It was important for the colonists to leave the British rules, so they no longer have to follow the laws and the punishment of the British . Back when the king had control over America meanings he gets to decide what he can do, he had control of the judges. Control of the judges was critical as it dealt with assigning guilt and innocent in the courts. In addition, the king also had enough power to decide the punishment on the when he or she is guilty party. The British government holds the right to make the colonist to pay more taxes. If they don’t, they can punish them according to the law. Also, on document K the King of Britain, king George the III “has created his own set of laws and now feels that he has a right to force us to give food and shelter to British soldiers, stop us from trading with the rest of the world, and has set up too many taxes for us that we have no choice in paying. He also wants to punish people without a fair trial and jury.” King George had enough power to create all kinds of laws that made it unfair for the colonists to lead prosperous lives. Once the colonists were victorious in overthrowing British rule,
Taxation was a big problem and a cause of the Revolutionary War. First, “With the French and Indian War over, many colonists saw no need for soldiers to be stationed in the colonies. Britain also needed money to pay for its war debts. The King and Parliament believed they had the right to tax the colonies. They protested, saying that these taxes violated their rights as British citizens,”(www.historyisfun.org). The Colonist felt they didn't have the same rights as British citizens because they were being taxed for Britain's war dept and taxes. Meaning the Colonist were taxed for Britain's war debts. The French spent 1.3 billion livres on war costs. Britain was wrong for taxing the Colonist for their war dept,
In the early 1700s, the American colonists were content with the rule of Great Britain and the British King. The practice of salutary neglect kept the relationship between the colonists and Great Britain in balance. Most people were satisfied with this arrangement. However, certain events caused these feelings to change.
The colonist were being taxed for a war they weren’t involved in. First, “The British government decided to make the American colonies pay a large share of the war debt from the French and Indian War,” (Social Studies for kids.). British wanted Americans to pay for a war they weren't involved in since the British was in debt. Colonist protested, saying “That these taxes violated their rights as American citizens and shouldn’t pay for Britain's debt.¨Maybe one day society will realize how poor British was after the French and Indian War.
The American colonists were loyal British subjects until King George went against the established English principles of the Magna Carta, and felt that he was above the law. The King began to assert his authority over the colonies. (www.archives.gov). The ongoing costs of administering and protecting North America in the Seven Years War nearly drained the British treasury. (Keene, 2011). A great deal of money went to buying expensive supplies for the American army and the colonies. In order to pay off his debt, the King felt the need to instate taxes on the colonies without their consent. This was viewed “As an ominous first step in a plot to deprive them of their liberty,”(Keene, page96) and an infringement of the rights of the citizens.
In 1763 Britain was deeply in debt from protecting the colonies from war with France. Since Britain was protecting the American people from the french and indians they expected the American people to help pay for the high expense from war. Thinking the American people would surely agree they passed the first of many taxes in 1763, the stamp act. This tax imposed by British Parliament required Colonists to pay fees on many printed documents such as legal documents, diplomas, and even playing cards. The Colonists were outraged by these taxes. John adams said that the taxes were unconstitutional because the people did not consent to the taxes. Colonists protested by boycotting British goods and threatened violence on anyone who tried to collect
Taxation without Representation is one of the reasons the American Revolution happened. The original phrase was “No taxation without Representation”. James Otis who was a lawyer in colonial Mass who thought that the phrase wasn't right so he changed it to “Taxation without Representation is Tyranny”. The British Parliament started taxing sugar in colonies in the sugar act. James Otis and other colonies didn’t agree to the sugar act and then started protesting. Things that were taxed were ships papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers and playing cards. The British Parliament also taxed the stamp act. The colonies wanted to make their own taxes. That is why Taxation without Representation is very important to causes that led to the American Revolution.
Were the colonists’ rights really violated enough to justify a revolt against Britain? Colonists came to America for a new beginning and more freedoms. When they revolted they stopped receiving British imports protection, and we had created the Magna Carta to give them government rights. There was absolutely no reason for the colonists to revolt against Britain.
Parliament (England's Congress) wanted to tax the colonists because of the long French and Indian War fought in North America that had caused them to fall into a huge debt. King George claimed that they only fought the war to protect the colonists from the dominating French in Canada, and that it was their obligation to pay the taxation that had been set upon the colonies. The colonists knew that the war had only been fought to strengthen England's empire. The colonists felt that the members of Parliament could not possibly understand what is right for the colonies, and that it was unfair that they did not have the right to vote for the members of parliament. Parliament passed taxation anyways through a series of acts, but the colonists refused
Our actions against the British Government led to the founding of our country. Is our acts almost 300 years ago justified? The answer is yes, but only if certain steps happen. If the Government does something unlawful, or unjust, and then takes a violent turn against it’s citizens, then
One of the biggest disputes between Great Britain and the American colonies was the issue of taxes. Although the colonists viewed themselves as standing British citizens, they had minimal to no
Reyna Marks Mrs. Reimer U.S. History Wednesday, September 9, 2015 TITLE When the conflict between the American colonists and Britain is summarized in one sentence, any person would agree that the colonists were completely justified in revolting against Britain. After more than a century of self-rule in the American colonies, Britain had the audacity to barge in and hand down taxes to every colonist to benefit itself, a country located at the other end of the Atlantic Ocean. Britain clearly seems like the enemy in this retelling, but taking an objective view on the subject uncovers a number of reasons why the contrary is true. Britain was a benign mother country that was justified in taxing the colonies because Britain treated the colonies
The American Revolutionary War began in the middle1700s and ended with the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783. When looking at both sides of the argument I still believe the British were to blame for igniting the flames of revolution. A lot of people will argue that the British were fair in the treatment of the early American Colonists and provided for them as they did for their countrymen remaining in England. In my opinion the colonists were regarded as nothing more than a slave. By this, I mean that the colonists were basically used to work the land to provide crops which were normally imported from other countries to England. Since they were considered Englishmen and their lands considered property of the crown, the British could pass laws taking from them their basic rights as men. Three contributing factors for the outbreak of the American Revolution were the king’s taxes, neglect of the 13 colonies and England’s mercantilism policy (Strum, 44). The British thought of the colonists as their primary asset in their practice of mercantilism, which at times may have been profitable for the colonists. Ultimately it became a primary reason for the beginning of social unrest among the early Americans. While when it became convenient the British came in and started putting restrictions on them. As many in their position, the colonists rebelled against the new found interest in the societies they labored to build, that for so long went unnoticed. British taxation was one of the
George Washington once said “to be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” This quote exemplifies the just nature of the American Revolution. The American revolution was a political revolt started by colonists in order to gain freedom from Great Britain’s monarch. As suggested previously, this war was unquestionably vindicated. Colonists fled from Britain to escape The King. When starting their own nation, they wanted to create their own paths, freedoms, and futures. However, these desires were not immediately attainable. Immediately Britain began micromanaging the colonists, forcing them to pay reparations for a war they did not benefit from. It is understandable that colonists were angry. Parliament was relentless, passing the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act, as well as numerous other ploys for money. The colonists, eager to start a new nation, were already facing enough difficulties without British Parliament and the King breathing down their necks. Colonists were not able to vote for members of Parliament, therefor felt as though it was unfair for them to be ruled by a force they had no control in. The colonists had the right to start a war, and a justified one at that. It was, and still is, considered an important American right to rise up, should a government turn oppressive.
The colonists had the right to rebel against the British rule. The colonists throughout this era had the British breathing down their backs. This meant that the British tried to control all of the colonists within their reach. The colonists were restrained from their natural rights while being a colonist. The British not only took away the natural rights of the colonists, but they also taxed tea for the colonists.