apr 5, 1764 - Sugar Act

Description:

Extension of the expiring Molasses Act that lowered tax on sugar and molasses from 6 pence to 3 pence in an attempt to make Britain more money. Since the previous tax was so high many people decided to smuggle in goods from French and Spanish colonies rather than pay it. The Sugar Act was put in place to decrease the smuggling, which it did because it allowed for smugglers to be tried in vice admiralty courts instead of local courts. It also increased the number of things being taxed, so the colonies' economies really struggled.