What is the cause and effect of the sugar act?

Answer 1

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 colonists, for the first time, really began to protest Parliament’s regulations. In Boston, they held a town meeting and declared they would not import any British goods of any kind until the Sugar tax was repealed. Other cities, like New York, followed suit. The colonists reaction was considered mild and no violence developed. In fact, the tax only effected the wealthy. In 1766 when the tax was lowered, there was nothing more heard about protesting the Act.

Answer 2

The Sugar Act was created to put a tax on wine, sugar, molasses, and more things like that. It was started in 1764 by Parliament (government) because they thought it would make the economy thrive back in England, plus make the king richer. Colonist thought this "act" (law) was unfair, therefore they did not purchase these items. Soon the government found out this was happening, and they weren't making very much money. They made a law that stated colonists had to buy from their company only.

Answer 3

The sugar act was the first of a long string of taxes that led up to the revolutionary war. It was enacted by the king in 1764. It taxed many items the main of which was molasses and sugar.

This act caused the colonists to become angry. They wanted a representative in Parliament. It could be said that the Sugar Act started the anger that in the end gained the USA it's freedom.

Answer 4

The purpose of the sugar act was to raise revenue for the British government. It was enacted because the earlier molasses act had been ineffective at raising revenue.