British's Change In Colonial Policy
Britain had a new policy when it came to it's colonies. All they had to
do was inforce the laws they already had, not make new ones. George Greenville, Britains
Prime Minister from 1763 to 1765, didn't realize this. To raise money for Britain after
the expensive French and Indian war, they decided to tighten control on the colonies
The Proclamation of 1763 was the first of five laws passed to accomplish
this new goal. This "proclamation" reserved lands west of the Appalachian Mtns.
for use of the Indians. The frontiersmen were the first to get angry at the new land law
because they wanted to settle in the unexplored west.
Then in 1764 the British parliament passed the Colonial Currency Act.
This act took away the right of any colony to issue its own paper money. This lead to
increased poverty and hardship after the French and Indian war. The people opposed it
because if more money was in circulation the economy would of been better.
The Sugar Act in 1764, put a tax on sugar, molasses, wines, and other
foreign products. This upset one Samuel Adams. After having lived in the colonies some
years and being a successful merchant, He felt that the law was particularly unfair for
merchants, as they were the most taxed. This also increased fear among the colonists that
they would lose the right to determine taxes among their own colonies.
Later in the next year of 1765, the Stamp Act was decreed. Special
stamps were now required on newspapers, playing cards, business papers, and other legal
documents. This law hurt the common man, but most the wealthy. John Adams, a well
respected Virginian, wrote a partition to the king of Britain to repeal the act. Daniel
Dulainy led protest with the people using effigies and all. They were afraid that there
would be an increase of external taxes and the colonies would lose the right of thier own
taxation.
The Quartering Act in 1765, colonists had to give British troops places
to live, some supplies, and part of their salaries. The New York assembly opposed this
because it was an infringement on the rights of "British Citizens" and
represented a removal of colonial self government.
It is now apparent with these new laws the citizens of the 13 colonies
felt violated and used. They did not feel they were properly represented in parliament nor
that the king should have any right to oppose restrictions on them each time a new law was
passed, more resentment and anger would increase thus was born the American Revolution.
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