How Did The American Colonists Declare War For Their Independence

1763 marked the end of French and Indian war and caused a great celebration and pride in the American colonies. But, in next twelve years, the same pride was altered by at bitter and violent conflict with the mother country. The injustices of the mother country finally led the American colonists to declare independence and wage war against it. American colonies were justified for waging war and breaking away from Britain because they were defending themselves against a series of measures Parliament wished to impose on their communities without their consent.

Huge debts were owed to Great Britain for supplying the colonists with military support and supplies. To pay the dues, there was the establishment of the Stamp Act, the taxation on domestic goods and services. A tax on domestic merchandise brought even more anger to the colonists. The Sugar Act, the Townshed Duties and the Tea Act were also all introduced with the same fundamentals: applying tax on goods whether it be directly or indirectly, domestic or international. “British commercial regulations imposed a paltry economic burden on Americans, who enjoyed a rapid economic growth and a standard of living higher than their European counterparts” (McGaughy). Each act resulted in irritated colonists. Some even retaliated by tarring and feathering certain English tax enforcers living in the colonies.

After the victory towards French in the Seven Years War, the political and social relationship of the colonists and Great Britain had shifted to a different direction. The colonists began to think of themselves as Americans. At that time, The British government felt that the colonies had become quite independence, and they wanted their colonies to start paying tax in order to help England pay the national debt. Not only were Americans forced to pay direct taxes, but they were also obliged to involve in strict regulatory acts such as Sugar Act and Currency Act. Sugar Act (1764) strongly affected American’s trading in which their oceanic vessels and cargos could be inspected by the British Navy and might be confiscated if the paper and the goods that being transported were in disagreement. Currency Act (1764) restricted colonial governments to print their own paper money. These two acts put some colonists in anger but they were not enough to result in civil disorder until the Stamp Act was passed. The reason that the colonists resisted government authority with the passage of the Stamp Act (1765) was because the Stamp Act collected taxes in all type of papers including newspapers, playing cards, licenses, and stamps. This outraged many colonists especially the educated and

The colonists did not mind the taxes as much because some of the items that were taxed were unnecessary, however they did mind that the British were using their power as an excuse to tax the people for no reason (controlling them). The people’s money was not used in a useful matter, it was used for nothing, just extra money for the British to have. “The raising of revenue… was never intended… Never did the British parliament, (until the passing of the Stamp act) think of imposing duties in America for the purpose of raising a revenue. The Townshend Acts claim the authority to impose duties on these colonies, not for the regulation of trade… but for the single purpose of levying money upson us.” (Document 2). The British just decided one day to just tax the colonies for no reason and the people had no say in it. Also, the British soldiers would come to Boston and take the Boston colonists jobs. Men and women would lose their jobs because the British would take it away from them, they were stealing people’s jobs. The British were taking their money and now their jobs after all the colonists did for them in the French and Indian war. That is not fair for them to run the people like that and it had to be

On April 5, 1764, the Sugar Act was the first of many taxes to be placed upon the American colonies to help pay off Britain’s debt from the American Revolution. In the Sugar Act, products imported into the colonies were being taxed, such as coffee, textiles, and, of course, sugar. The colonists did not take too kindly to this, as the number of places that they could sell to was lowered, which led to the amount of money for them to buy things was decreasing, so their economy became weaker. And as they had less money to support themselves, the taxes were affecting them more than ever. In this way, the colonists became much more aware about how the British were treating them.

The American colonies had good reason to suspect some other motives were at play in Britain and with their fears came more taxes. With their ever-growing belief that in some way Britain was devising a plan to seize their liberties, colonists started to boycott British luxury goods so Britain would have to stop the taxes since they would not be making revenue. However, this did not stop Parliament from adding new taxes to the list. In 1767, the Townshend Revenue Acts were imposed and set a new series of taxes on the colonists to offset the costs of administering and protecting the American colonies. Items taxed include imports such as paper, tea, glass, lead and paints. The restrictions Britain

Parliament had put them there to keep peace between the colonists and Native Americans. Since the money was being used for their gain, they saw no reason why the tax would not be tolerable especially since it was not a very large amount of money. Also, some of the money from the tax went towards paying off the debt from the Seven Years War. Since the victory had benefited the colonies because they had endured intermittent warfare with the French for eighty years. They considered them British subjects, so they naturally they assumed that they should help with the cost just like every other British citizen. “If they are not subject to this burden of tax, they are not entitled to the privilege of Englishmen.” (George Greenville). After the French and Indian War, exports to America achieved a high on twenty-five percent of total British exports. Therefore America was sufficiently equipped to pay for its own defense, yet they still refused to do so. Smuggling in the colonies was excessive, and the enforcement of the trade laws was not closely watched. Deferring a new tax would give the Americans more time to form opposition, so the faster it is enacted the more likely the chance of success. The colonial people had the privilege of the rights of Englishmen and were given the freedom of their own government and raising

The American colonies were originally loyal to Britain. Early on, however, King George called for some actions that sparked feelings of revolution. The French-Indian War had left severe consequences for Britain such as debt. The colonists were angered by the taxes and unjust treatment they were given so they decided to declare war on the British to become independent. Although some argue that King George’s power protected them, the American colonies were justified in breaking away from their British forefather because of the tyrannical acts of King George and his levying of taxes on goods in the American colonies.

The colonists desire for equal rights and independence were always within them, but dormant; however, the acts and taxes passed between 1763 and 1783 sparked the growth of their rebellious attitude towards Britain. From when the first settlers from Britain travelled to America, they sought independence to practice their religion. As time progressed, Britain became more scrutinous towards the colonies, leading to the eventual breakout of war and conflict as well as the Enlightenment-influenced ideas within them.

It was 1775, everyone was thriving, but something was missing in Colonial America. The colonist were looking for something they knew the British wouldnt and couldnt give them. Freedom. Because of their increasing desire for freedom, this cause conflicts and constant battles between the two countries. Although the colonist originally pledge loyalty to Britain, the colonist knew that rebelling was the only way to become free again.

"They say power to tax is a necessary part of every supreme legislative authority and that if they have not that power over America they have none and the America is at once a kingdom of itself" [Raising Money and Rising Anger. 22]. later many started complaining that the king had no right to tax them this much. Other than the Americans don't like their duty of being taxed the British were also being taxed as well. Colonist got used to their taxation within their own government.

The war had greatly enlarged Britain's debt so the government decided to implement taxes on the colonists. While the colonists were resentful of these taxes, the British felt the colonists should pay for their own defense. George Greenville's Program contained a series of acts including the Stamp Act which said any document must have a stamp on it. This action enraged many colonists. The outrage over the taxes was justified by the British government as necessary because of the amount of land they now had. (Document 5) That the huge increase in territory and population drove them to regulate trade. The British also saw the taxes as fair because the British were “protecting” the colonists. Many colonists such as Benjamin Franklin wanted the Stamp Act repealed because of its unfair taxing. (Document 6) Franklin called for an immediate repeal of the act in a letter to a friend. The taxation of the colonists was a significant change that cause the shift between the British and the

Most American colonists were loyal to Great Britain and looked to it for protection, but after the French & Indian War ended things began to change. The war had cost Great Britain a lot of money and they wanted the American colonists to help pay for it. Each attempt to raise revenue in the American colonies was resented. Great Britain stated passing laws such as; the Sugar Act of 1764, the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Acts. The colonists saw this as an attempt to tax them without representation in Parliament and as a tyranny which led the colonist to choose sides. The Americans also resented the "Proclamation of 1763". This forbade American to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. Due to deteriorating relations with the colonies,

The colonists were justified in their decision to declare independence from Great Britain. This is because of the ways in which King George III exploited his power, as well as the numerous foolish decisions he made. After the French/Indian war, laws such as the Townshend act, Navigation act, and the Stamp act were inflicted upon the colonists. These policies were not unjustified, the French/Indian war was costly and had greatly benefitted the colonists. However, they were still unfair, given that the colonists’ sole purpose for England up to that point had been to make them money through mercantilism. They were already extremely beneficiary to the British economy, and taxing them, at least to that extent,

The british were very unfair and very unattractive to the american colonies mostly because of power and money the american colonies just wanted independence and self ruling for their own colony that's why we had the american revolution. In the 1760s, shortly after the conclusion of the french and indian war, the british parliament passed a series of laws and taxes on the american colonies.They created unfair laws and taxes on the british.The colonist disagreed with great britain on the fairness of these laws and taxes which led to conflict between the two sides.Eventually, this erupted into the American Revolution.(doc 1) The american colonies wanted to make there own decisions and have their independence.But the british wanted to rule and make laws and taxes for the american colonies also to punish the americans for their wrong doings.The american colonies do organized protest in spite of these laws and actions.Patrick henry responds to the stamp act patrick says in one of his speeches king George is a tyrant he breaks rules he is a threat to his own people.When Patrick Henry puts that in his speech it really lets you know that what they were doing was wrong and for king George to be leading it makes it even worst because he knows what he is doing and did not really care alongs as the british colonies were getting money for the debt they were in after the French and Indian war.