Timeline of Acts

By Diannahyatt

  • Proclamation of 1763

    Proclamation of 1763
    • Proclamation of 1763 was an act that was created after the French and Indian War.
    • The Proclamation of 1763 gave the Native Americans all the western land, and by doing so, the English government thought this act would end all the westward expansion. -This proclamation made the colonies angry because the colonies believed the English didn't want to give the land that were supposed to have. So, the colonies thought they were being denied their rights.

  • Sugar Act

    Sugar Act
    • The Sugar Act put taxes on sugar and reduced the previous tax on molasses that influenced Great Britain and its citizens greatly.
    • This act's main purpose was to make Great Britain more money to pay off all the debt from the previous wars.
    • This act made the colonists angry because they believed that Great Britain had no right making them pay for debt on a war that didn't want in the first place.
    • Smuggling gets caught and inforcing the law. (lower the tax)

  • Currency Act

    Currency Act
    • The Currency Act was an act placed on the colonial economy that was created by the Parliament of Great Britain.
    • This act was able to control the printing and use of colonial money.
    • The Currency Act was able to lower the amount of debt that had piled up with all the wars.
    • The colonists did not like this act because their money was not in their control anymore.
    • Colonies had to use Britain money if they wanted to buy stuff.

  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    • Stamp Act required all newspapers, pamphlets, and other legal documents to bear revenue stamps.
    • This act was supposed to help defend, protect, and secure the colonies power.
    • In October 1765 in New York City, the Massachusetts Assembly agreed to come up with a decision that took power away from the colonies.
    • The colonies did not like this decision so a group arose, "Sons of Liberty" The "Sons of Liberty" revolted against the Stamp Act, which brought a lot of violence.

  • Quartering Act

    Quartering Act
    • The Quartering Act was an act that made Great Britain authorities find a place to sleep for the British troops. -The colonists didn't like this act because they were forced to give up their home, bed, clothes, and food to troops. The colonists didn't have a chance or a say, so it made them feel powerless.

  • Declaratory Act

    Declaratory Act
    • The Declaratory Act gave the authorities the right to bind the American colonies.
    • This act accompanied the newly cancel Stamp Act.
    • The colonies and colonists were not happy about this act because the act made the colonists completely under someone control; they could not do anything.

  • Townshend Acts

    Townshend Acts
    • The Townshend Acts was created by Charles Townshend, and he created these acts to put taxes on goods that were imported- such as paper, glass, and tea.
    • The Townshend Act’s purpose was to raise money to support officers and keep a military presence in America. -The colonists were made about this act because they didn't like being taxed, but the colonists were less violent this time.
    • John Dickinson, lawyer, agreed the colonists should not be taxed.

  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    • The Boston Massacre was an act that occurred because of the Townshend acts of 1767 because of the heavy present of British troops.
    • There were two sides to the Boston Massacre (1)British troops aka Redcoats, led by Thomas Hutchinson, and (2)the American civilians, led by Samuel Adams.
    • The American civilians were unhappy because, on March 5, Hugh White, a British solider, hit Edward Garrick, a civilian, with his rifle. Because of the unfair treatment, the violence escalated.

  • Samuel Adams: “Committee of Correspondence”

    Samuel Adams: “Committee of Correspondence”
    • Samuel Adams wanted the colonists to have freedom.
    • At a Boston town meeting in 1772, Adams wanted the meeting goers to select people to be a part of a “Committee of Correspondence” to allow others to help get all the rights colonists are supposed to have.
    • This Committee decided to go against the British government's decision to pay for judges to have absolute power.
    • Even though, Samuel Adam's committee had other towns support nothing was changed for the colonists.

  • The Tea Act

    • The Tea Act was an act that the British Parliament passed to make money to pay off the overwhelming war debt.
    • This act was mainly passed to allow the East India Company to make more money and to stay afloat.
    • This act made the colonists angry because all of their tea that they usual drank now had a tax on it.
    • Because the colonists started the Boston "Tea Party" event and weren't paying for the tea, this act was repealed- which made the colonists happy.

  • The Boston "Tea Party"

    The Boston "Tea Party"
    • The Boston “Tea Party” involved a group of men, disguised to look like Mohawk Indians, and their leader Samuel Adams.
    • The American colonies were unhappy because the British government put a tax on tea, which was a main item that these colonists used often.
    • Because the colonists were upset, they started a protest and dumped chests full of tea into the Boston Harbor.
    • The colonists believed that if the tea landed on the docks, they would have to pay the tax.

  • The Coercive Acts

    The Coercive Acts
    • The Coercive Acts were a series of laws that Great Britain's Parliament passed that affected Britain's colonies.
    • The laws were the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act of 1774. All of these laws ensured Great Britain power over American colonies.
    • The colonists were extremely unhappy with the laws that were passed. And, because of their unhappiness, the American Revolutionary War was set to unfold in upcoming next year.