1. Declaratory and Townshend Acts

2. Declaratory Act  Followed the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1765  Stated Parliament’s authority was the same in the colonies as it was in Britain  1766  Gave Britain the absolute power to make laws in the colonies and changes to the colonial government  Did this even without the colonists being represented in Parliament  Remember…. “No taxation without representation”

3. Townshend Acts  Series of acts in 1767  After the French and Indian War, Britain was in huge debt.  British were able to put this act into place due to the Declaratory Act  There were five acts within the Townshend Acts  Most important one – Revenue Act of 1767

4. Revenue Act  1767  This act gave Britain the chance to collect taxes from the colonists after the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766  Proposed by Charles Townshend  He felt the colonists opposed the Stamp Act because it was a direct tax not indirect, or external, tax  This was not the issue. The issue was the colonists wanted representation in Parliament in order to be rightfully taxed.  Initial reasoning for this act was to raise revenue for the army in North America  It was instead used to pay salaries of colonial governors

5. Colonial Views on these acts  Completely disagreed  Felt they were unconstitutional  Resulted in boycotts to try and get British competition to help repeal the Townshend Acts  Much unrest in Boston as a result  Partial repeal on March 5, 1770………  Only the taxes on tea stayed in place.

6. Group Work!  You’re an American colonist and the Declaratory and Townshend Acts were just put in place.  How would you react as an American colonist?  What would you do in an attempt to fight back against the British? Explain why with your groups!