THE QUARTERING ACT

In 1765, Parliament passed the Quartering Act of 1765. Contrary to popular belief, this law did not direct British soldiers to be billeted (or quartered) in the private homes of the colonists. Instead, it made colonial assemblies responsible for paying for and providing for military barracks or other accommodations to house British soldiers. Other accommodations included “inns, livery stables, ale houses” and other public houses. Parliament hoped this would help them save money by passing on some of the costs of keeping soldiers in North America to the colonial assemblies.

The colonial assemblies were also ordered to furnish the soldiers with provisions (supplies) such as “candles, firing, bedding, cooking utensils, salt, vinegar, and…beer or cider.” Of course, providing these provisions for the soldiers cost money. The New Jersey assembly protested that the new law was “as much an Act for laying taxes” on the colonists as the Stamp Act. In 1767, the New York assembly refused to provide funds to quarter British troops who were then forced to remain on their ships. All other colonies, except for Pennsylvania, also refused to comply with the Quartering Act. British Parliament reacted by suspending the New York assembly until it agreed to obey the guidelines of the Quartering Act which it eventually did. Once again, tempers began to rise on both sides of the Atlantic.