Why was the sugar act passed?

Answer 1

The Molasses Act of 1733 and the Sugar Act of 1764, which were the last of the Navigation Acts, could not keep exclusive control of trade in British hands, and contributed to the movements for independence in America.

The Navigation Acts were a series of Parliamentary laws passed to control the trade of England's colonies. The original laws were enacted as a response to the success of Dutch shipping, even after the conquest of New Netherland by the British in 1674.

Unfortunately, in trying to legislate an end to competition, the Navigation Acts had economic impacts on the fledgling American colonies.

More detail

American importers were not paying the excessively high duty that had been placed on Sugar (molasses) by the Molasses Act of 1733. They found it cheaper to pay bribes of a penny or so per gallon, to the customs collectors. When George Grenville became Prime Minister, he had Parliament overhaul the old act with a new Sugar Act, 1764. The new act lowered the tax on sugar entering the colonies, but it also created a new system for enforcing the act, making sure that the lowered duties would be collected. In New England, where molasses was a major trade item used in making various drinks as well as a sweetener, there was immediate concern. A Boston town meeting declared that the city would boycott (not purchase) all British imports to that colony. Other New England cities, including New York, followed Boston's lead. American Colonists granted Parliament the right to regulate trade but the colonists declared that the Sugar Act was an attempt to raise money in the colonies, something that colonists believed only colonial legislatures could do. They pointed to the official title of the Sugar Act--The American Revenue Act of 1764. Hence, the Americans, for perhaps the first time, raised the cry that they could not be taxed by a political body that did not represent them. They elected representatives to their assemblies, but not to Parliament. The cry, "No taxation without representation" would become a rallying cry for those favoring independence. In 1766, the British government reduced the duty on sugar to one penny (what had been the "traditional" bribe), and protest in New England began to subside.

The Sugar Act was passed on April 5th1764. The act was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. The act put three cents on refined sugar as well as an increased tax on coffee, indigo, and types of wine. Although the act added on three cents to the original price of the sugar, it was lower than the previous Molasses act. Although this seemed like a good deal, it was definitely not.

The British highly enforced the law so that smuggling would be avoided. Despite the enforcement, colonists managed to sneak some sugar into their hands. This Act was passed so that the colonists would buy and trade with the British instead of with other colonies. Some of the leaders in the colonies boycotted the goods produced by Britain. As soon as this happened, many colonists caught on with the trend and also stopped buying from Britain. The people of the colonies believed that if they all did not buy the products of Britain then they would lower the prices of the sugar.

The Sugar act was repealed in 1766. It helped the colonists learn that if they all believed in the same thing and worked together, they could get things done. Te colonists were thrilled that the Sugar Act was repealed and that they might have made a difference.

Answer 2

The sugar act was passed in 1764 to accuse smugglers of smuggling and what not. It also raised taxes on sugar and lowered them on molasses to give more money to the government.

Answer 3

The Molasses Act of 1733 and the Sugar Act of 1764, which were the last of the Navigation Acts, could not keep exclusive control of trade in British hands, and contributed to the movements for independence in America.

The Navigation Acts were a series of Parliamentary laws passed to control the trade of England's colonies. The original laws were enacted as a response to the success of Dutch shipping, even after the conquest of New Netherland by the British in 1674.

Unfortunately, in trying to legislate an end to competition, the Navigation Acts had economic impacts on the fledgling American colonies.

More detail

American importers were not paying the excessively high duty that had been placed on Sugar (molasses) by the Molasses Act of 1733. They found it cheaper to pay bribes of a penny or so per gallon, to the customs collectors. When George Grenville became Prime Minister, he had Parliament overhaul the old act with a new Sugar Act, 1764. The new act lowered the tax on sugar entering the colonies, but it also created a new system for enforcing the act, making sure that the lowered duties would be collected. In New England, where molasses was a major trade item used in making various drinks as well as a sweetener, there was immediate concern. A Boston town meeting declared that the city would boycott (not purchase) all British imports to that colony. Other New England cities, including New York, followed Boston's lead. American Colonists granted Parliament the right to regulate trade but the colonists declared that the Sugar Act was an attempt to raise money in the colonies, something that colonists believed only colonial legislatures could do. They pointed to the official title of the Sugar Act--The American Revenue Act of 1764. Hence, the Americans, for perhaps the first time, raised the cry that they could not be taxed by a political body that did not represent them. They elected representatives to their assemblies, but not to Parliament. The cry, "No taxation without representation" would become a rallying cry for those favoring independence. In 1766, the British government reduced the duty on sugar to one penny (what had been the "traditional" bribe), and protest in New England began to subside.

The Sugar Act was passed on April 5th1764. The act was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. The act put three cents on refined sugar as well as an increased tax on coffee, indigo, and types of wine. Although the act added on three cents to the original price of the sugar, it was lower than the previous Molasses act. Although this seemed like a good deal, it was definitely not.

The British highly enforced the law so that smuggling would be avoided. Despite the enforcement, colonists managed to sneak some sugar into their hands. This Act was passed so that the colonists would buy and trade with the British instead of with other colonies. Some of the leaders in the colonies boycotted the goods produced by Britain. As soon as this happened, many colonists caught on with the trend and also stopped buying from Britain. The people of the colonies believed that if they all did not buy the products of Britain then they would lower the prices of the sugar.

The Sugar act was repealed in 1766. It helped the colonists learn that if they all believed in the same thing and worked together, they could get things done. Te colonists were thrilled that the Sugar Act was repealed and that they might have made a difference.

Answer 4

The Sugar Act was passed by the British in 1764 as a means to tax the colonies to aid in the payment of the French and Indian War. However, the reasons are a lot less biased than what is presented in American History books. Contradictory to popular belief, King George was more the First Middle Class King rather than a tyrant, unfortunately his policies, which would’ve succeeded in a peaceful reign, were of little use during war-times. For example, he took to heart that the King was to be “commander-in-chief” and not a figurehead and basically decided he called the shot. He hated the party system, specially the Whigs, and saw politicians as his tool. He also appointed Lord North (the Man who lost America) as a Prime Minister whom shared George’s ideals.

During the 18th century, Britain had many colonies and empires all over the world and mercantilism was the philosophy of the time, which means the colonies would provide materials to the mother country and vice-versa. This was the case with the American Colonies. Because of the economic crisis brought about by the French and Indian War, as well as the war itself changed the fragile relationship between the colonies and Britain: in the past people feared Indian attacks and paid British trips for protection which was then sent to the mother country as tax. Following the war, this was no longer the case, and many of the colonies wanted to travel westward the same time Britain began to see the colonies as “expensive” and should be treated as the rest of the empire and mother country: this included tax revenue. Thus by 1763, all American colonies paid only 100 pounds in taxes which was 30 times LESS than what British citizen’s paid which George saw as fair (the colonies basically had a free ride). However, the colonies, which had been rethinking British rule since the war ended and had basically been self-governed, saw this as a threat to their independence and did not want a repeat of the Glorious Revolution.

The Sugar Act itself was a revamp of the sugar and Molasses Act of 1733 (as the original was about to expire) which prevented the colonies from trading sugar, molasses and such crops with anyone other than Britain, now it also placed a tax on sugar, whine, tea, molasses and other such products as well as ensuring they could only trade items with Britain. Thought the British did this to both pay for the French and Indian War they also sought to provide security to the colonies (who were still British citizens), as well as prevent the colonies from trading with foreign countries as British was still on thin ice with much of Europe. Thought the act passed it backfired and made the colonists very upset.

For more on the Sugar Act there is a lot of books on the causes of the Revolutionary war both from a Colonist and a British perspective which can be found at any local library or ordered through interlibrary loan. Some materials that may be beneficial and are all from excellent historians or listed below. Also check out the Sources and Related links tab for internet sources. You can also find other links including the act itself from your local library’s online catalog and related links.

*Stout, Neil R. The Perfect Crisis: The Beginning of the Revolutionary War. New York: New York University Press, 1976. Print.

*Wahlke, John C. The Causes of the American Revolution. Lexington, Mass: Heath, 1973. Print.

*Fremont-Barnes, Gregory, Richard A. Ryerson, James R. Arnold, and Roberta Wiener. The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Print.

*Wright, Esmond. Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution. Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1966. Print.

*Schanzer, Rosalyn. George Vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2004. Print.

*Brooke, John. King George Iii. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1972. Print.

*Sheinkin, Steve, and Steve Sheinkin. King George: What Was His Problem?New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2008. Print.

Answer 5

because it changed America Deuces Gangstas