USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Townshend Acts were a series of measures, passed by the British Parliament in 1767, that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. But American colonists, who had no representation in Parliament, saw the Acts as an abuse of power.

Detailed explanation-2: -Why did the British make these laws? The British wanted to get the colonies to pay for themselves. The Townshend Acts were specifically to pay for the salaries of officials such as governors and judges. The British thought that the colonists would be okay with taxes on imports.

Detailed explanation-3: -Colonists organized boycotts of British goods to pressure Parliament to repeal the Townshend Acts. As British customs officials arrived to collect taxes and prosecute smugglers, colonial opposition intensified, resulting in street demonstrations and protests that sometimes turned violent.

Detailed explanation-4: -REACTIONS: THE NON-IMPORTATION MOVEMENT. Like the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts produced controversy and protest in the American colonies. For a second time, many colonists resented what they perceived as an effort to tax them without representation and thus to deprive them of their liberty.

Detailed explanation-5: -The non-importation agreement began to fail by 1770. The economy was strongly affected by the diminished trade, unemployment was growing and there was a shortage of currency. Trade was resumed and back to normal by the beginning of 1771.