Acts
The acts, or taxes, that Parliament placed on the colonies was one of the main reasons for the start of the American Revolution. The acts included economical, political, and geographical issues.
1. The Proclamation of 1763 - Geographical & Political
The Proclamation of 1763 was ordered by King George III. After the French and Indian war, more colonists were starting to move westward. This caused clashes with the American Indians. To solve this dispute, the King created a Proclamation that was based on an imaginary line that went down the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists were told to stay to the east of the line, and the American Indians to the west. The colonists ignored the new rule, seeing it as an act of tyranny, or abuse of government power. Plus, settlers were already crossing the mountains.
2. Currency Acts - Economical
When the colonists first began settling America, they didn’t have any gold or silver mines, so they made notes from loan offices and banknotes that represented money. At the time of the French and Indian war, there was an excess of paper money, and the Americans didn’t have enough gold to back it all. This caused the money to decrease in value and as more bills were printed, merchants and traders became uncomfortable when it came to accepting American currencies.
Parliament decided to take control of the problem by establishing the Currency Act of 1751. This act prohibited the New England colonies from making new currencies, where the excess bills were being created. The current bills were still accepted, but they were to only be used for public debts, like the British government. Personal debts, such as to merchants, were to be paid in silver, gold, or the British currency.
In 1764 Parliament extended the Currency Act by prohibiting all the colonies, not just New England, from printing new currencies, as well as only allowing the paper money for public debt. This new addition caused personal problems and loss of funds for the colonists. Parliament decided on a compromise in 1770 and allowed New York to print a specific sum of paper money every year. The money was still only to be used for public debts. This benefit was extended to all colonies in 1773.
1. The Proclamation of 1763 - Geographical & Political
The Proclamation of 1763 was ordered by King George III. After the French and Indian war, more colonists were starting to move westward. This caused clashes with the American Indians. To solve this dispute, the King created a Proclamation that was based on an imaginary line that went down the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists were told to stay to the east of the line, and the American Indians to the west. The colonists ignored the new rule, seeing it as an act of tyranny, or abuse of government power. Plus, settlers were already crossing the mountains.
2. Currency Acts - Economical
When the colonists first began settling America, they didn’t have any gold or silver mines, so they made notes from loan offices and banknotes that represented money. At the time of the French and Indian war, there was an excess of paper money, and the Americans didn’t have enough gold to back it all. This caused the money to decrease in value and as more bills were printed, merchants and traders became uncomfortable when it came to accepting American currencies.
Parliament decided to take control of the problem by establishing the Currency Act of 1751. This act prohibited the New England colonies from making new currencies, where the excess bills were being created. The current bills were still accepted, but they were to only be used for public debts, like the British government. Personal debts, such as to merchants, were to be paid in silver, gold, or the British currency.
In 1764 Parliament extended the Currency Act by prohibiting all the colonies, not just New England, from printing new currencies, as well as only allowing the paper money for public debt. This new addition caused personal problems and loss of funds for the colonists. Parliament decided on a compromise in 1770 and allowed New York to print a specific sum of paper money every year. The money was still only to be used for public debts. This benefit was extended to all colonies in 1773.
4. An example of the first paper bills made in the colonies
3. Declaratory Act - Political
The Declaratory Act was established in 1766 after the Stamp Act was repealed. The colonists viewed the repealing of the Stamp Act a political victory over the British. Seeing the Americans celebrating pushed British politicians to establish the Declaratory Act. They wanted to prove a point; the authority to pass laws belonged to the British government and not the colonies. This new act gave the British government the power to make laws and tax the Americans. Of course, this law infuriated the colonists. They argued that the King shouldn’t have the power to pass laws.
4. Tea Act - Economical
The Tea Act of 1773 was established by Lord North, a lazy British noble who was not well respected among parliament. This act was established because the British East India Company, a large trading company that controlled all trade between Great Britain and Asia, was in danger of going broke because of the colonists boycott of British tea. Lord North attempted to save the company by making taxed British tea less expensive than any other tea. Also, the only merchants who could sell the cheap tea were those chosen by the Company. This made merchants worry about what the British might try to control next. Despite Lord North’s attempts, the colonists weren’t fooled. They still chose to buy the smuggled Dutch Tea.
5. Boston Tea Party - Economical
The Tea Act led to the famous event known as the Boston Tea Party. The British East India ships were met by angry protesters when they sailed into American ports. The mob of infuriated colonists kept them from unloading, but the royal governor of Boston insisted that the tea ships would not leave until all the tea had been unloaded. He further proved his point by ordering the British Navy to block the exit from the harbor.
On the night of December 16th 1763, the Sons of Liberty took it upon themselves to unload the tea by breaking and throwing overboard all 90,000 pounds of it. News of this act of rebellion circulated through the colonies and excited many Patriots.
The Declaratory Act was established in 1766 after the Stamp Act was repealed. The colonists viewed the repealing of the Stamp Act a political victory over the British. Seeing the Americans celebrating pushed British politicians to establish the Declaratory Act. They wanted to prove a point; the authority to pass laws belonged to the British government and not the colonies. This new act gave the British government the power to make laws and tax the Americans. Of course, this law infuriated the colonists. They argued that the King shouldn’t have the power to pass laws.
4. Tea Act - Economical
The Tea Act of 1773 was established by Lord North, a lazy British noble who was not well respected among parliament. This act was established because the British East India Company, a large trading company that controlled all trade between Great Britain and Asia, was in danger of going broke because of the colonists boycott of British tea. Lord North attempted to save the company by making taxed British tea less expensive than any other tea. Also, the only merchants who could sell the cheap tea were those chosen by the Company. This made merchants worry about what the British might try to control next. Despite Lord North’s attempts, the colonists weren’t fooled. They still chose to buy the smuggled Dutch Tea.
5. Boston Tea Party - Economical
The Tea Act led to the famous event known as the Boston Tea Party. The British East India ships were met by angry protesters when they sailed into American ports. The mob of infuriated colonists kept them from unloading, but the royal governor of Boston insisted that the tea ships would not leave until all the tea had been unloaded. He further proved his point by ordering the British Navy to block the exit from the harbor.
On the night of December 16th 1763, the Sons of Liberty took it upon themselves to unload the tea by breaking and throwing overboard all 90,000 pounds of it. News of this act of rebellion circulated through the colonies and excited many Patriots.
5. Painting of the Boston Tea Party