Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act for removing all Doubts and Apprehensions concerning Taxation by the Parliament of Great Britain in any of the Colonies, Provinces, and Plantations in North America and the West Indies; and for repealing so much of an Act made in the Seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty as imposes a Duty on Tea imported from Great Britain into any Colony or Plantation in America as relates to there. |
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| Citation | 18 Geo. 3. c. 12 |
| Territorial extent | British America and the British West Indies |
| Dates | |
| Repealed | 18 July 1973 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Duties on Tea, etc. (American Plantations) Act 1766 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 was a law passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. This happened during the American Revolutionary War. The law was an attempt to end the war. It said that the British Parliament would no longer tax the American colonies or the British West Indies to raise money.
Why This Act Was Needed
Before this law, the British Parliament had tried to tax the American colonies. They did this without asking the colonists first. Two important examples were the Townshend Acts of 1767 and the Tea Act of 1773. These taxes made the colonists very angry. They were a big reason why the American Revolution started.
The new Act of 1778 admitted that these older taxes had caused "great uneasiness and disorders." The King wanted to "restore the peace" in all his lands.
What the Act Said
The Act made a clear statement. It said that Parliament would not create any new taxes. These taxes were meant to raise money from the colonies. Parliament would only create taxes to control trade. Any money made from these trade taxes would go back to the colonies.
This idea was not new. American colonists had been asking for this for years. A famous writer named John Dickinson wrote about it. He explained these ideas in his "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" in 1767 and 1768.
Too Little, Too Late
By the time this law was passed, it was too late. The war was already happening. The main problem was no longer just about taxes. The colonies had already declared their independence from Britain.
Also, some experts said the law wasn't very strong. A legal historian named John Phillip Reid said it was "meaningless." This was because future Parliaments could simply change their minds. They would not be forced to follow this promise about taxes.
The End of the Act
The Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 stayed on the books for a long time. However, it was no longer useful. It was finally removed from British law in 1973. This happened with the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973.
