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Declaratory Act Timeline

(March 18, 1766)

The Declaratory Act of 1766 asserted Parliament’s authority to legislate for the American colonies in all cases, following the repeal of the Stamp Act. Less

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Parliamentary legislation

Declaratory Act 1719 enacted

1719

The Declaratory Act 1719 was enacted by the Parliament of Great Britain and later served as the model for the 1766 Declaratory Act.

Sugar Act 1763 amended

1763

The Sugar Act 1763 was amended in connection with the legislation surrounding the Declaratory Act and the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Stamp Act 1765 enacted

1765

The Stamp Act 1765 imposed duties in the American colonies and became the central target of colonial resistance discussed in the events leading to the Declaratory Act.

Declaratory Act follows the 1719 model

1766

The 1766 Declaratory Act was copied almost word for word from the Declaratory Act 1719.

Image source: Declaratory Act 1719

Declaratory Act follows the 1719 model

Parliament asserts authority over the colonies

1766

The Declaratory Act declared Parliament’s authority to legislate for the American colonies, including authority described as extending to taxation.

Image source: Declaratory Act

Parliament asserts authority over the colonies

American Colonies Act 1766 receives its short title

1766

The American Colonies Act 1766 is commonly known as the Declaratory Act and is identified as 6 Geo. 3. c. 12.

Declaratory Act introduced

1766

Parliament introduced the American Colonies Act 1766, commonly known as the Declaratory Act, alongside legislation repealing the Stamp Act.

Parliament considers repeal of the Stamp Act

1766

In 1766, Parliament considered repealing the Stamp Act while also asserting its authority over the American colonies through a separate declaratory measure.

Repeal and declaration enacted together

Mar 18, 1766

The repeal of the Stamp Act was paired with the Declaratory Act, combining a concession to colonial opposition with an assertion of parliamentary authority.

Declaratory Act passes Parliament

Mar 18, 1766

On March 18, 1766, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, formally asserting its authority to make laws for the American colonies.

Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 enacted

1778

The Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 was the stated exception to the post-1766 pattern of Parliament not directly imposing taxation on its colonies or overseas territories.

Colonial resistance

Colonial opposition to the Stamp Act grows

1765

Representatives from a number of the Thirteen Colonies assembled in response to the Stamp Act 1765, reflecting organized colonial opposition to parliamentary taxation.

Stamp Act Congress assembles

1765

The Stamp Act Congress brought representatives from several colonies together to respond collectively to the Stamp Act 1765.

Thirteen Colonies debate parliamentary taxation

1765

The colonial response to the Stamp Act included debate over Parliament’s authority to impose taxes on the colonies.

Image source: Stamp Act Congress

Thirteen Colonies debate parliamentary taxation

Colonial constitutional objections emerge

1765

The assembly of colonial representatives helped express constitutional objections to taxation imposed without colonial representation.

Colonial horror greets the declaration

1766

The declaration that a parliamentary majority could pass any law it considered appropriate was greeted with an outcry of horror in the colonies.

Repeal and legacy

Parliament avoids direct colonial taxation

1766 - 1778

The period after 1766 and before the Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 is identified as a period in which Parliament did not again directly impose taxation upon its colonies or overseas territories.

Post-1766 taxation policy changes

1766

Following passage of the Declaratory Act, Parliament did not again directly attempt to impose taxation on one of its colonies or overseas territories for many years.

The Declaratory Act accompanies repeal

1766

The act’s immediate political role was to accompany the repeal of the Stamp Act while preserving Parliament’s claimed constitutional power.

Stamp Act repealed

Mar 18, 1766

On March 18, 1766, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act at the same time that it passed the Declaratory Act.

Taxation exception follows the Declaratory Act

1778

The 1778 act is specifically identified as an exception to the claim that Parliament never again directly attempted to impose colonial taxation after the Declaratory Act.

Statute Law Revision Act 1964 enacted

1964

The Statute Law Revision Act 1964 provided the legislative mechanism by which the whole Declaratory Act was repealed.

Image source: Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1993

Statute Law Revision Act 1964 enacted

Declaratory Act repeal receives statutory authority

1964

Section 1 and the schedule to the Statute Law Revision Act 1964 repealed the whole of the Declaratory Act.

Declaratory Act repeal takes effect

Jul 31, 1964

The repeal of the Declaratory Act came into force on July 31, 1964.

Declaratory Act is entirely repealed

Jul 31, 1964

On July 31, 1964, the whole act ceased to have effect under the repeal enacted through the Statute Law Revision Act 1964.

Imperial constitutional history

The act confirms unlimited legislative power

1766

The Declaratory Act expressed the position that Parliament possessed unlimited authority to legislate for the colonies.

Parliamentary sovereignty is reaffirmed

1766

The act reflected the British Parliament’s commitment to the principle of parliamentary sovereignty as unlimited and unlimitable.

West Indies constitutions retain parliamentary authority

1962

The remaining British colonies in the West Indies were already governed by constitutions explicitly granted under the authority of Parliament.

West Indies Act 1962 enacted

1962

The West Indies Act 1962 is identified as part of the parliamentary constitutional framework governing the remaining British colonies in the West Indies.

Image source: West Indies Federation

West Indies Act 1962 enacted

Remaining West Indian colonies retain granted constitutions

1962

The West Indies colonies’ constitutions were described as being explicitly granted under Parliament’s authority.

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Key Facts

  1. Parliament passed the Declaratory Act on the same day it repealed the unpopular Stamp Act.
  2. The act declared that Parliament had full power to make laws binding the American colonies.
  3. It claimed authority over colonial taxation as well as legislation on any matter.
  4. The measure was intended to preserve British control while easing tensions caused by the Stamp Act.
  5. Although not immediately enforced through major new taxes, the act contributed to later colonial resistance and the American Revolution.

Source

This Declaratory Act timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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