Contrary to the popular understanding, the Quartering Acts of 1756 and 1774 did NOT require people to house British soldiers in their private homes. The complaint concerned the demands for provision of housing and food at the colonists’ own EXPENSE as well as that the authority to make decisions in these matters was taken out of local hands.

But don’t just go on my say-so.

Here are links to the complete text of these acts. Some folks think that the later one expanded the demand to private homes, but a comparison of the texts shows that is not so.

http://ahp.gatech.edu/quartering_act_1765.html

http://ahp.gatech.edu/quartering_act_1774.html

And here is a helpful history.com article and a pair of very solid blog posts explaining the meaning and context of these acts, debunking the myths and showing what the colonists’ REAL complaints (second and third are a pair):

http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=320

http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2007/03/myths-and-realities-of-quartering-act.html

http://boston1775.blogspot.com/search/label/James%20Forrest

RE:
What does "Quartering Troops" mean? As in the third amendment?
Mostly what does the word Quartering mean in this context? I'm so lost…Thanks for the help!