Question

Why were the townshend duties repealed?

Answer 1

The Townshend Duties were implemented by the British government on the American colonists as a means of generating revenue so that they can pay the salaries of British governors. This tax, like many others implemented by the British government, did not sit well with the colonists due to their lack of representation in the legislature. As a result, American colonists boycotted (refused to buy) products that were taxed thanks to the Townshend Act.

This resulted in the decreased British trade with the colonists. This decrease in trade leads the government to repeal the Townshend duties.