The economic elements during the time period 1764-1783 played an enormous role in the transformation of America, and the deterioration of the relationship between America and Britain. Slavery, during this time, came to a complete elimination in New England after the Revolution, while in the South it remained deeply entrenched (Keene, 100). Although slavery had gradually come to a slow throughout the world, “taxation without representation” became the next big problem (Keene, 102). Britain had entered the hole of debt after the French and Indian War, in which they tried to pay off quickly, causing the enforcement of taxes upon the Americans. Although the taxes imposed on Americans by Britain were relatively low, the views of taxation by both
During the early 1700’s, Great Britain’s government wanted to reassure that all of the colonies the possessed in American remained under government control and followed any laws and rules applied to the land. One of the ways Great Britain maintained economical order of their colonies was thru a series of British taxes that the citizens of their colonies were forced to pay off. These colonists weren’t trilled to pay off the debts of the British government. The British faced a disagreement with the payment of the taxes from the colonies. Making them concerned of losing their land in America.
The Seven Years’ War had been seriously costly. The national debt was so much by 1764. Gladly to pay the taxes, it was said that they should pay it since the taxes were being imposed by Parliament to make up the money that was spent on war. However, there is something that Parliament had overlooked. They overlooked the fact that the colonists gave a large amount of
Settling in the New World provided both the American settlers and the British government with many opportunities. For the colonists, North America provided an opportunity to improve their lives and escape religious persecution. For the British, settlers in North America provided access to raw materials and new markets in which to sell finished goods. This mercantilist relationship continued for several years, until the colonists began to question Parliament’s right to treat them differently than other British citizens. Taxes were imposed on the colonists as a means of helping to pay the debt Britain had incurred fighting the French.
In 1689, the British and the French entered a long period of frequent warfare known as the Second One Hundred Years’ War. The British government had to start directing its focus towards the French rather than its colonies in the New World. Due to the constant warfare, the British did not enforce the Navigation Acts that regulated and controlled trade going to and from the colonies. This sort of political and economic strategy was called salutary neglect. The Americans enjoyed minimal interference in their trading and the American economy grew and developed under this salutary neglect.
The 1770s brought to America changes in many forms. Britain’s rule over the colonies seemed to be slipping away as the monarchy struggled to maintain its influence over the people. The disjoint between the colonies and Britain allowed for a breeding ground of insurgency. Taxation on all sorts of goods such as tea, paper, and molasses were at an all-time high. Taxes were so important to the British that they even passed acts which specifically benefited companies that would directly benefit the crown.
The American Revolutionary War began largely over economic pressures, with colonists in the Thirteen Colonies upset over taxation without representation. Unfortunately, America’s economic situation did not improve with the war or its immediate aftermath. The fledgling United States government suffered from a lack of revenue, the ability to impose taxes, and the enforcement of existing taxes (Baack). Under the nation’s first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, the federal government could only use tariff revenue as a source of funds. In 1786, however, America’s weak economy and lack of government enforcement almost tore the nation apart with Shays’ Rebellion.
“ Yet the general economic picture was far from rosy… independence had drawbacks… state government had borrowed more money during the war than they could ever hope to repay… inflation had been ruinous to many citizens, and congress...failed… to curb economic laws” ( Kennedy, Cohen, Bailey 170). Between 1784 and 1785 depression took a hard turn on Americans. The depression led to low production of goods and the United States was almost bankrupt from all of the debt after the revolution. “The average citizen was probably worse off financially at the end of the shooting than at the start” (Kennedy, Cohen, Bailey 170 ). On top of that Britain wouldn’t allow American ships trade to Britain or the West Indies cutting off American trade.
Many of the reasons the American colonies believed they were justified in their rebellion from England lay in trade and taxes. When George III inherited the throne at the end of the Seven Years’ War England’s debt had risen to 145 million pounds and his chief minister believed that the American colonies needed to help shoulder the debt. (Nash, et al., 2007. , p. 134) In attempting to collect these taxes from the colonies to relieve the mounting debt Parliament passed a range of acts, which led to discontent among the colonists as many of them restricted trade, their political maneuverability and left many believing they infringed upon their “right to be taxed only by their own consent.”
Taxes implemented by British parliament (for example, the Sugar Act of 1764) had a significant role in the American Revolution, and they were passed predominantly because of the debt caused by the Seven Year’s
Between 1763 and 1775, there were three ‘Imperial Crises’ which occurred between the British and the American colonists. The conflict that was produced during this period arose through an undefined balance of political and economic power between the two parties. In 1763, Britain had just concluded the French and Indian war and was left with an immense and almost crippling debt of around 140 million pounds sterling (“Turning Point In American History”). In Britain’s eyes, the most effective way to reduce this debt was increased taxes. Unfortunately, the people of England were already massively overtaxed, which meant the last option for the British was to tax the American colonists.
Slavery began long before the colonization of North America. This was an issue in ancient Egypt, as well as other times and places throughout history. In discussing the evolution of African slavery from its origins, the resistance and abolitionist efforts through the start of the Civil War, it is found to have resulted in many conflicts within our nation. In 1619, the first Africans in America arrived in Jamestown on a Dutch ship.
Due to their recent war with the French, Britain and its colonies were in debt. Britain turned to the colonies as a source of revenue to pay back money, and Parliament passed acts placing taxes and tariffs on the colonies and American trade. Following the revolution, the United States was in debt to France, who helped them fight Britain during the war and supplied money, troops, and supplies. Some Americans demanded paper currency and equal distribution of property (Doc. G). Although the manufacturing industry was growing in America, it was growing very slowly.
The American Revolution brought independence to slaves, colonists, Native Americans, and women. The Revolutionary War made the United States and France allies go against Great Britain. France made a choice to assist the United States military until they received independence from Great Britain. The Revolution had a huge part in slavery, such as bringing conflict between slavery and liberty because the North prohibited slavery. The South did not believe that slavery should be abolished.
The Britain felt that it was only natural that the American colony would pay the mother country more for their protection after the Seven Years War with France. England was trying to relieve some tax burdens by increasing the tax on the colonies (xix). “that the main purpose of country’s overseas possessions were to serve the business interest of British merchants and manufacturers and to provide the mother country with raw materials” (xvii). However, such increase in demand, and pressure seemed unfair to the American colony despite the fact that they had been paying less tax compared to an English
Philip demonstrates that treatment of the slaves in 1781 was inhumain. Referring to the slaves as cargo proves that the slaves are looked down upon as products rather then individuals. It is important to recognize the treatment of the slaves on the ship because of Collingwood’s inaccuracy the slaves are the ones getting the reproctions. Collingwood was not only responsible for the natural death of the slaves but the masacer to save himself. Since the cargo on the ship is insured, Gregson is still able to make money off the masacer of the slaves.