Townshend Acts

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The Townshend Acts (1767) passed by Parliament on 29 June 1767 refer to two Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain passed in 1767, which were proposed by Charles Townshend. These laws placed a tax on common products imported into the American Colonies, such as lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. It also granted certain duties in the British Colonies. The money that was earned helped pay for the British governors and the other officials in the colonies. This Act also gave the revenue from the taxes to the British governors that were normally paid by town assemblies. In contrast to the Stamp Act of 1765, the laws were not a direct tax, but a tax on imports. The Townshend Acts also created three new admiralty courts to try Americans. This taxation was a result of the cost of the French and Indian War. It was felt that since the outcome of the war benefited the colonies, it was only proper that they bear a portion of the financial burden.

This act reaffirmed the legality of writs of assistance which gave tax collectors permission to search for smuggled goods. Often, these smuggled goods were sold in England and in the European countryside. Therefore creating more income for the British.

The Acts led to outrage among the colonists and helped spark the Liberty seizure and riots of 1768. The colonists' opposition to these acts was well stated in the phrase "No taxation without representation", originally spoken by James Otis. Smugglers avoided the taxes by importing illegal goods and by organizing a boycott of the legitimate imports. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty of Boston were notable supporters of this boycott. The women of the colonies also contributed. They wove their own cloth and yarn, and helped in the boycott of British goods, and formed the Daughters of Liberty. The colonists were very outraged at this act, as John Hancock and other smugglers were negatively affected. After a while, the taxes were finally repealed. Eventually, John Dickinson raised support to repeal the Revenue Acts by a series of 12 essays entitled "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania", addressing himself as "A Farmer".