Keeping Track of the Acts

The Proclamation of 1763 England did not want to spend money defending frontier areas

How did the Act affect the colonists? The colonists were not allowed to settle west of the Allegheny Mountains, which was set aside as Indian lands. Settlers already there were told to move and go back to the East

How did the colonists react to the Act? Colonists were angry. Many felt the French and Indian War was fought to eliminate the French from these territories and open them to American settlement. Colonists continued to move West and settle there.

The Sugar Act England needed to raise money for the treasury. Sugar was taxed; duty on molasses was lowered; the Act outlawed foreign sugar/molasses; a heavy tax on imports was enforced.

How did it affect the colonists? Restrictions were placed on colonial trade with French and Spanish West Indies. Colonists had to import molasses from the British West Indies, but there wasn’t enough to meet the colonists’ needs.

How did the colonists react to the Act? Colonists grumbled, but most obeyed the law while the others continued to smuggle. Sugar and molasses continued to make its way into the colonies through smuggling.

The Colonial Currency Act Colonial government was forbidden to print currency; only gold and silver could be used to repay debts.

How did it affect the colonists? Many businesses went into bankruptcy. No French or Spanish gold was coming into the colonies becaseu of the Sugar Act. Cheap money was outlawed.

How did the colonists react to the Act? The colonists continued to trade with the French and Spanish. Smuggling provided the colonies with the silver and gold they needed.

The Quartering Act Colonists were to provide housing, food, and supplies for British troops. The colonists were to be paid by the colonial legislatures.

How did the Act affect the colonists? The presence of British soldiers angered the colonists because they knew the troops were there to enforce the king’s laws. Some colonies refused to quarter the troops.

How did the colonists react to the Act? Man of the colonial governments refused to quarter troops. Anger and resentment began to build up among colonists in Boston resulting in the infamous Boston Massacre.

The Stamp Act England wanted to raise money by taxing legal papers, pamphlets, newspapers, etc. with special tax stamps (valued from a halfpenny to 10 pounds).

How did the Act affect the colonists? All legal papers, book, pamphlets, newspapers, and decks of cards were taxed.

How did the colonists react to the Act? Colonists were angry and hostile. The Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty were organized. The king’s tax collectors were beaten and terrorized. Colonists boycotted British goods.

The Declaratory Act Parliament canceled the Stamp Act but said it had the right to govern and tax the colonies.

How did the Act affect the colonists? This law restated and reinforced Parliament’s right and decision to tax and govern the colonies.

How did the colonists react to the Act? Colonists were too busy celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act, and the Declaratory Act slipped by unnoticed.

The Townshend Acts To raise money, taxes were placed on items like paint, glass, lead, paper, and tea.

How did the Act affect the colonists? The Townshend Acts provided Writs of Assistance which were search warrants allowing the king’s ment o search and seize at will.

How did the colonists react to the Act? Sons of Liberty used violence and demonstrations. British goods were boycotted. The outcry cut across all levels of colonial society, with conservatives and radicals acting together. The Townshend Acts were repealed.

The Tea Act It gave the British East India Company (BEIC) a monopoly to sell excess tea in the colonies. The BEIC had a surplus of tea in London warehouses.

How did the Act affect the colonists? The colonists resented the BEIC being given an absolute monopoly to sell tea even though it was cheap to buy. Many merchants were also resentful since BEIC tea was even cheaper than smuggled tea.

How did the colonists react to the Act? In Boston, they dumped the tea into the harbor, and in New York, it went into the East River. It wasn’t even unloaded in Philadelphia, and it was warehoused in Charleston.

The Intolerable Acts King George III and Parliament wanted to punish Boston for the Boston Tea party.

How did the Act affect the colonists? Boston came under martial law. The British closed the port of Boston. General Gage became the governor, and England now appointed all government officials.

How did the colonists react to the Act? The colonies joined together in opposition to the British. Colonists supplied Boston with food and provisions. The colonies called the First Continental Congress.