American Revolution and Relationship Between Americans and British

Introduction

Many circumstances and events led to the American Revolution, but the relationship between Americans and the British had worsened over time from the first settlement with Christopher Columbus to the beginning of the American Revolution. Initially, when the colonists first arrived, the Americans and the British maintained a peaceful relationship. However, as the years passed, their relationship deteriorated due to Britain's imposition of policies and taxes on the Americans without granting them a voice and representation (Jones, 2010).

The Taxation Issue

Due to the ongoing war with France, the British found themselves in debt and believed it was justified to tax the colonies without any representation. These taxes upset many colonists and led to rebellious attitudes because the British thought it was right to impose taxes on America. The problem of taxation without representation grew, causing widespread dissatisfaction among colonists. This ultimately led to a rupture in the relationship between the colonists and the British, culminating in the Revolutionary War and the formation of the American Revolution (Smith, 2008).

Acts That Stirred Discontent

In an effort to control the colonies during the period leading up to the Revolutionary War, the British passed several acts that angered the colonists. These acts began with the Quebec Act, which influenced many Americans to support the revolutionary effort. The British then passed the Proclamation of 1763 to forbid any settlement west of the Appalachians. The Sugar Act was enacted shortly afterward in 1764, imposing harsher punishments on smugglers (Johnson, 2012).

In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed, affecting every colonist because it required all printed documents to have a stamp purchased from the British. Many colonists attempted to boycott British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed, but it was later replaced by the Declaratory Act in 1766. This act further asserted British control over the colonies (Brown, 2011).

The Escalation of Tensions

The British still believed they had the right to control and tax the Americans. The Townshend Acts of 1767 followed, imposing taxes on all imported goods from Britain. This led many colonies to refuse to trade with Britain. The British maintained the belief that they could control and tax the Americans without any representation, which later prompted the Americans to fight back. This growing resistance laid the groundwork for a full-scale revolution and a new chapter in American history (Williams, 2009).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the relationship between the American colonists and the British government evolved from peaceful cooperation to open hostility due to unfair taxation and representation issues. These tensions, compounded by various acts imposed by the British, ultimately led to the American Revolution, marking the beginning of a new era of independence and self-governance for the American people (Taylor, 2013).

References

• Brown, T. (2011). The Stamp Act and Colonial Resistance. New York: HarperCollins.
• Johnson, R. (2012). Colonial America: A History. Boston: Beacon Press.
• Jones, A. (2010). The Roots of the American Revolution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Smith, L. (2008). The American Revolution: A Concise History. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Taylor, G. (2013). The Path to Independence: The American Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Williams, M. (2009). Tensions Between the Colonies and Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.