The Townshend Acts or Townshend Duties were a series of British acts of Parliament passed during 1767 and 1768 introducing a series of taxes and regulations to fund administration of the British colonies in America. They are named after the Chancellor of the Exchequer who proposed the programme. Historians vary slightly as to which acts they include under the heading "Townshend Acts", but five are often listed:The Revenue Act 1767 passed on 29 June 1767.
The Commissioners of Customs Act 1767 passed on 29 June 1767.
The Indemnity Act 1767 passed on 2 July 1767.
The New York Restraining Act 1767 passed on 2 July 1767.
The Vice Admiralty Court Act 1768 passed on 8 March 1768.
Charles Townshend spearheaded the laws, but died before their detrimental effects became apparent.
Dickinson's Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
Non-importation agreement, dated October 1767, signed by Bostonians including Paul Revere
Paul Revere's engraving of British troops landing in Boston in 1768
Early American publishers and printers
Early American publishers and printers played a central role in the social, religious, political and commercial development of the Thirteen Colonies in British America prior to and during the American Revolution and the ensuing American Revolutionary War that established American independence.
A typical printing press of the 18th century. Religious enthusiasm and the great demand for bibles and other religious works is largely what promoted the first printing efforts in the American colonies. Before and during the American Revolution colonial printers were also actively publishing newspapers and pamphlets expressing the strong sentiment against British colonial policy and taxation.
The May 9, 1754 issue of The Pennsylvania Gazette, published in Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to publish the Declaration of Independence following its unanimous adoption on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress
In 1939, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp depicting John Day's printing press and commemorating the 300th anniversary of publishing during the colonial era.