Imperial Crisis --- British Legislation and Colonial Reaction

Legislation Date Provisions Colonial Reaction

Sugar Act 5 April 1764 Increased duties on Several assemblies sugar; reduced duty on protest taxation for molasses; expanded revenue jurisdiction of vice- admiralty courts Stamp Act 22 March 1765; Printed documents Riots in cities; repealed 18 March (deeds, newspapers, collectors forced to 1766 marriage licenses, etc) resign; Stamp Act issued only on special Congress (October stamped paper 1765) purchased from stamp collectors Quartering Act May 1765 Colonists must supply Protests in assemblies; British troops with New York Assembly housing and other items punished for failure to (candles, salt, rum, etc.) comply (1767) Declaratory Act 18 March 1766 Parliament declares its Ignored in celebration sovereignty over over repeal of Stamp colonies “in all cases Act whatsoever” Townshed Revenue 26 June-2 July 1767; Duties on glass, lead, Nonimportation of British Act paper, paints, tea; goods, assemblies protest; customs collections newspapers attack British tightened in America Policy Tea Act 10 May 1773 Parilament gives East Protests against favoritism India Company right to shown to monopolistic Sell tea directly to company; tea destroyed Americans; some duties in Boston (16 Dec 1773) Coercive Acts March-June 1774 Closed port of Boston; Boycott of British goods; (Intolerable Acts) restricted First Continental Congress Massachusetts convenes (September 1774) government; restricted town meetings; troops quartered in Boston; British Officials accused of crimes sent to England or Canada for Trial Prohibitory Act 22 December 1775 Declares British Drives Continental Congress intention to coerce closer to decision for Americans into independence submission; embargo on American goods; American goods seized