The Townshend Acts were a series of measures, passed by the British Parliament in 1767, that taxed goods imported to the American colonies.
What was Stamp Act?
(Gilder Lehrman Collection) On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the “Stamp Act” to help pay for British troops stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years’ War. The act required the colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp, on various forms of papers, documents, and playing cards.
What kind of taxes did the British put on imports?
In 1767, Parliament also enacted the Townshend Duties, taxes on paper, paints, glass, and tea, goods imported into the colonies from Britain. Since these taxes were levied on imports, the British thought of them as “external” taxes rather than internal taxes such as the Stamp tax.
Why did the British tax the colonists in the colonies?
The British Parliament enacted a series of taxes on the colonies for the purpose of raising revenue. Early attempts, such as the Stamp Act of 1765 – which taxed colonists for every piece of paper they used – were met with widespread protests in America.
How did British laws affect the American colonies?
These laws imposed additional taxes on goods such as lead, glass, paint, paper and tea. Great Britain faced renewed colonial resistance to the taxes, and by 1770 all but the tax on tea had been repealed. In 1773 a law was passed giving the British East India Company tax-free status in the colonies.
What did the colonists import from Great Britain?
Under the Iron Act, Great Britain was able to import raw pig iron and bar iron from the colonies duty-free. At the same time, the act prohibited colonists from using the iron they mined to create goods of their own, meaning colonists were forced to purchase heavily taxed finished iron goods from Britain.
