1763 Dbq Analysis

By the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, Britain was largely in debt, provoking them to balance their funds by taxing the colonists to raise revenue as well as limiting the colonists to reduce expenses. This caused an uproar in the colonies, sparking a sense of American nationalism and promoting cooperation between them. After the war, the blissful period of Salutary Neglect came to an end which angered the colonists since laws were now being more strictly enforced, and Britain became more involved in its economic and political affairs. The British thought the colonies were “more indispensable” especially if there would be a “vast increase in territory and population” (Doc F). When the French were defeated, a large amount of land to the west became available, however, due to the Proclamation of 1763, it prevented settlers from expanding westward even though they had “no Right to settle” (Doc B). In Document A it is visible that a substantial amount of the land previously occupied by the French was taken by the Spanish, especially …show more content…
One of the most enraging to the colonists was the Stamp Act of 1765, though there was also the Sugar Act, Tea Acts, and more. While these taxes were not extremely unreasonable, the colonists felt that it was unfair to be taxed without being represented in parliament. This caused them to want to “get it repeal’d” (Doc G) and to publicly show their resentment to the new laws as seen in the Pennsylvania Journal shown in Document H. The journal included a “proper place to Affix the Stamp” which was in a box with a skull in it, showing how much they disliked the tax. To rebel, the colonists formed non-importation agreements which boycotted British goods in response to the Stamp Act. In addition, an assembly of delegates from nine colonies met in New York to draft a petition to repeal the Stamp Act, which helped promote colonial