America Act 1775 (Borgo)

The America Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which became law on the 17th July 1775, designed to resolve the New England Crisis and reform Great Britain's relationship with its American colonies.

Discontent had been brewing for some time in the colonies, but matters came to a head in September 1774 when the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to coordinate a colonial response to British policies. Though some members of the radical party favoured a boycott or even independence from Britain, it was in the end decided simply to send a petition to King George III detailing their grievances and asking for changes to be made.

The petition was accepted by the King and by the Prime Minister, Lord Grafton, who subsequently presented it to Parliament. Grafton proposed a compromise to the American envoy, Benjamin Franklin, who upon his return to Philadelphia argued in favour of it. A majority of delegates to the Congress voted to accept the compromise, though those from the New England colonies of Massacusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut boycotted the final vote.

In June 1775, therefore, Lord Grafton brought a bill before Parliament, the contents of which included: The bill was passed by a majority of 485 to 73 in the House of Commons, and by a similar majority in the House of Lords.
 * That the Massachusetts Government Act 1774, the Administration of Justice Act 1774, and the Quartering Act 1765 be repealed with immediate effect.
 * That the Boston Port Act 1774 should cease to take effect upon the arrest and delivery to justice of the perpetrators of the Boston Tea Party.
 * That representatives of the Crown and officers of His Majesty's Army and Navy, when acting within the boundaries of the provinces of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Upper Canada, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia, should henceforth be held responsible by the territorial legislatures for their good conduct.
 * That the aforesaid provinces should henceforth each be entitled to send two Members of Parliament to sit in the House of Commons.
 * That the aforesaid provinces should each establish a Supreme Court for the trying of civil and criminal cases, to be subject to no British court save for the King in Council.
 * That no further taxes should be levied specifically on the populace of the aforesaid provinces save with the consent of their legislatures.