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Plantation/Sugar Act
Purpose: To tax molasses, sugar, and similar products that were exported from non-British Caribbean plantations.
US Reaction: Colonists were displeased that they were being taxed without representation.
UK Reaction: Within just a year of the tax being enacted, it was quickly ended due to businesses finding themselves unable to purchase goods from Britain. -
Stamp Act
Purpose: Taxed anything that had to be printed to help pay back Britain's growing debt from the French & Indian War.
US Reaction: Yet again, colonists were up in arms over the new tax, especially since it affected many established members of the colonies. Not to mention, falsifying stamps was punishable by death.
UK Reaction: After multiple protests and conflicts with American colonists, the House of Commons repealed the act in 1766. -
Quartering Act
Purpose: Allowed British soldiers to board in American homes and barracks.
US Reaction: Colonists felt enraged that the British Parliament was forcing troops into the colonies despite their efforts to keep the British military as distant as possible.
UK Reaction: Every colony except for Pennsylvania didn't comply with the act up until it expired in 1767, two years after its introduction. -
Townshend Acts
Purpose: Believing that taxing imported goods would make colonists less angry, the British Parliament created the Townshend Acts to do precisely that.
US Reaction: American colonists were, once again, incredibly displeased with how harsh the Townshend Acts were and that they still had no representation in British lawmaking.
UK Reaction: In April of 1770, all of the Townshend Act were repealed except for the Tea Tax, which would go on to be the main catalyst for the Boston Tea Party. -
Tea Act
Purpose: Created to help Britain repay their debts and to help support the struggling British East India Company, the Tea Act let the company sell directly to colonial salesmen rather than land in Britain first.
US Reaction: As with all taxation before it, the Tea Act was met with much disdain. Colonists believed it undermined local businesses.
UK Reaction: The Taxation of Colonies Act in 1778 repealed the Tea Act and was removed entirely in 1861.