Dbq Great Britain Economic Analysis
After King Georges war and French and Indian war, Britain became a superpower. Has defeated French and Spanish and in return received the largest portion of North American colonies, but also had the largest amount of debt after these wars. Because of the debt that was accumulated, Britain had since started to control the colonies overseas, and imposed several economic acts on the colonies. Great Britain and her North American colonies were economic in origin rather than rooted in political and social controversies and differences. Conflict in Great Britain was mainly economic because of the acts Great Britain imposed and views they had on why the colonies existed. Mercantilism, the thought of exporting more than importing to increase a mass
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of wealth containing gold and silvers, was one way Great Britain controlled its colonies. Britain had a view that colonies only had existed to support the most important country or “mother land” economically by providing goods for the British. Gottfreid Achenwall states, “The colonies are generally restricted in all their foreign trade.. tobacco, skins and furs, they may not export… reserved for British realm.” This began to lead to conflicts all around because the American colonies had stated to experience some shortages and their economy was ruined. The money they had created before had become worthless.
Britain was very controlling of the colonies and wanted to control the trade that was happening during this time which made the colonies angry (document 3). This document is likely a reliable source of information because it is a primary source, and a law written during the late 1700’s. Additionally, Britain started to put forth acts that caused conflict for the colonies. One being the Stamp Act. The Stamp Acts required all documents that were “official” to be stamped and taxed. This act was “extremely burdensome and grievous” and “restrictions imposed… render them unable to purchase the manufactures of Great Britain.” Britain thought that there was no reason the colonists should not help to repay the debt from the war which caused a conflict (document 2). On top of the Stamp Act, multiple others were also imposed, including the Sugar Act and the Townshend Act. The Townshend Act was disliked because it added some tax on tea which was a good that everyone drank. The Sugar Act was also disliked because the colonists just did not understand why they had to pay the tax. Because of these acts, the colonists rebelled. In Britain, people were born into their social classes whereas in America, people could choose their classes. British people did not like the Americans which was obvious
because in the previous wars, no American was promoted higher than a captain, for instance, George Washington was not promoted above the title “colonel.” Britain’s view on the colonists led to conflict because the colonists did not receive the same rights as the British Citizens. Samuel Adams declares, “All persons born into British American colonies … were well entitled to all natural rights.” Colonists were viewed as the inferior where Britain was not, so they were not equal causing more conflict. Social differences also led to conflict.
of wealth containing gold and silvers, was one way Great Britain controlled its colonies. Britain had a view that colonies only had existed to support the most important country or “mother land” economically by providing goods for the British. Gottfreid Achenwall states, “The colonies are generally restricted in all their foreign trade.. tobacco, skins and furs, they may not export… reserved for British realm.” This began to lead to conflicts all around because the American colonies had stated to experience some shortages and their economy was ruined. The money they had created before had become worthless.
Britain was very controlling of the colonies and wanted to control the trade that was happening during this time which made the colonies angry (document 3). This document is likely a reliable source of information because it is a primary source, and a law written during the late 1700’s. Additionally, Britain started to put forth acts that caused conflict for the colonies. One being the Stamp Act. The Stamp Acts required all documents that were “official” to be stamped and taxed. This act was “extremely burdensome and grievous” and “restrictions imposed… render them unable to purchase the manufactures of Great Britain.” Britain thought that there was no reason the colonists should not help to repay the debt from the war which caused a conflict (document 2). On top of the Stamp Act, multiple others were also imposed, including the Sugar Act and the Townshend Act. The Townshend Act was disliked because it added some tax on tea which was a good that everyone drank. The Sugar Act was also disliked because the colonists just did not understand why they had to pay the tax. Because of these acts, the colonists rebelled. In Britain, people were born into their social classes whereas in America, people could choose their classes. British people did not like the Americans which was obvious
because in the previous wars, no American was promoted higher than a captain, for instance, George Washington was not promoted above the title “colonel.” Britain’s view on the colonists led to conflict because the colonists did not receive the same rights as the British Citizens. Samuel Adams declares, “All persons born into British American colonies … were well entitled to all natural rights.” Colonists were viewed as the inferior where Britain was not, so they were not equal causing more conflict. Social differences also led to conflict.