Quartering Act, Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act: Effects on the Colonist

Quartering Act

            The “Quartering Act of 1765” obliged “each colonial assembly” to give the soldiers their fundamental needs including the following: 1) bedding; 2) cooking utensils; 3) firewood; 4) beer or cider; and 5) candles (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.). When the “Quartering Act of 1765” was expanded a year later, it obliged the “colonial assemblies” to accommodate soldiers in taverns as well as dwellings which are uninhabited (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.). In return, the “colonial assemblies” will be protected from attacks (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.).

Effects of the Quartering Act on the Middle-Class Colonist 

            There are effects of the “Quartering Act” on the middle-class colonist and some are the following: 1) “traditional fear of standing armies; and 2) expenses” (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.). The first one refers to the fear of “colonial assemblies” on formal armies; they actually prefer the “militiamen” whom they can call upon during emergencies (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.). They do not really fear the “militiamen” because these people split up immediately after a disaster has been addressed unlike the formal armies who don’t (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.). The second pertains to the expenses that “colonial assemblies” incur (Quartering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws, n.d., n.p.).

Response of the Middle-Class Colonist   

            As a rum merchant, I would join forces with the others who refused to fund the expenses necessitated by the soldiers.

Stamp Act 

            “The Stamp Act” required “colonists” to spend for “stamps on all legal documents, licenses, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, as well as, playing cards” (Stamp Act., n.d.).

Effect of the Stamp Act on the Middle-Class Colonist  

            The “Stamp Act” affected the “middle-class colonist” and some are the following: first of all is the chance of trading which they lost and second the fact that they would spend a lot of money on something that used to be free (Stamp Act., n.d.).

Response of the Middle-Class Colonist   

            The “middle-class colonists” were well aware that the “Stamp Act” was unconstitutional since the colonists were not represented in the government so this caused the emergence of their rage (Stamp Act., n.d.). I would also be angered by the issue that I may possibly join protests as well but it is also possible that I will join the “colonial assemblies that adopted resolutions that will officially negate the act” (Stamp Act., n.d.).

Sugar Act  

            The “Sugar Act” obliged an additional tax on “imported sugar, coffee, indigo, as well as, some wines” (Sugar Act, n.d., n.p.). In addition to that, “imported rum and French wines” were also banned (Sugar Act, n.d., n.p.).

Effect of the Sugar Act on the Middle-Class Colonist  

            This affected the “middle-class colonists” greatly since their opinion or consent were not asked or heard, thus they were so angry about its occurrence (Sugar Act, n.d., n.p.). They were also obliged to buy rum from the “British planters” (Sugar Act, n.d., n.p.). Some were simply forced to give up their businesses (Sugar Act, n.d., n.p.).

Response of the Middle-Class Colonist   

            As a “middle-class colonist”, I would most likely change the kind of business I am; that way the “British government” will feel a great loss of prospective returns and then hope that the Sugar Act will be replaced or improved (Sugar Act, n.d., n.p.).

Tea Act  

            The “Tea Act” obliged the colonists to purchase tea that were not sold at a very cheap price (Independence Hall Association, 2009, n.p.).

Effect of the Tea Act on the Middle-Class Colonist  

            The “Tea Cut” destabilizes the businesses of the merchants there, as well as, the colonists (Independence Hall Association, 2009, n.p.).

Response of the Middle-Class Colonist   

I will have to refuse to buy those if I were the colonist, either I will ask them to return to Britain or just wait for the goods to expire (Independence Hall Association, 2009, n.p.).

References

Independence Hall Association. (2009). Tea Act. Retrieved April 23, 2009 from

            http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/teaact.htm

Quatering Act (1765): Acts, Bills, and Laws. (n.d.).  Retrieved April 23, 2009 from 

            http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h641.html

Stamp Act. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2009 from

            http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h642.html

Sugar Act. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2009 from

            http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/sugaractdef.htm