What act declared that the colonies were in rebellion and forbade trade between the colonies and Britain?

The Prohibitory Act of 1775 was a significant measure taken by the British Parliament that declared the American colonies in rebellion and effectively prohibited all trade between Britain and the colonies. This act represented a shift in British policy from attempting to reconcile with the colonies to taking a more punitive approach in response to colonial resistance and the escalating conflict that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.

By categorizing the colonies as rebellious, the British government aimed to suppress dissent and curtail any economic support the colonies could provide to revolutionary activities. The enforcement of this act meant that not only would the colonies face military confrontation, but they would also be economically isolated from their largest trading partner, further potentiating their grievances and resolve to push for independence.

Other acts mentioned, such as the Intolerable Acts and the Stamp Act, played crucial roles in the growing tensions between the colonies and Britain, but they did not specifically declare the colonies in rebellion with a direct prohibition of trade. Instead, they aimed at controlling and punishing colonial behavior but did not represent the ultimate break that the Prohibitory Act symbolized. The Navigation Acts focused on regulating colonial trade, while the Stamp Act imposed direct taxes, neither of which enacted a full trade ban or recognized the colonies'