Evidence of Britain’s New Imperialism and its Impact

Proclamation of 1763 Kept colonists from settling beyond a line along the Appalachian Mountains Intended by the British to control trade and land speculation as well as prevent further costly conflicts with Native Americans. Demonstrates British economic control Wanted to be responsible for land distribution, avoid costly wars, and control the fur trade Largely ineffective; many colonists continued to move westward

Sugar Act of 1764 Intended to stop the illegal sugar trade between the continental colonies and the French and Spanish West Indies Strengthened enforcement of the tax on colonial grown sugar Lowered the tax on molasses from England, further damaging the market for sugar grown in the colonies Established vice-admiralty courts (British run courts and judges) to put potential smugglers on trial without the sympathy of a local court

Stamp Act of 1765 Imposed a tax on most printed documents in the colonies Newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, deeds, wills, licenses, etc

Results of Sugar and Stamp Acts At first was an effective attempt at reestablishing mercantilism in the colonies Britain was collecting 10 times the revenue from the colonies as before 1763 Resentment Difficult at first due to fighting amongst the colonies, but becomes more prevalent with the Stamp Act. Sugar Act only damaged a few colonies, but the Stamp Act affected everyone Stamp Act was not detested due to the money itself, but the precedent on which it was based If this tax passed, it was a direct attempt by Parliament to raise money from the colonies without the consent of the colonial assemblies

Quartering Act (Mutiny Act) Required colonists to house British troops and supply them with food, water, shelter, etc British felt this was rational and fair Those troops were there to protect the colonists from the Indians The colonists had been doing this voluntarily since the French and Indian Wars began Colonists resented this act due specifically to the fact that it was now mandatory, not on a volunteer basis