**Historical Context and Passage of the Sugar Act:**
– Molasses Act of 1733 and its impact on British West Indies trade
– Seven Years War’s effect on British national debt and colonial defense expenses
– Sugar Act of 1764 as a revenue-raising measure with stricter enforcement
– Introduction of detailed cargo manifests and trials in vice admiralty courts
– Economic impact on New England ports and protests by Samuel Adams and James Otis
**Impact on Trade, Economy, and American Colonies:**
– Economic depression during Seven Years War and the Sugar Act’s enforcement
– Decrease in profit margin on rum due to tax on molasses
– British West Indies’ economic prosperity at the expense of New England ports
– Threat to colonial currency reserves as a result of the Sugar Act
– The role of the Sugar Act in exacerbating tensions before the American Revolution
**Role in American Revolution and Colonial Sentiments:**
– Colonists’ protests against the economic impact of the Sugar Act
– Denouncement of the act as an infringement of colonists’ rights by Samuel Adams
– Increased tensions leading up to the American Revolution due to protests against the Sugar Act
– Greater alarm in New England over economic losses compared to French and Indian threats
– Historical significance of the Sugar Act in shaping colonial sentiments
**Scholarly Analysis and Additional Resources on the Sugar Act:**
– Titles and sources related to the Sugar Act, including UShistory.org and Independence Hall Association
– References by historians like Miller, Garran, Nash, Middlekauff, and Anderson
– Detailed analysis by scholars such as Draper and Alexander
– Bibliography of original texts and works by authors like John K. Alexander, Fred Anderson, Theodore Draper, Robert Middlekauff, and John C. Miller
– Recommendations for further reading and study on the Sugar Act and the American Revolution
**Long-Term Impact and Comparison with Other Revenue Measures:**
– Influence of the Sugar Act on the American Revolution and American history
– Comparison of the Sugar Act with other revenue measures of the time
– Long-term effects of the Sugar Act on trade, economy, and colonial sentiments
– Modern parallels like the soda tax on sugar products and its relation to historical taxation policies
– Significance of the Sugar Act in understanding the prelude to the American Revolution and its lasting impact
The Sugar Act 1764 or Sugar Act 1763, also known as the American Revenue Act 1764 or the American Duties Act, was a revenue-raising act passed by the Parliament of Great Britain on 5 April 1764. The preamble to the act stated: "it is expedient that new provisions and regulations should be established for improving the revenue of this Kingdom ... and ... it is just and necessary that a revenue should be raised ... for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same." The earlier Molasses Act 1733, which had imposed a tax of six pence per gallon of molasses, had never been effectively collected due to colonial evasion. By reducing the rate by half and increasing measures to enforce the tax, Parliament hoped that the tax would actually be collected. These incidents increased the colonists' concerns about the intent of the British Parliament and helped the growing movement that became the American Revolution.
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in Africa, for continuing, amending, and making perpetual, an act in the sixth year of the reign of his late majesty King George the Second, (initituled, An act for the better securing and encouraging the trade of his Majesty's sugar colonies in America) for applying the produce of such duties, and of the duties to arise by virtue of the said act, towards defraying and disallowing several drawbacks on exports from this kingdom, and more effectually preventing the clandestine conveyance of goods to and from the said colonies and plantation, and improving and securing the trade between the same and Great Britain. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 4 Geo. 3. c. 15 |
| Introduced by | The Rt. Hon. George Grenville, MP Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons (Commons) |
| Territorial extent | British America and the British West Indies |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 5 April 1764 |
| Commencement | 29 September 1764 |
| Repealed | 1766 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | None |
| Repealed by | Revenue Act 1766 |
| Relates to | Molasses Act |
Status: Repealed | |