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As a Boston merchant in the late 1700’s it was very difficult to get ahead, both economically and politically. The Seven Years War ended in 1763, which greatly contributed to Boston’s wealth being controlled by only 5 percent of the city’s taxpayers. The wealth of the other 95 percent combined, equaled less than the controlling 5 percent. The Sugar Act, The Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts are a few taxation laws that were used by the British to control Bostonian merchants. Admiralty courts, The Declaratory Act, and The Coercive Acts economically controlled merchants. At the end of the Seven Years War, the British felt colonists had not fought well enough and had not paid their way. Therefore, the Sugar Act was imposed. It was to raise revenue to pay for the British troops who were protecting the colonies in North America. The Sugar Act increased the duty on sugar, wine, spirits, coffee, and indigo that entered North America from non-British ports. Admiralty Courts were established to enforce the Sugar Act. These courts gave customs officer’s authority to obtain goods off of ships that