Taxes and Tensions

The French and Indian War led to the colonial movement for independence in a few ways. The end of the French and Indian War caused an enormous outburst of pride from the British and the colonies because they had defeated the French and the Indians and created a worldwide empire. The fact that the worldwide empire was created is important because the British had more land to deal with, and things such as the Tea Act were put in place to help other parts of the empire. The war also created many expenses for Britain, and that led to the taxes that were placed on the colonies which eventually led to the colonial movement for independence. The French and Indian War also helped forge the Americans identity. They fought together, and they started to get a spirit of independence about them.

The Sugar Act was passed in 1764. The British placed a tax on sugar, wine, and other important things. Pretty much every form of sugar was taxed, including molasses. The British needed more money to provide security for the colonies. The British also thought that this would force the colonists to sell their goods to Britain instead of selling to other countries. This made the colonists angry. The colonists boycotted the taxed products, and at times smuggled them, as a response the Sugar Act. Britain repealed the Sugar Act in 1766.

The Stamp Act placed a tax on pretty much any piece of paper. These things included documents, newspapers, letters, and other things like that. The colonists had protests in the streets, tarred and feathered tax collectors, boycotted, and did other things including the formation of the Sons of Liberty. The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766 by the Declaratory Act.

The Declaratory Act repealed the Stamp Act. It pretty much told the colonists that Britain was repealing its current taxes, but anytime that they wanted or needed to tax the colonies, they could. The colonists responded by interpreting what the Declaratory Act said so that it meant that Britain did not have the power to tax the colonies. Britain didn't really have a response because all they did was repeal the Stamp Act and tell the colonies that they can still be taxed. The Townshend Duties could be considered a response by Britain.

The Townshend Duties placed taxes on colonial imports of lead, glass, paper, and tea. This lead to several protests and boycotts. Some people tried to get things accomplished in the legal system. The Boston Massacre occurred because of protests of the Townshend Duties. The British response was the repeal of the Townshend Duties on the same day as the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770.

The Tea Act was put in place in order to sell more tea from the East India Company. The tea was sold at bargain price, but the leaders in America believed that this act was a maneuver to buy popular support for the taxes already in force. The direct sale of tea, by British agents, also undercut the business of local merchants. The colonists responded by boycotting and doing the things that they had done before, but this time, some colonists dressed Indians and went onto a ship and dumped several barrels of tea into the Boston Harbor. The response by Britain was the Intolerable Acts, which closed down the Boston Harbor and put the Quartering Act in place, among several other things that were very unpleasing to the colonists.

In conclusion, the American Revolution is almost undoubtedly the most important event in history. These events led to it. The French and Indian War pretty much put everything into motion. Britain needed money, so they taxed the colonies. One act led to another, and the responses of both sides eventually led to the American Revolution.