What was the primary goal of the Sugar Act?

The primary goal of the Sugar Act was to raise money for the Crown. Enacted in 1764, it aimed to decrease the previous tax on molasses in order to discourage smuggling while simultaneously increasing enforcement measures to ensure compliance with trade regulations. The British government faced significant debt after the French and Indian War and sought to generate revenue from the colonies to help cover these costs. By taxing sugar and molasses, the Act was an effort to ensure that the financial burden of the British Empire's expenses was shared by the American colonies, thereby solidifying the Crown’s financial control over colonial affairs.

The other options, while they may touch on aspects of colonial trade, do not capture the core intent of the Sugar Act, which was financially motivated rather than focused on trade promotion, reducing costs, or local manufacturing. The Act did not primarily aim to foster local industries or lower import costs, emphasizing that its main objective was to bolster British revenue.