By: Nick
The Townshend Acts were originated by Charles Townshend. This Act was passed by the English Parliament after the repeal of the Stamp Act. They were created to get revenue form colonists in America by putting background duties on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. People like John Dickinson and Samuel Adams were against these taxes. The Boston merchants were enraged with the English goods and protested as well.
King George III of England, in 1766, replaced William Pitt as the Prime Minister instead of Rockingham. William was very popular in the local colonies. He believed that colonists were allowed to all the rights of the English citizen and was also opposed to the Stamp Act.
Soon William became sick. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend took over the reigns of the valuable government. Toenshend, unlike the predecessor, was not interested with the unnoticeable rights of the American colonists. Townshend wanted to help evolve the power of the British parliament, which would quickly strengthen the power of the officials. He also convinced the Parliament to let a couple of laws that were against the new taxation on the colonists pass. The laws were about special taxes in lead, paint, paper, glass, and tea that were brought in by the colonists. Plus, the New York legislature was suspended until it agreed to district British soldiers.
The Assembly of Massachusetts was dissolved for sending a circular letter to other colonies explaining the common plight. To enforce the laws and keep peace the British troops were sent. These were involved in disturbing incidents. This was later named the Boston Massacre. This protest minimized British trade and in 1770 most of the Acts were repealed. The Boston Tea Party was following the tea taxation.
The Acts also made sure that the officials of the colonists, like governors and judges, would get their salaries from the Crown.
Who: Charles Townshend
What: Originated the Townshend Acts
Where: Boston
When: The year 1770
Why: Created to revenue imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea.
How: King Goerge the III passed the Townshend Acts
Sources:
“The Townshend Acts….” Townshend Acts – 1767. The American Revolution Home Page. 09 Mar. 2006 <http://www.americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/TOWN.HTM>
“Townshend Acts.” Townshend Ac ts. infoplease. 06 Mar. 2006 <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0849181.html>.
“Townshend Acts Imposed on the Colonies 1767.” MultiEducator, Inc.. 2000. Histroy Central. 03 Feb. 2006 <http://www.multied.com/Revolt/Townshend.html>.