Sugar, Stamp, Townshend Acts
In 1764, George Grenville passed the Sugar Act which put a tax on sugar that was imported from the West Indies. This act was passed also because the French and Indian War had left Britain with an empty wallet, so Parliament also desperately needed to restock the Treasury. The British did not inform or ask the colonists for permission to increase the taxes, so they were upset.
On February 6th, 1765 George Grenville rose in Parliament to offer the fifty-five resolutions of his Stamp Bill. The bill was passed on February 17, approved by the Lords on March 8th, and two weeks later ordered by the King. The Stamp Act was Parliament's first serious attempt to declare governmental authority over the colonies. Great Britain was faced with a massive national debt following the Seven Years War. English citizens in Britain were taxed at a rate that created a serious threat to revolt.
The Townshend Acts of 1767 made new restrictions on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies. Charles Townshend hoped the acts would provide imperial expenses in the colonies, but many Americans viewed the taxation as an abuse of power. In 1770, Parliament canceled all the Townshend duties except the tax on tea, leading to a temporary truce between America and Britain, The Boston Tea Party.
On February 6th, 1765 George Grenville rose in Parliament to offer the fifty-five resolutions of his Stamp Bill. The bill was passed on February 17, approved by the Lords on March 8th, and two weeks later ordered by the King. The Stamp Act was Parliament's first serious attempt to declare governmental authority over the colonies. Great Britain was faced with a massive national debt following the Seven Years War. English citizens in Britain were taxed at a rate that created a serious threat to revolt.
The Townshend Acts of 1767 made new restrictions on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies. Charles Townshend hoped the acts would provide imperial expenses in the colonies, but many Americans viewed the taxation as an abuse of power. In 1770, Parliament canceled all the Townshend duties except the tax on tea, leading to a temporary truce between America and Britain, The Boston Tea Party.