Rum enabled the colonists to destroy many american indian societies, permitting a rapid expansion westward beyond the appalachian mountains. the british tax on molasses contributed to the american revolution. the molasses act was a british law that imposed a tax on molasses, sugar and rum imported from non-british foreign colonies into the north american colonies. the act was later amended by the sugar act, which became an irritant contributing to the american revolution. colonists held protest meetings, merchants boycotted imported british goods, and colonial assemblies vigorously protested the sugar act.