Declaratory Act

Definition

The Declaratory Act was a piece of legislation passed by the British Parliament in 1766, shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act. It was a declaration that the British Parliament had the right to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever, asserting its authority over the American colonies and their internal affairs.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Declaratory Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1766, shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act.
2. The act asserted the British Parliament's right to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever, reaffirming its authority over the American colonies and their internal affairs.
3. The Declaratory Act was a response to the colonial resistance and protests against the Stamp Act, which had been repealed due to the widespread opposition and non-compliance in the colonies.
4. The act was largely symbolic, as it did not impose any new taxes or regulations on the colonies, but it served to maintain the principle of parliamentary supremacy over the colonies.
5. The Declaratory Act was seen by the colonists as a continued assertion of British control and a rejection of their demands for greater autonomy and self-governance.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Declaratory Act was connected to the Stamp Act and the colonial resistance that led to its repeal.
  • The Declaratory Act was a direct response to the colonial resistance and protests against the Stamp Act. After the Stamp Act was repealed due to widespread non-compliance and opposition in the colonies, the British Parliament passed the Declaratory Act to reassert its authority and right to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever. The act was a symbolic gesture to maintain the principle of parliamentary supremacy, even though it did not impose any new taxes or regulations on the colonies. The Declaratory Act was seen by the colonists as a continued assertion of British control and a rejection of their demands for greater autonomy and self-governance.
• Analyze the significance of the Declaratory Act in the context of the growing tensions between the British government and the American colonies.
  • The Declaratory Act was a significant development in the escalating tensions between the British government and the American colonies. By asserting the British Parliament's right to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever, the act reaffirmed the colonies' subordinate status and rejected their demands for greater autonomy and self-governance. This further fueled colonial resentment and the growing sentiment for independence, as the colonists viewed the Declaratory Act as a continued denial of their rights and a refusal to address their grievances. The act represented a hardening of the British position and a widening of the divide between the colonies and the mother country, setting the stage for the events that would ultimately lead to the American Revolution.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Declaratory Act on the relationship between the British government and the American colonies, and its role in the path towards the American Revolution.
  • The Declaratory Act had a significant long-term impact on the relationship between the British government and the American colonies, ultimately contributing to the path towards the American Revolution. By reasserting parliamentary supremacy and rejecting the colonists' demands for greater autonomy, the act further eroded trust and goodwill between the colonies and the mother country. The colonists viewed the Declaratory Act as a continued denial of their rights and a refusal to address their grievances, fueling growing resentment and the sentiment for independence. The act represented a hardening of the British position and a widening of the divide between the colonies and the British government, setting the stage for the events that would lead to the outbreak of the American Revolution. While the Declaratory Act was largely symbolic, it played a crucial role in the escalating tensions and the deterioration of the relationship between the colonies and the British, ultimately paving the way for the colonists' decision to declare their independence.

Related terms

Stamp Act: A tax imposed by the British Parliament in 1765 that required the use of stamped paper or revenue stamps for various printed materials in the American colonies, including newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs, dice, and playing cards.

Sons of Liberty: A colonial-era political group that was formed to oppose the Stamp Act and other British taxation of the colonies, and to promote colonial rights and independence.

Coercive Acts: A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, designed to punish the Massachusetts colonists and bring them back under tighter British control.