British Actions/Legislation Colonists Reaction The Sugar Act ● even though this act lowered ● 1764 taxes, angry colonists felt as ● lowered taxes on imported if rights as Englishmen were molasses being violated ● Writs of assistance (legal ● Act was repealed document that allowed officials to search anywhere ​ for any smuggled goods - was enforced by this act The Stamp Act ● Sons of Liberty urged to ● 1765 boycott (refuse something) ● tax on all printed material British goods. Farmers pledged not to buy or use British goods. ● Act was repealed in 1766 with the Sugar Act The Townshend Acts ● Colonists boycotted British ● 1767 goods again and women ● tax on all imported goods (Daughters of Liberty) urged (goods from other countries) people to make their own goods instead of buying them from the British. ● The Boston Massacre - a fight broke out between townspeople and soldiers - only 5 colonists killed, but used killings as propaganda (information designed to spread or influence opinion) against the British as a slaughter of innocent Americans by bloodthirsty redcoats ● Repealed in 1770 except for tea The Tea Act ● Colonists dressed as Indians ● 1773 and dumped 342 chests of ● English Tea Company did not tea in the Boston Harbor - have to pay taxes on their The Boston Tea Party tea ● Not repealed ● This company got to bypass colonial merchants and sell straight to colonists

The Coercive Acts ● colonists continue to be ● taxes in response to Boston angry Tea Party ● rename act the Intolerable ● close Boston harbor Acts ● took away rights of colonists ● got goods from other ● have to quarter British colonies soldiers