A Revolution Sparked by the Tea Act of 1773
A Revolution Sparked by the Tea Act of 1773
For the first 150 years after the initial settlement at Plymouth, in Massachusetts, British control over the colonies was minimal. With Britain's involvement in European wars of conquest, little energy or time was available to dictate the colonies economic options. Three thousand miles of ocean made it extremely difficult to monitor any such policies. However, in the mid eighteenth century Britain sought the opportunity to enforce a long practiced government theory called Mercantilism. Through the enforcement of Mercantilism, the American colonies would support Britain financially. The decisions made afterward would ultimately cost more than they bargained for. One such decision was the approval of the Tea Act of 1773 by Parliament. The Tea Act was a tea tax passed into law by British Parliament not due to ongoing financial debt, but to show British legislative power over the defiant American colonies and to aid the East India Company financial issues. Furthermore, Parliaments decision to pass such a policy would eventually launch the final spark to the revolutionary movement in Boston.
Half a century of conflict between Britain and France culminated into what is known as the Seven Years War. The Seven Years War was fought over colonial domination of North America beginning in 1754. The war was not solely fought on European battle grounds, as it included the colonial territories of North America. The war front in North America has since been referred to as the French and Indian War. Since the British colonies were separated by three thousand miles of ocean it made it difficult to provide immediate military support. However, the British turned their attention towards the colonies by allowing the Prussian forces bear the brunt of the Seven Years war in Europe. The war came to an official end in 1773, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. But the British victory came at a cost so staggering that the resulting debt
For the first 150 years after the initial settlement at Plymouth, in Massachusetts, British control over the colonies was minimal. With Britain's involvement in European wars of conquest, little energy or time was available to dictate the colonies economic options. Three thousand miles of ocean made it extremely difficult to monitor any such policies. However, in the mid eighteenth century Britain sought the opportunity to enforce a long practiced government theory called Mercantilism. Through the enforcement of Mercantilism, the American colonies would support Britain financially. The decisions made afterward would ultimately cost more than they bargained for. One such decision was the approval of the Tea Act of 1773 by Parliament. The Tea Act was a tea tax passed into law by British Parliament not due to ongoing financial debt, but to show British legislative power over the defiant American colonies and to aid the East India Company financial issues. Furthermore, Parliaments decision to pass such a policy would eventually launch the final spark to the revolutionary movement in Boston.
Half a century of conflict between Britain and France culminated into what is known as the Seven Years War. The Seven Years War was fought over colonial domination of North America beginning in 1754. The war was not solely fought on European battle grounds, as it included the colonial territories of North America. The war front in North America has since been referred to as the French and Indian War. Since the British colonies were separated by three thousand miles of ocean it made it difficult to provide immediate military support. However, the British turned their attention towards the colonies by allowing the Prussian forces bear the brunt of the Seven Years war in Europe. The war came to an official end in 1773, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. But the British victory came at a cost so staggering that the resulting debt