AP US History Essay

Topic 2: Analyze the ways in which British imperial policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified colonials' resistance to British rule and their commitment to republican values.

   

    British imperial ways intensified the colonials’ resistance to British rule and their commitment to republican values in many ways between 1763 and 1176. During this time period, and consequently due to difference in opinion between the British and colonials, several major events occurred. Among these are the Navigation Acts, the Sugar Act, and the Stamp Act. These incidents increased the tension between the parties, therefore making resistance to British rule and loyalty to republicanism a more severe deviation.

    During this time the Navigations Acts was already in place. The purpose of this act was to protect English ships and secure profits to England. This was the British’s way of promoting mercantilism. The colonials did not agree with the theory of mercantilism because the British believed that wealth was restricted and that maintaining good wealth came at the expense of other nations. The development of colonies was becoming more and more popular and each colony had its own commodities to offer. England’s power gave them the advantage to control all commerce and further tax, expand, or limit the possessions. The American colonist never appreciated these laws, however, hell began to break lose amongst the British and the Colonists when the Sugar Act of 1773 was passed.

    American colonists had lived civilly amid the British throughout the begging of the Navigations Act. When the Sugar Act came along, though, it was like a blow to the head; strong enough to cause fury but not strong enough to relieve its victim from consciousness. Taxation became higher and thus cultivated rage and rebellion within the colonists. Molasses and other foreign goods such as sugar, wines, pimiento, and coffee were now being taxed. Markets to which the colonists could sell were reduced which caused disruption in their economy. Not only that, but now it became harder to attain enough currency to purchase British goods. It seemed as though the illegitimate abuse of British power would never end.

    By 1765 people realized we needed to settle these expenses and the Stamp Act was passed. This act called for stamps to placed among certain things as proof that proper tax had been paid for them. All funds accumulated from this were intended to support British soldiers but American colonists would not tolerate a direct internal tax. As time progressed, so did the violence. Riots began to break out until the Declaratory Act of 1766 repealed the Stamp Act.

    It is not uncommon for people to hunger for wealth and power. In fact, it is almost normal human behavior for this occur. Still, did the British take this too far by imposing such acts and laws upon American colonists? The American colonists thought so. It is power by which all governments are run by, but early American history suggests that the power should not remain in its entirety to one person. Conversely, it should be equalized in a system of checks and balances.