The Townshend Acts

"Champagne Charlie"

     Townshend Acts, 1767, originated by Charles Townshend and passed by the English Parliament shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act.  They were designed to collect money from the colonists in America by putting taxes on imports of glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The colonials, spurred on by the writings of Samuel Adams and others, protested against the taxes. The Boston merchants again boycotted English goods.  The boycott decreased British trade, and in 1770 most of the Acts were repealed.