After the success of the French and Indian War, Britain now focused their attention to the New World. Wanting to recover from the recent war debt, the British government had started issuing policies to the colonies by 1763, all the way until 1776. These new policies had influenced the colonists socially, politically, and economically, contributing to their rising opposition and commitment to republican ideals. The imperial policies placed on Americans had socially brought together the colonists from the gathering of resistance groups to boycotts. The Grenville Acts in 1764, which included the Currency, Sugar, and Mutiny Acts, had started the resistance of the new laws. The colonies at first had as many complaints as to each other as they
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In 1765, the Stamp Act had encouraged James Otis to call for a meeting of members from other colonies to stand up against the new law. It was called the Stamp Act Congress, the nine colonies demanded that they have a say in the way they were taxed. Other political protests rose in many colonies; for example, in Pennsylvania, where stamps were burned and authorities terrorized. Subsequently, Charles Townshend noticed that Massachusetts and New York didn’t comply with the Mutiny Act of 1765 so he dismantled the New York colonial assembly. This intensified colonists’ opposition because they believed Townshend would pose a greater threat to all their assemblies. That idea became evident after the Boston Massacre, which left several colonists dead. They did not like the idea that they were being taxed without any representation in Parliament. Americans had been so used to their republican values which gave the power to the people. The representatives in their governments all were elected by their own people. Britain found this idea perplexing considering all members of Parliament did not represent any specific people or land. Since Britain still had official control over the colonies, they did not give any representation from the colonies in Parliament to say about the laws imposed in Americans. Therefore, all Britain did with their policies was reinforced colonists idea of republican governments and
In 1765, the Stamp Act had encouraged James Otis to call for a meeting of members from other colonies to stand up against the new law. It was called the Stamp Act Congress, the nine colonies demanded that they have a say in the way they were taxed. Other political protests rose in many colonies; for example, in Pennsylvania, where stamps were burned and authorities terrorized. Subsequently, Charles Townshend noticed that Massachusetts and New York didn’t comply with the Mutiny Act of 1765 so he dismantled the New York colonial assembly. This intensified colonists’ opposition because they believed Townshend would pose a greater threat to all their assemblies. That idea became evident after the Boston Massacre, which left several colonists dead. They did not like the idea that they were being taxed without any representation in Parliament. Americans had been so used to their republican values which gave the power to the people. The representatives in their governments all were elected by their own people. Britain found this idea perplexing considering all members of Parliament did not represent any specific people or land. Since Britain still had official control over the colonies, they did not give any representation from the colonies in Parliament to say about the laws imposed in Americans. Therefore, all Britain did with their policies was reinforced colonists idea of republican governments and