2. British Legislation
• In order to pay off
the debt from the
French and Indian
War, Britain passed
a series of laws
which imposed
taxes on the
American Colonies.
3. British Legislation
• These taxes upset the colonists
because they were not represented in
the British Parliament.
• Colonist’s belief was:
“No Taxation Without
Representation”
4. Sugar Act- 1764
• Placed duties (taxes) on imported
sugar and molasses.
• Colonists began to smuggle these
products into the colonies.
5. Stamp Act- 1765
• Required colonists to pay for an official
stamp or seal on paper items.
• This was the first direct tax on the
colonies.
• Colonists refused to buy the stamps or
just ignored the law.
6. Declaratory Act- 1766
• After repealing the Stamp Act,
Parliament was upset that the colonists
challenged its authority.
• This stated that Parliament made the
laws, not the colonists.
7. Townshend Acts- 1767
• Placed duties on imported glass, lead,
paint, paper, and tea.
• Money raised paid for soldiers to be
stationed in the Colonies.
• This upset the colonists.
• They claimed it violated the guarantee
of no standing army in the colonies.
• Led to the Boston Massacre.
8. Boston Massacre- 1770
• British soldiers fired into a crowd of
citizens.
• Used as propaganda against the
British.
9. Tea Act- 1773
• Gave the British East India Company
permission to sell tea directly to the
colonies.
• It was supposed to make tea cheaper.
10. Boston Tea Party- 1773
• To protest the Tea Act, the Sons of
Liberty dressed as Indians and
dumped over 300 crates of tea into
Boston Harbor.
11. Coercive/Intolerable Acts 1774
• In response to the Tea Party, Boston
Harbor was closed down until the tea
was paid for.
• The Massachusetts charter was
cancelled.
• Royal officials accused of crimes were
sent back to England for trial.
• Would face friendly judges and juries.
• This upset the colonists.
