Britain's Colonial Rule

1002 Words5 Pages

As a result of the Anglo-French War (1756-1763) and its financial costs conflict was created between Britain and American colonists. To the British, their American lands were used largely to provide raw materials to Britain and be the consumers of British manufactured goods. This would result in capital and profit to aid their country. The British passed many laws and acts in the colonies which created a large build-up of resentment by the British Colonists. Tension was created by these acts that would have a big impact on the start of the American War of Independence. The link between the start of the American War of Independence and Britain’s colonial rule is closely related. Britain’s colonial rule did contribute to the start of the American …show more content…

After the seven year war Britain was in a lot of debt, the answer to this was taxes but not on the British population but rather on the British colonists. Firstly the Sugar Act (also known as Molasses Act), meant that all colonial merchants had to pay a certain amount of tax per imported gallon of sugar or molasses. British colonist were not too concerned about this even though they though it was not necessary. The Stamp Act, this act meant that tax had to be paid on basically every piece printed paper they used, examples being, ship’s papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers and even playing cards. This caused the Americans to protest violently as they said you cannot be taxed for everything without a reason. Hence them coming up with the “no tax without representation” - representation meaning a reason. The Tea Act’s main objective was to reduce the massive amount of tea held by the British East Indian Company whom had financial difficulties (like the rest of Britain). This allowed the company the right to ship directly to North America and the right to the duty-free export from Britain. The British colonists had never accepted the duty on tea thus The Tea Act just reinforced their opposition and hatred of it. On one day (December 16, 1773) all their hatred added up in the Boston Tea Party, in which the British colonists boarded East Indian Company ships where they dumped tons of tea overboard. Therefore all the various ‘acts’ played a vital role in the start of the American War of