?British imperial policies, such as taxes and laws, had a large impact on the strength of colonial resistance against british rule and the colonists commitment to their republican because they believed these policies were unjust. This resistance and commitment eventually led to America’s decision in becoming independent. Colonial resistance against british rule was strengthened as british imperial policies were more strictly enforced proceeding the end of Salutary Neglect by Lord George Grenville. As enforcement became strict, colonial opposition intensified through the use of protests and rebellions.
For example, the first direct and internal tax placed upon the colonies was the Stamp Act of 1765. This tax was placed on all paper products, and it was used to pay off debt in Britain. Because of this act, countless soldiers and british collectors were attacked by the angry colonists. The colonists would tar and feather the collectors showing Britain that they did not approve of this act at all. In order to discuss on how to rebel against the Stamp Act, colonists created the Stamp Act Congress. Samuel Adams verbally announced his anger towards british by shouting “no taxation without representation”!
The Essay on General Gage British Troops Colonists
1. Letter to friend in England. Dearest Friend of England, 1776 I know it is hard to believe we (the colonists) would be on the verge of a revolution against our own homeland. My father has explained to me the reasons we deserve independence from God, the King, and the British people. There are many things going on in the colonies to lead us to our current thoughts. The British people have imposed ...
After the Stamp Act was the Townshend Acts created by king Charles Townshend. This act was an indirect tax on paper, paint, glass, and tea. In the colonies, tea was the favored drink for majority of the colonists. Just imagine how they felt when they heard the news about the tax on tea. The Townshend Acts eventually led to letters from a pennsylvania farmer. Written by John Dickinson, these letters were a statement of his verbal opposition towards british taxation. Resistance against british rule led to outrageous acts that angered and upset the colonists, but it also led to the rebel against british rule.
British imperial policies presented the path to colonial commitment to colonist’s republican values. The commitment to Republican Values were basically things that caused the colonies to reject the British government. The colonists were in favor of a republic. English philosopher who advocated the idea of a “social contract” in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said that people would have natural rights to life, liberty
and property. One example of America’s rejection to british government would be their use of “actual representation” versus Britain’s use of “virtual representation”. Britain’s “virtual representation” is where one member of parliament represents all the colonists or the colonies no matter what their interests are. Eventually this led to America’s “actual representation” which is where they elected their own representatives which would appear in parliament and make their voice heard.
