1. Important Acts
The Road to Revolution

2. Proclamation of 1763
Passed after the French & Indian War ended in 1763
Prohibited British settlers of West of the Appalachian Mountains into the Ohio River Valley
Intended to stop Indian revolts

3. Sugar Act
1764
Taxed sugar, molasses and other products shipped to the colonies; also provided harsh penalties for smuggling
James Otis complained “Taxation without representation is tyranny!”
These taxes were created WITHOUT any of the Colonists getting to speak to Parliament about it

4. Quartering Act
1765
Required Colonies to provide food and housing for British soldiers
The English soldiers were basically allowed to just move in to Colonists’ homes

5. Stamp Act
1765
Required all legal and commercial documents to carry an official stamp showing the tax had been paid on it
All contracts, diplomas, wills, commissions, newspapers, playing cards, etc. had to have the stamp
Designed solely to raise money to pay off debts from French & Indian War
Did effect England, too… The Stamp Act was imposed on people who lived in England, too

6. Stamp Act Protests
Stamp Act Congress met in October 1765 and directly petitioned King George III
Merchants organized boycotts of British goods, which meant that people would purposely NOT buy goods from England
Secret societies like the Sons of Liberty were formed to stage protests
Stamp Act was repealed in 1766… people in England were allowed to complain about the tax, but the Colonies were not… “no taxation, without representation!”

7. Declaratory Act Passed after Stamp Act was repealed in 1766
Reinforces authority of Parliament over the colonies
Basically told the Colonists that their complaints didn’t matter, and that they didn’t have a voice, anyway!
“No Taxation Without Representation!” became a rally cry among the Colonists

8. Townshend Acts
1767
Taxed various goods imported to Colonies (glass, tar, lead, paint, paper, etc.)
Colonists protested these Acts, and really ALL of the ACTS through boycotts and gatherings, so…
Britain sent more troops to enforce laws
The troops didn’t allow people to congregate (which means gather together and protest) because they were afraid of riots
Basically, people were not allowed to assemble (which means come together to protest or just share ideas)

9. Tea Act
1773
Created a monopoly on tea which forced colonists to pay taxes
Resulted in Boston Tea Party

10. Intolerable Acts
1774
Laws to punish Boston and Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.
In response, colonists met in the First Continental Congress and organized militias

11. Olive Branch Petition July 1775 (after Lexington and Concord)
Last effort by colonists to avoid war
King refused to try to fix problems with colonies