A Change in British Policies: A Catalyst for the American Revolution

When Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 he had no idea that he had stumbled upon a continent that would be home to one of the most important wars of the world today. This event would forever change the status of thirteen colonies that were far from united at the beginning of the war and would also change the future of England. The policies for British colonies that were changed were responsible for the American Revolution socially, by violating and taking away the colonists British rights; economically, through mercantilism; and governmentally, through periods of salutary neglect and extreme watchfulness.

When England began to take away the rights originally given to the colonists the colonial policy was changed socially and caused for disgruntled revolutionists. The Sugar Act, imposed in 1764, was the first act that displeased the colonists by raising tax on imported sugar; however it was not the last act. In 1765 the Stamp tax raised taxes on cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, and marriage licenses. The colonists soon coined the phrase "no taxation without representation". The colonists realized that being taxed without being represented in England was an infringement on their British given rights according to the English Bill of Rights of 1689. Another infringement of their rights was admiralty court where no juries were present. In 1773, the colonists had seen enough infringement of their rights and took action by dumping tea into the Atlantic Ocean in Boston, Massachusetts. The very next year parliament passed the Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. A part of the Intolerable Acts were taking away the colonists chartered rights. The revolutionists now saw all the acts the parliament passed not only an infringement of their British rights, but also their natural rights as humans.

Throughout the American Revolution England's economic policy for colonies was modified and caused uproar among the colonists. Mercantilism, the idea that a country's power is measured in specie, was a prevalent idea throughout the revolution because England needed to make money to pay their debt from the French and Indian War. The British forbade the colonies to trade with any countries other than England and no paper money was allowed to be printed; therefore there was a lack of money in America. When the First Continental

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