| In 1770, in the face of the American policy of nonimportation, the Townshend tariffs were withdrawn all except the tax on tea, which was kept for symbolic reasons. |
| In 1774 75 he wrote three influential pamphlets, which upheld the agreements of the Continental Congress on the nonimportation, nonconsumption, and nonexportation of British products and attacked British policy in Quebec. |
| New York's merchant community led the nonimportation program that forced repeal of the measure in 1766, even as the assembly refused to deliver food and cider to British soldiers quartered in the city. |
| However, in the October 1770 elections, because of the fight over nonimportation, Philadelphia mechanics and carpenters abandoned the Quaker party for the Presbyterian party. |
