why did the townshend act started?

Answer 1

TK is on the right track but let me add more detail:

1. Following the French and Indian War Britain decided to discontinue the practice of salutary neglect. This was the act of IGNORING the existing taxes and navigations laws that the American colonies had been under for many years. Now the OLD acts were suddenly being enforced anew.

2. These change took place when Charles Townshend (Champaign Charlie) was placed in charge of collecting monies from the British subjects in America

3. These taxes included taxes on sugar, coffee, glass, lead, belts, furs, and paper products (Stamp tax). The coloniese were furious that England was suddenly expecting them to help pay for their defense against the Indians, especially after Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763.

4. The Townshend Acts were one of the most important steps towards colonial independence which would begin in only 10 years.

And there you have it from a real historian.

Answer 2

The Townshend Acts were taxes on imports to America proposed by Charles Townshend in 1767. The British thought that the acts would not raise much of an issue because it was an indirect rax, meaning that it did not tax goods directly.

These acts were created by the British to generate more revenue from the Thirteen Colonies and to pay off debt from the French and Indian War.