1. The Stamp Act of 1765: The British government imposed a tax on all paper goods in the American colonies, which required the purchase of a stamp to show that the tax had been paid. The colonists strongly opposed this act because they believed that they were being taxed without their consent. They argued that as British subjects, they should only be taxed by their own colonial governments, where they were represented. The slogan "no taxation without representation" became a rallying cry for the colonists, as they felt that their lack of representation in the British government meant that they should not be subject to its taxes.
2. The Intolerable Acts of 1774: In response to the Boston Tea Party, where a group of colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor, the British government passed a series of punitive measures known as the Intolerable Acts. These acts included the closing of the Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for, the quartering of British soldiers in private homes, and the suspension of colonial self-government in Massachusetts. The colonists viewed these acts as a violation of their rights as British subjects. They believed that their autonomy and self-governance were being infringed upon by the British government. The measures taken by the British were seen as excessive and tyrannical, further fueling the colonists' opposition to British rule.
3. The Proclamation of 1763: After the French and Indian War, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists strongly opposed this proclamation because they saw it as a restriction on their expansion and economic opportunities. They believed that as British subjects, they had the right to freely settle and explore these newly acquired lands. The Proclamation of 1763 was viewed as an unwarranted restriction on their freedom, as it favored Native American tribes over the interests of the colonists. In addition, the colonists felt that their sacrifices in the war should have entitled them to the spoils of victory, including access to new territories. Overall, the colonists saw the Proclamation of 1763 as another example of the British government's overreach and disregard for their rights.
Question 2: Choose 3 different actions by the British government on the colonists and explain why colonists were opposed to them even though they were British subjects.
1. 2. 3.
1 answer
1 answer