To prove they were not tyrannical, after the colonists protested the Stamp Act, the British Government repealed it. Afterwards the new man put in charge of taking care of the debt and the colonial expenditures was Charles Townsend. Not wanting to upset the colonists again he went to Ben Franklin, who was in London and asked what he should do. Franklin suggested import taxes instead of internal taxes, like the Stamp Act. On this advice, Townsend passed a series of import taxes known as the Townsend Duties on things like led, glass, paint, and most importantly tea. To his surprise the colonists threw a fit. It was not about taxes, but representation. Eventually the duties will be dropped, except for tea.
Historically Speaking 