How Did The British Imperial Policies Change From 1763 To 1776

Within the colonies, economic elements influenced the British to generate taxes on the colonists in order to bring in additional revenue to cover their war debt. Some of these taxes that were put in place include the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Tea Act. All three of these acts forced the Americans to pay a tax on everyday goods. Whereas Americans viewed the new tax on sugar and other imports as a burden and violation of their rights, for the British, the taxes were a modest imposition necessary to pay for the cost of eliminating the French from North America and administering the colonies (Keene, 101-102). As a result of their two different views on the taxes, the Americans and the British were set up to have conflicts. Because of their

Protests in the streets against the British soldiers for this Townshend Tea Tax led to the first bloodshed early in the Revolution. The “Boston Massacre” was the killing of eleven citizens on the streets of Boston when a group of sixty colonists led by Crispus Attucks were protesting the new act. The news of this slaughter was spread throughout the colonies by the Committees of Correspondence set up by a rich politician named Samuel Adams. These committees made it possible for information on everything resistance-related to reach all of the colonies in due time. In this way was news of the Boston Massacre spread across the United States which created outrage across the country. As tea was shipped to America under the new tea tax, rebellion stirred in Boston. Colonists disguised themselves and pillaged the trade ships, ruining millions of dollars worth of tea. In response to this, Parliament passed the ‘Intolerable Acts’ which outraged the colonists even further by closing the Boston ports, placing Massachusetts under royal authority, and allowing the Catholic French to settle along the Ohio River Valley under the new policies. Thus continued Parliament to colonist battle as the First Continental Congress met to discuss their rights as subjects under the king and announce the changes they wanted made in the Declaration of Rights which argued that the natural rights of

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.

The American settlers were left at outlaws and out of sovereignty protection under King George III of England while still able to be charge for breaking British reforms and laws such as smuggling across the Trans-Atlantic trade routes after August 1775. These goods included tea, coffee and other raw goods that supplied England’s industry and production of goods causing a disruption in slave trade and income through transnational trade which vital to the upkeep of the colonies during times of financial difficulties such as the introduction of the Stamp Act of 1765 on all documentations and newspaper to finance Britain’s Seven Years' War between 1756 and 1763. Another significant event, The Boston Tea Party of 1773 due to the taxation under the Tea Act depicts the civil unrest of colonists against the British Parliament and to regain rights to trade without taxation. The need to sever ties with England not only signalled the transition from colonialists to become freed men but during the American Revolutionary War it allowed the equality of colonialists as equal men thus it is the liberal ideals and the post-colonial attitudes created by mistreatment of the government that highlight the outcome of this rebellious period.

There were several acts that were passed without the consideration of the colonists that would force them to pay a ridiculous amount of taxes to the British mainland. One of these acts was named the Stamp Act, which was enacted in 1765, forced the colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper that they used. This would include legal documents, license, commercial contracts and newspapers in the tax. This tax mostly effected the wealthier and influential of the colonists and would force them to unite in opposition. There were several other acts that would be passed that would force the colonists to pay undue taxes to the British, such as the Quartering Act and the Tea

In 1776, the original thirteen colonies officially declared their independence from Great Britain after the American revolution. This fight for freedom was not an easy one however and was brought on by a chain of events following the French and Indian War in 1754. After fighting in the French and Indian War, Great Britain had greatly over-extended itself, causing a period of severe debt. To cope with this debt, Parliament started trying to generate revenue for the country; one way this was done was though the passing of acts. In 1764, under the order of George Grenville, Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time, the Sugar Act and the Currency Act were implemented. These two acts were consumption taxes on sugar and printing currency, respectively. Not too long after these acts were passed, the Stamp Act of 1765 occurred, requiring colonists to pay for an official seal to have their mail sent. After this act was passed, colonists were becoming angry that they were being taxed on nearly everything. This anger led to the

They first attempt to tax the colonists was when Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a tax on all printed goods that were sold in the colonies. Protest groups started to arise all over the colonies to resist the new tax. These groups were called the Sons of Liberty. They stated that they

In 1765, British Parliament passed the Stamp Act (Document 3) to pay for the French and Indian War. This law taxed the American colonists on things like newspapers, almanacs, and calendars. The colonists became angry about the new taxes because they had no representation in the government or say in their taxes. They believed that it was unfair for Great Britain to tax them without given them the right to a representative in Parliament.

Throughout 1764 to 1774, the British imposed a series of new acts on the colonist which only created stronger unification and brought the colonies closer to rebellion (Schultz, 2010). The first act was known as the Sugar Act of 1764. Although this act decreased the taxed amount on molasses and sugar imported from non-British colonies in the West Indies, it was problematic for the colonists as it strengthened the enforcement of collecting taxes. Next, the British imposed the Quartering Act of 1765. The Quartering Act was disrupted the homes of the colonists because it required the colonies to provide food and shelter to British troops that were stationed in their territories.

By 1765 when Parliament passed the Stamp Acts, the colonies were already governing themselves so a certain extent and smuggling goods to avoid the British taxes. The colonists were being taxed extensively so that Britain could pay back their debts from the Seven-Years War, which was not fair for the colonists to be paying for, seeing as the colonies had absolutely no involvement in the Seven-Years war.

It all began after the French Indian war. Britain issued the Proclamation of 1763, which was a line that restricted the colonist from westward expansion (document 1). Shortly after this the Tea Act was installed. The Sugar Act which was an act that put taxes on sugar and molasses and required them to pay 6 pence per pound (pp 5). A year later the Stamp Act was issued, requiring that colonist pay a tax on every legal documents, papers and playing cards.

Though the colonists were angered, they didn't yet protest until the Sugar Act. The Sugar Act was placed in 1764 and as the name implies, it had added many goods to the ‘taxed list’. This affected the colonists quite dearly for this tax was passed during a time of economic depression. It was an indirect tax, but the colonists were still well aware of its presence. Once 1765 arrived, two more laws had been pushed out by King George. This was The Quartering Act of 1765 and the Stamp Act. The Quartering Act declared that the colonists were to house British soldiers and provide for them. Though most of the colonies suffered this, New York was the main victim of this act. The Stamp Act gave a direct tax on newspapers, licences, legal documents, and other business papers. In response to these acts, James Otis, a man part of the Massachusetts legislature, and Patrick Henry, a man who sat in the Virginia House or Burgesses, came together to create The Stamp Act Congress.  Leaders from all nine colonies attended this meeting to

The 1760s were a difficult time period for all those involved in it, but mainly the colonists. As 1776 approached, many colonists were ready to declare independence from Britain. The Parliament and King George III imposed a series of Acts on the colonists that, from their point of view, were fair and necessary. However, the colonists viewed the Acts as intruding on their right to a voice in the government. Of the seven acts, the three most influential in causing the revolutionary war were the Quartering Act, Proclamation Act, and Townshend Act.

Relationships between the colonists and the British Empire dwindled more after the seven years war in ended in 1763. The taxes of certain cargo and acts developed more occurrent with both the British citizens in England and the colonists in America. The colonists grew towards the idea of independence during the time period of 1763 to 1783, due to the British taxes and tariffs placed upon the colonists and the political influence from both legislatures on the people.

The passing of a series of laws regulating trade and tax, most notably the Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), and the Tea Act (1773) increased tension between Great Britain and its colonies in the period 1763-1776. Near the end of the French and Indian War, Great Britain was in desperate need of money to pay for their war debts. The British Parliament believed that they had a right to tax their colonies. Their legislations placed duties on certain imports that had never been taxed before. By the end of 1764, tensions heightened between colonists and imperial officials as they were disagreeing more and more about how the colonies should be taxed and governed. These feelings of dissatisfaction would soon swell into rebellion, leading to the American Revolution.