Quartering Act

March 24, 1765

One of a series of measures to raise the income from the British colonies in America.

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Colonial authorities to provide food, drink, quarters, fuel, and transportation to British forces stationed in their towns or villages.

Was passed in response to the costs of the defense in America following the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War.

Contention between some colonies and Great Britain during the years leading up to the Revolution.

British military found difficult to persuade some colonies to pay for the costs of housing and provisioning the soldiers sent over to fight the French.

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When the war ended, the king’s advisors decided that some British troops should remain in North America, in theory to defend the colonies.

The act did not provoke violent opposition

Significant numbers of British troops were stationed in only a few colonies

Most colonies managed to evade fully complying with its provisions

The act was overshadowed by the response to the Stamp Act

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Americans's point of view

Enforce new British policies and taxes

Parliament was attempting to tax them without their consent.

The act was particularly resented in New York, where the largest number of reserves were quartered.

1,500 British soldiers disembarked at New York City.

The New York Provincial Assembly refused this act required by the law.

The British Parliament voted to suspend the Provincial Assembly until it complied with the act.

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The suspension was never put into effect since the New York Assembly later agreed to allocate revenue to cover some of the costs of quartering these troops.

Opposed the Quartering Act of 1765

They were being taxed to pay for provisions and barracks for the army

Army that they thought was unnecessary during peacetime and that they feared might be used against them.

The Quartering Act was allowed to expire in 1770.