonies. This put a huge effect on the colonists, as they thought it was offensive to have them in their homes and having to care for them. It also put them under stress, because in some communities, there was not enough supplies and they often had to struggle to get them food and drink. -
Stamp Act Congress 1765
The Stamp Act Congress were meetings in which most of the colonies sent representatives to the meetings in New York. They called the meeting the Stamp Act Congress. The colonies voted and declared that Parliament did not have the right to pass taxes on the colonies because they did not have any representation in parliament. The Stamp Act Congress was a very important time in colonial America that changed it dramatically, because it was one of the reasons for the start of the American Revolution. -
Primary Source - Quartering Act
"The Question is not of the inexpediency of the Stamp
Act, or the inability of the Colonys to pay the Tax, but
that it is unconstitutional, and contrary to their Rights,
supporting the Independency of the Provinces, and not
Subject to the Legislative Power of Great Britain" - General Thomas Gage -
Primary Source - Stamp Act of 1765
"Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments. If we can get rid of the former, we may easily bear the latter. "
- Ben Franklin Letter on the Stamp Act -
Declaratory Act of 1766
The Declaratory Act was an act that stated that Britain could still pass laws that would affect the colonies and the Parliament still would have power over the colonies. This is also a very important time that affected America because the colonists were so angry of all their control that it was another factor that led to the Revolution. -
Townshend Acts of 1767
The Townshend Acts were laws made to collect revenue from the colonists in America by putting taxes on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. Colonists in America protested against this and Boston merchants boycotted the English goods. This affected America greatly because the Massachusetts Assembly was dissolved, and British troops were sent to enforce these laws. This time period was called the Boston Massacre. Another very important result of these acts was the Boston Tea Party.
