Contentious Relationship Between 1763 And 1776

The American Colonies and the British Parliament developed quite the contentious relationship during the period between 1763 and 1776. Many of the policies enacted by Britain seemed justified to those back in Parliament, but the consequences of this time period have impacted history in a fantastic manner. Several actions and reactions from both parties managed to drive a deep wedge between them, leading for the colonies to call for independence from Great Britain in 1776. After King George III ascended to the British throne in 1760, and following the Treaty of 1763 at the conclusion of the French and Indian War, George looked to recoup some of the money they had expended to defend the American colonies over the previous nine years. As

The purpose of the Sugar Act was to curb the illegal trade of American Sugar with the colonies of Britain’s enemies in the West Indies. Duties were raised and enforced on sugar, a lucrative industry prior to the enacting of this policy. The Sugar Act also took control over the collection of taxes and duties, as well as court cases conducted regarding such matters, from the colonial courts who were very lenient to offenders and rarely held them accountable. The Currency Act of 1764 demanded that colonies cease issuing their own paper currency, and to remove any previously issued currency from circulation. These Acts were initially successful at increasing the taxes collected from the colonies in support of the British debt, but they also had the effect of severely increasing tensions between the British Parliament and the American colonists. Colonists did not feel that Parliament had the right to tax them, and the colonies began to respond with collective

The policy affected many influential merchants and citizens, and was wildly unpopular as many everyday objects were now subject to a tax if they included any documentation. The concept of such a tax was the biggest sticking point for the colonists. The allowing of Parliament to enforce such taxes on them would set a negative precedent that could open the door to further taxation in the future, and the topic of taxation without representation came to the forefront of the colonial mindset. The colonists held a Stamp Act Congress in 1765 to address the issues brought forth by the recently enacted Stamp Act, and to attempt to express colonial opinions to the British Crown and Parliament. The congress sent notice to Britain, that they felt that they owed “all due subordination,” to Parliament, (Brinkley, 2012). At the same time, the colonists reaffirmed their position that only the colonies had the power to tax themselves, and not