Revenue Act 1766 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An act for repealing certain duties, in the British colonies and plantations, granted by several acts of parliament; and also the duties imposed by an act made in the last session of parliament upon certain East India goods exported from Great Britain; and for granting other duties instead thereof; and for further encouraging, regulating, and securing, several branches of the trade of this kingdom, and the British dominions in America. |
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| Citation | 6 Geo. 3. c. 52 |
Quick facts for kids Dates |
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| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
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Status: Repealed
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The Revenue Act 1766 was an important law passed by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1766. This law was created to deal with problems caused by an earlier law called the Sugar Act 1763. It also worked together with another law from the same year, the Free Port Act 1766.
This act was part of a series of laws that affected the British colonies in America. These laws often led to disagreements between Great Britain and the colonists.
Contents
What Was the Revenue Act of 1766?
The Revenue Act of 1766 was a law about taxes and trade. It aimed to change how goods were taxed and traded between Great Britain and its American colonies. The British Parliament created this law. Parliament is like a big meeting where laws are made.
This act was a direct response to complaints about the Sugar Act 1763. Many people in the colonies were unhappy with the taxes and rules from that earlier law.
Why Was This Act Important?
The British government wanted to control trade and collect money from its colonies. They believed this money would help pay for the costs of running the empire. However, the colonists often felt these taxes were unfair.
The Sugar Act of 1763 had placed taxes on sugar and other goods. It also tried to stop smuggling. But it caused a lot of anger and protests in the colonies.
Addressing Colonial Concerns
The Revenue Act of 1766 tried to fix some of these problems. It removed some of the old taxes that colonists disliked. But it also put new taxes on other goods.
The goal was to make trade smoother and more organized. It also aimed to encourage certain types of trade that benefited Great Britain. This included trade with the British colonies in America.
How Did It Work with Other Laws?
The Revenue Act 1766 was passed at the same time as the Free Port Act 1766. These two laws worked together. The Free Port Act allowed certain ports in the Caribbean to be "free ports." This meant ships from other countries could trade there more easily.
Both acts were part of Britain's effort to manage its vast trading network. They tried to balance collecting taxes with keeping trade flowing.
When Did the Act End?
The Revenue Act 1766 was eventually cancelled. A law called the Statute Law Revision Act 1867 officially repealed it. To "repeal" a law means to cancel it or take it out of effect. This happened many years later, in 1867.
By that time, the relationship between Great Britain and its former American colonies had changed a lot. The American colonies had become the independent United States of America.
