The most rebellious action of the colonists in reaction to these acts was smuggling of goods to and from other countries.
From the founding of the colonies in Jamestown in 1606, the colonies had been granted many privileges. As time passed, many of these privileges were gradually taken away. Britain began taking away rights the colonies once had with the Townshend Acts in 1767. The act placed a tax on paint, lead, paper, and glass. More importantly to the colonists, it took away their power of the purse in terms of controlling the governors salary. The revenues from the new tax would be paying his salary. The colonists had lost their control over the governor and he had no reason to please them. From the beginning, many colonial towns, especially those in New England governed themselves through town meetings. The colonists voted and made decisions at these meetings. When Britain passed the Coercive Acts in 1774, as result of the Boston Tea Party, it limited many things the colonists could do. Most importantly, all councils, sheriffs, and judges in Massachusetts would now be appointed by the governor. The Act also banned the town meetings that once took place. Shortly after the Coercive Acts were passed, the Quebec Act was passed. This act stated that the conquered Frenchmen living in Canada could retain their customs and religion. It also granted the French territory in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Now if colonists wanted to live in Canada, they were submitting to Catholicism and giving up their right to self government as the .
French did not practice this. As a reaction to the Coercive Acts and the Quebec Act, the colonists formed the first Continental Congress. Twelve out of thirteen colonies sent fifty six delegates to Philadelphia. The delegates formed the Association and called for a complete boycott of British goods. The boycott was a typical colonial reaction to unhappiness with crown.