Sugar Act

Legislation passed by the British Parliament in 1764 enforcing the taxation of sugar and molasses imported into the American colonies from non-British areas. This was Parliament's first attempt at raising money from the colonies.

The act was designed to stem smuggling from the French and Dutch West Indies and to provide a new source of revenue to fund the increasing administrative costs in the New World. Colonists objected to the tax and to the stricter customs control which enabled British customs commissioners to confiscate their cargoes.