Stamp Act And The Tea Act example essay topic

The American Revolution was one of the greatest movements in history. The chief result was the birth of the first successful federal government in history, a government that was destined to prosper and to grow into a nation of vast wealth and power. It is certain that for more than fifty years before the Seven Years' War there was a strong attachment between Britain and the American colonies, and that the thought of severing this bond was never given any consideration. While the Navigation Acts constantly annoyed colonists, these were only ripples on a smooth sea. Overall, America was happy; they were proud to be Englishmen. However, separation sooner or later was inevitable.

There were forces at work for many years that eventually dissolved the political bond between the two lands. The English institutions, brought over to the colonies early in the seventeenth century had been shaped by the social, political, and economic conditions unique to America. Ultimately, the two societies grew apart - so far apart that the colonies began to seek independence. There were many economic causes for the revolution. In the eyes of Great Britain the primary job of American colonists' was to build a favorable balance of trade.

With a successful balance of trade a nation could be self-sufficient, become wealthy, and build a powerful military force. Desiring revenue from the colonies to offset the massive expenditures from the Seven Years War, the British administration began stricter enforcement of the Navigation Acts, restricting colonial trade with other nations. However the British laws were too hard on the American colonists. The Sugar Act of 1764 was the first law aimed strictly at raising American money for the Crown. It placed taxes on molasses, sugar and other products imported from places outside the British Empire. Most of the colonists openly disobeyed the law by smuggling goods.

Since no one obeyed the laws the British cut the tax to a sixth of what it was. Later on, the British tried to enforce the Sugar Act by inspecting ships and searching homes for smuggled goods. Even though Britain reduced the tax on molasses, the Sugar Act still cut into the business of colonial merchants and ship owners, and rum distillers. The King also enforced the Currency Act. This law barred the colonies from printing their own currency, arousing the fury of many Americans. Other events such as the Stamp Act, and the Tea Act were the beginning signs of the revolution.

The Tea Act levied a tax on the tea imported from the East India Company. The colonists were angered and destroyed 342 chests of tea to show their disapproval. Also established was the Stamp Act, the first direct levy on the colonies, passed to generate funds for the British. Newspapers, almanacs, legal documents, dice, and playing cards were taxed by this act. Stamps, issued by the British, were attached to the taxed items to indicate that the tax had been paid. The Colonists responded to Stamp Act with organized protest.

Also, nine of the thirteen colonies formed the Stamp Act Congress to labor for the revocation of the Stamp Act. The Congress approved a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances". This Declaration proclaimed that the Colonists were the equal of all British citizens, objected to taxation without representation and insisted that British Parliament could not tax the colonies unless the colonies had representation in Parliament. Eventually, in 1766, the Stamp Act was repealed. On the same day that the Stamp act was repealed, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, proclaiming that it could pass legislation binding the colonies. In 1775, Parliament passed the New England Restraining Act.

This prohibited the New England Colonies from trading with any country other than Britain. It was also decided to use force to impose compliance with recent acts. On April 18th, the Boston Committee of Safety discovered a British plan to send troops to Concord to seize ammunition. Paul Revere and William Dawes were sent to relay the warning and alert the Minute Men. On the 19th, the British troops came upon the Minute Men at Lexington. During the encounter, a shot - "the shot heard 'round the world" - was fired and the American Revolution had begun.

In order to pay for all the expenses accumulated as a result of the Seven Years War, Britain levied many taxes on the American colonists. This upset the colonists because they believed they were being taxed unfairly and without representation. With each new act established, the colonists' desire for independence increased. This along with many other factors ultimately led to the fight for independence.