book

Events Which Led to American Independence

21 Pages 1567 Words 1557 Views

Many scholars of the American Revolution have pointed out the fact that many American Colonists were not in favor of becoming independent from Britain. If the colonist were in favor of Britain, why did the colonist revolt then, and what occurred in order to sever political, economic, and emotional bonds that tied them to Britain? The answers to those questions lies between numeral events that happened in the mid/late 1700s that changed British policy towards the colonists. A major event was that of the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) which was between Britain and France or as commonly known “French and Indian War” (Kelly). After the British were able to run the French out of North America, the British were in full control of the thirteen colonies. As there were multiple war expenses, such as deaths, and property damage it all resulted in an economical downfall. In order to pay war debts finance defense on their North American empire, the British decided to impose taxes on the colonies and a more direct control and tariffs on all trades from imports/exports (Sidlow). The Americans soon started to develop a feeling of distrust towards the British as they took full control of the colonies actions. Another feeling of hostility the colonist had towards the British was the solemn fact that the British were selfish in a way were they took all the credit towards the recent victory not acknowledging the fact that the colonist had contributed in the war effort (Kelly). Additionally, colonist began to separate themselves from the British as time passed by, the behavior of British soldiers worsened as cruel punishment in order to discipline increased and bad feelings between the two groups was fairly noticeable. An example was that of the British expressing themselves about the colonist in a rude manner and constantly referred to them as “brutish, uncivilized, and undisciplined” (Sidlow). The colonist came to describe themselves as “Americans” as they wanted no part in being British. Furthermore, in 1764, the British parliament passed on the Sugar act, which resulted in a tax on all sugar imported to the American colonies as an effort from the British to obtain needed revenues due to the recent war expenses (Kindig). This act created an uproar amongst the colonist, especially those residing in Massachusetts (Sidlow). Besides discomfort, there was also multiple boycotts of certain British imports regarded as “nonimportation” and spread through the other colonies in order to fight the mistreatment upon them. The colonist, however, had every right to be mad as the Sugar act was clearly a point the British were clearly trying to take full authority over everything (Sidlow). The following year 1765, another act was imposed, by the British Parliament, referred to as the Stamp Act which allowed the British government to tax “all legal documents, newspapersembossed (stamp

Read Full Essay