Smuggling, Colonial Protests, and American Resistance to British Mercantile Policies (1700–1776)

1. Molasses Act drives smuggling and bribery

   May 17, 1733Labels: Molasses Act, New England

   • Britannica
   • Molasses Act

2. Writs of assistance challenged in Boston court

   Feb 1, 1761Labels: Writs of, James Otis

   • Writs
   • Berkeley Law

3. Sugar Act tightens trade enforcement and revenue collection

   Apr 5, 1764Labels: Sugar Act, British Parliament

   • Sugar Act
   • Britannica

4. Stamp Act passed, broadening imperial taxation

   Mar 22, 1765Labels: Stamp Act, British Parliament

   • Stamp Act
   • Britannica

5. Stamp Act Congress meets to petition for repeal

   Oct 1, 1765Labels: Stamp Act, colonial delegates

   • Britannica
   • Stamp Act

6. Parliament repeals the Stamp Act

   Mar 18, 1766Labels: Parliament repeal, Stamp Act

   • HISTORY
   • Stamp Act

7. Townshend Acts create new duties and customs machinery

   Jun 15, 1767Labels: Townshend Acts, Board of

   • Britannica
   • Townshend

8. Boston merchants sign a nonimportation agreement

   Aug 1, 1768Labels: Boston merchants, Nonimportation agreement

   • Britannica
   • Boston boycott

9. Townshend duties mostly repealed after colonial resistance

   Mar 5, 1770Labels: Townshend repeal, British Parliament

   • Britannica
   • Nonimportation

10. Gaspee burned during resistance to customs enforcement

    Jun 9, 1772Labels: HMS Gaspee, Rhode Island

    • Encyclopedia com
    • Gaspee

11. Tea Act aids East India Company, reignites conflict

    May 10, 1773Labels: Tea Act, East India

    • Britannica
    • Tea Act

12. Boston Tea Party destroys East India Company tea

    Dec 16, 1773Labels: Boston Tea, East India

    • Britannica
    • NPS

13. Boston Port Act punishes Boston by closing its harbor

    Mar 31, 1774Labels: Boston Port, Coercive Acts

    • Port Act
    • HISTORY

14. First Continental Congress convenes to coordinate resistance

    Sep 5, 1774Labels: First Continental, Philadelphia convention

    • Mount Vernon
    • HISTORY

15. Continental Association launches empire-wide boycott

    Oct 20, 1774Labels: Continental Association, First Continental

    • HISTORY
    • Association

16. Prohibitory Act ends trade and treats colonies as rebels

    Dec 22, 1775Labels: Prohibitory Act, British Parliament

    • Prohibitory
    • Britannica Tea