The Currency Act refers to a series of laws enacted by the British Parliament in the 18th century, primarily aimed at regulating the currency in the American colonies. The most notable of these was the Currency Act of 1764, which prohibited the colonies from issuing their own paper money. This was intended to stabilize the economy and ensure that British currency remained dominant. The act was met with resistance from colonists, who relied on paper money for trade and economic stability. Many colonists felt that the act restricted their financial independence and contributed to growing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain, ultimately leading to the American Revolution.