The Sugar, Quatering & Stamp Act

After the Seven Year War, the debt of England nearly doubled. People in Briton pay far more taxes then the colonists in America. This unbalanced seemed unfair, for the war had been fought to protect the colonists. British agreed that the colonists should payr more taxes to recover from the debt and make a greater empire. Led by Grenville, Parliament levied heavier taxes on British subjects, especially the colonists. They created three acts: The Sugar Act, the Quatering Act and the Stamp Act. Colonist felt offended by this new laws.

The Sugar Act

The Sugar Act was passed by the Parliament in 1764. This act reduced the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon, while Grenville took measures that the duty be strictly enforced. The act also listed more foreign goods to be taxed including sugar, certain wines, coffee, pimiento, cambric and printed calico, and further, regulated the export of lumber and iron. The enforced tax on molasses caused the almost immediate decline in the rum industry in the colonies. The situation disrupted the colonial economy by reducing the markets to which the colonies could sell, and the amount of currency available to them for the purchase of British manufactured goods.

The Quartering Act
In 1765, Parliament passed the Quartering Act, which required residents of some colonies to feed and house British soldiers serving in America. These acts outraged colonists, who believed the taxes and regulations were unfair. Many also questioned why the British army needed to remain in North America when the French and Indians had already been defeated.

The Stamp Act

Though the colonists disliked all of these acts, they particularly took offense to the 1765 Stamp Act. This tax required certain goods to bear an official stamp showing that the owner had paid the tax. Many of these items were paper goods, such as legal documents and licenses, newspapers, leaflets, and even playing cards. Also many products. This was the first time the Parliament imposed direct tax to the colonies.