The 1766 Declaratory Act
was an official British claim absolute sovereignty over the colonies
The 1766 Declaratory Act was a British law that was passed by Parliament in response to the repeal of the Stamp Act, which was a tax on printed materials in the American colonies. The Declaratory Act was primarily intended to remind the colonies that Britain had absolute power over them and that Parliament could make laws for the colonies in all cases whatsoever.
In essence, the Declaratory Act was a way for Britain to assert its authority over the colonies and to assert its control over the colonies’ economic and political affairs. Specifically, the Act declared that Parliament had the power to make laws for the colonies in all cases, including taxation, trade regulation, and other areas of colonial policy.
By passing the Declaratory Act, Britain was trying to reassert control over the colonies and prevent them from developing any sense of independence or autonomy. However, the Act had the opposite effect and actually encouraged resistance and rebellion among the American colonists, who viewed the Act as a clear infringement of their rights and a threat to their liberty and autonomy.
Overall, the Declaratory Act was an important moment in the history of the American Revolution, as it helped to cement the idea among the colonists that they needed to move towards independence and assert their own rights and freedoms.
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