Introduction
The British parliament imposed several onerous regulations against the people of the colonies. Such regulations attempted to keep the American colonies under control and bring in more money for the British monarchy. While the British Parliament enacted several acts, such as the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts, Americans protested, leading to the growing tension and onset of the American Revolution.
The British Laws That Led to the American Revolution
The Sugar Act
The first law that contributed to the growing tension was the Sugar Act. The British Parliament enacted this law in 1764 to increase revenue from the American territories (Wood, 2021). This act served as a means of aiding in the financing of the British and French-led French and Indian War (Wood, 2021).
The Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts
The Stamp Act of 1765 mandated printing all official documents, publications, and playing cards on paper bearing a tax stamp (Wood, 2021). The intention was to assist in covering the expense of keeping British troops in the colonies (Wood, 2021). Lastly, regulations known as the Townshend Acts of 1767 levied tariffs on imports of things, including glass, lead, paint, and tea (Wood, 2021). These taxes were meant to help pay for the salaries of colonial governors and judges.
Colonial Response to the Laws
In response to these restrictive laws, the colonists took various actions to protest. Two of these rebellious actions were the Boston Tea Party and the boycott of British goods. First, colonists invaded British ships as a protest and tossed tea boxes overboard (Wood, 2021). Second, colonists refused to purchase products made in Britain.
As a result, the rebellious actions initiated by the colonists were successful in some ways but not others. The Boston Tea Party contributed to the colonists’ eventual resistance to British authority (Wood, 2021). The boycott of British goods also led to the repealing of some of the taxes (Wood, 2021). However, these actions did not prevent the American Revolution, ultimately leading to the colonies gaining independence.
Conclusion
Hence, Americans revolted when the British Parliament passed laws like the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts, which increased tension and prompted the American Revolution. The colonists responded to these restrictions with insurrectionary acts like the Boston Tea Party and a boycott of British products. Although in some respects successful, these efforts ultimately failed to stop the growing tension between colonists and the British Empire.
Reference
Wood, G. S. (2021). Power and liberty: Constitutionalism in the American Revolution. Oxford University Press.