Declaratory Act goes into effect

Background. The Declaratory Act's passage was tied to the repeal of the Stamp Act 1765: representatives from a number of the Thirteen Colonies had assembled as the Stamp Act Congress to question the right of a distant power to tax them without proper representation, and boycotts were hurting British trade. Parliament agreed to repeal the Stamp Act on the condition that the Declaratory Act was passed.

Provisions of the Act. The declaration stated that Parliament's authority was the same in America as in Britain and asserted Parliament's authority to pass laws binding on the American colonies. It accompanied the repeal of the Duties in American Colonies Act 1765 and the amendment of the Sugar Act 1763, and reflected a Parliament committed to unlimited parliamentary sovereignty.

Aftermath and Effect. Parliament agreed to repeal the Stamp Act on the condition that the Declaratory Act was passed, and at the time of the repeal used the declaration to justify the repeal and avoid humiliation. Following the passage of the act, Parliament never again attempted directly to impose taxation upon any of its colonies or overseas territories, except for the Taxation of Colonies Act 1778 during the American Revolution.