Trade

Townshend Acts

A series of laws enacted in 1767 that regulated trade and imposed taxes on common goods imported from England.

Charles Townshend

The Chancellor of the Exchequer who enacted the Townshend Acts.

Writs of assistance

Open-ended search warrants issued by the British government allowing customs officials to search homes and businesses for smuggled goods.

Massachusetts Circular Letter

A letter written by Samuel Adams that called for colonial protest against the Townshend taxes.

Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania

A series of newspaper articles penned by John Dickinson arguing against Parliamentary taxation without consent.

Non-importation agreement

A boycott organized by merchants in Boston to stop importing taxed British goods.

Association

The name of the boycott agreement adopted by members of the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Lord North

The leader of Parliament who initially rejected the idea of repealing laws based on colonial resistance.

Economic pressure

Actions taken by merchants to urge Parliament to repeal the Townshend Acts by boycotting British goods.

Colonial resistance

The actions taken by the American colonies in opposition to British taxation and governance.