What were Great Britain and the North American colonies’ relationship prior to the American Revolution? The North American colonies disagreed with Great Britain’s power and control over the colonies which caused a great deal of social, political, and economic disputes. Several acts and ideas that were passed through Parliament were rebutted by the colonies and they reciprocated with their own point of view and ideas.
Americans talk about themselves in the highest degree a fair amount of times. Stating that they are the greatest at this and the best at that. Americans are extremely idealistic and truly believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights. The American Revolution was really about money since most wealthy
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One way was through imposing trade regulations which was a more indirect approach. A large amount of Great Britain’s welfare is greatly associated with its transoceanic trade. It had the right to regulate such trade through duties on imports and exports. The second way they gained money was through direct taxation of the colonies which was considered unethical and illegal. A Maryland lawyer by the name of Daniel Dulany states,” …There is a clear and necessary distinction between an act imposing a tax for the single purpose of revenue, and those acts which have been made for the regulation of trade…” Parliaments revenue-producing taxes imposed by the Stamp Act are levied without consent given through the colonies’ representatives which they do not have. It is considered unacceptable and illegal how they tax the colonies under these circumstances that make them little better than “slaves knuckling under to a master.” Much like serfdom in The Middle Ages, Great Britain protects the American colonies and the colonies owe Great Britain a considerable expense for protecting them. Minister Greenville stated,” Great Britain protects America, America is bound to yield obedience, if not, tell me when the Americans were emancipated?” Minister Greenville needs to realize that the colonists helped immensely during the war, and did so at their own expense so they contributed a fair share to the cost of the
Thirdly the British wanted to raise greater revenue by raising taxes. It was these tax acts that finally ended the salutary neglect (Schultz, 2010). The Sugar Act of 1764 was the first acts that would impose taxes on molasses and sugar. These products were shipped to non-British colonies in the West. I don 't think that taxing sugar
The Sugar, Stamp, and Townshend Acts all say that England needs to tax the colonies so he can protect them. I found three examples of this. First, the Sugar Act said, “...it is just and necessary, that a revenue be raised, in your majesty 's said dominions in America, for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same…” That meant that England needed money to protect America. Second, the Stamp Act said, “...toward defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing, the British colonies and plantations in America: and whereas it is just and necessary, that provisions be made for raising a further revenue within your Majesty’s dominions in America…”
By 1775 the relationship attitude of the American colonist towards the British led to the American Revolution. Leading up to this event we can trace back to 1763 when British leaders began to try take control of the colonist. The British had set up a policy prohibiting people to settling in the west. Throughout the years the American colonists have changed their attitudes towards the British politically, economically, and socially by the 1775. Politically the British and the colonies were loyal and support to each other between 1700-1763.
The British government protected the colonies during the French-Indian War and the colonists should “be compelled to pay part of” the British government’s war debt as gratitude for their protection (The Unfinished Nation
Britain used the colonies for trade, which gave Britain more money than they needed. The government used this money on “superb Royal Navy” (“The Mercantilist System”, n.d.). The Royal Navy not only protected the Britain colonies, but threatened the colonies of the other empires. This created some friction between the colonies and Britain, but
Britain had built up a great debt and the colonies were a financial burden to run, to try and resolve their problems the British instituted various measures
Before the American Revolution, the colonists still considered themselves to be English and followed British rule. However, the American revolution allowed them to separate themselves from British rule and form their own separate power. This separate power unified the colonists who now shared the same political, religious, cultural, racial, historical, linguistic, and ideological views which were different from their views under British rule. They were beginning to pave the way to becoming "Americans" rather than English.
The American Colonies attempted many times to catch the attention of the King in order to prevent anymore disliking for the crown and his government. These dislikes would soon grow into tensions as the British government ignored the American Colonies solutions. When analyzing the primary documents it was clear that tensions were high in the colonies due to the unfairness
“The history of present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations [unlawful seizures], all having in direct object the establishments of an absolute Tyranny over these States. ”(Document E). The British taxed just about anything they could; like tea, paper, legal documents, and stamps “Committees are appointed into the characters and conduct of every tradesman, to prevent them selling tea or buying British manufactures. ”(Document I) The British were taxing the American colonists to pay what Britain lost in the French and Indian war.
During the Colonial Era (1492-1763), colonists were justified in waging war against Great Britain; due to the inequitable Stamp Act, the insufferable British oppression, and the perceived tyranny of King George III, the king of Great Britain, however, the colonists were unjustified in some of their actions. In Colonial America, colonists were justified in waging war against Great Britain, because the Stamp Act was unfair and viewed as punishment. Because of the war, Britain had no other choice but to tax the colonists to pay for the debt. For example, according to document 2, the author states that the act was not only for trade but for “the single purpose of levying money.”
After the French and Indian War the British were had a gargantuan debt! In order to pay off such a huge debt they imposed new taxes and enforced old ones. Great Britain thought that it was allowed to pass laws like these, because Britain had protected the colonists therefore the colonists have to give obedience. Laws like the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act, and along with the British being oblivious to colonists’ pleas to change the harsh laws (Document 2) allowed
Arguably, these taxes were only placed by Britain to “milk” the colonies for profit. Ben Franklin responded to the Stamp Act, writing a letter to John Hughs to discuss efforts to get it repealed (Document G). . In a way, the series of taxes applied by Parliament would spark a fire within the colonists and begin the American Revolution, where Americans finally say enough is enough. The time had come for political and ideological change, where the colonies would break from their motherland, Great Britain. In conclusion, the French Indian War would kick off a series of political, economic, and ideological events that changed the relationship between Britain and its colonies forever.
Soon after the Seven Years’ War, the British and the colonists learned that victory came with a rather expensive price (Kennedy, Cohen, & Bailey, 2010). Great Britain tightened its grip on the colonies in North America, expecting colonists to pay for their financial struggles. In order to make colonists pay for the war, Great Britain reminded the North American colonies who had authority by controlling the colonists to submit to various ordinances ratified by British Parliament. This action only showed that arrogance leads to rebellion socially, economically, and politically. Socially, a lack of communication between Great Britain and the North American colonies was to blame for the Revolutionary War.
The French and Indian War was important to the American Revolution because the debt from the war was the reason that Parliament started taxing the colonists. Also, the French and Indian War made Britain very weak, making the colonists’ actions work a whole lot better. Since France was not happy with the outcome of their war with Britain this was a main reasons for France’s interest in helping the now Americans throughout the Revolutionary War, which was very important to the colonies’ victory. The reason why Britain started to tax the colonists was because of the debt resulting from the French and Indian War. The first tax was the the tax on sugar, which was put on the colonists to help pay off the war debt.
4. How did the Great War for Empire change the relationship between England and its American colonies? The Great War for Empire, or Seven Years’ War went on between 1756 and 1763. The unfair taxation of the colonists is what sparked this war; there were also several other political and economic factors, which also played a large part.