a) The Declaratory Act

The Declaratory Act of 1766, passed by the British Parliament following the repeal of the Stamp Act, was a significant assertion of Britain’s authority over the American colonies. This act declared Parliament’s right to make laws binding the colonies “in all cases whatsoever,” effectively affirming British sovereignty. The Declaratory Act was met with resistance and suspicion by the colonists, who saw it as a threat to their autonomy and a precursor to further taxation without representation. The act played a crucial role in the evolving relationship between Britain and its American colonies, setting the stage for the growing discontent and revolutionary fervor that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.