The Inevitability of the American Revolution
The Inevitability of the American Revolution
Alexandria Wallick
Michael Savage
American History to 1877
Midterm Essay
13 March 2012
01
The Inevitability of the American Revolution The British colonies began on a loose foundation with the failure of Roanoke then the harsh reality Great Britain faced with the Jamestown colony. When the number of colonies grew in the New World so did Britain’s control over it’s people. The British Empire thrived off the natural resources but the continuous involvement in wars such as the Second Hundred Years’ War, and the Seven Years’ War made the British focus more on their domestic affairs rather than the colonies. The neglect of the colonies was just one of the many reasons the American colonists revolted and declared their independence in 1776. The events that led to American independence was salutary neglect, the events of the Seven Years’ War, the colonies economy following the war which led to the British imposing heavy taxation, the ideas of the Enlightenment and the conflicts in the colonies such as the Boston Massacre and Boston tea party. Britain’s first prime minister Robert Walpole said,"If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish."[1] Walpole then created the unofficial policy known as “salutary neglect,” which relaxed enforcement of regulations and trade law in the American colonies. Salutary neglect enabled the American colonies to prosper by trading with non-British entities, and then to spend that wealth on British-made goods, while at the same time providing Britain with raw materials for manufacture.[2] This gave the colonists independence while still under British control, so when the British tried to enforce new stipulations on the colonies the people of America revolted in response. Salutary neglect was beneficial for England because it gave them an opportunity to focus on European and domestic affairs while still benefitting from American trade. The
Alexandria Wallick
Michael Savage
American History to 1877
Midterm Essay
13 March 2012
01
The Inevitability of the American Revolution The British colonies began on a loose foundation with the failure of Roanoke then the harsh reality Great Britain faced with the Jamestown colony. When the number of colonies grew in the New World so did Britain’s control over it’s people. The British Empire thrived off the natural resources but the continuous involvement in wars such as the Second Hundred Years’ War, and the Seven Years’ War made the British focus more on their domestic affairs rather than the colonies. The neglect of the colonies was just one of the many reasons the American colonists revolted and declared their independence in 1776. The events that led to American independence was salutary neglect, the events of the Seven Years’ War, the colonies economy following the war which led to the British imposing heavy taxation, the ideas of the Enlightenment and the conflicts in the colonies such as the Boston Massacre and Boston tea party. Britain’s first prime minister Robert Walpole said,"If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish."[1] Walpole then created the unofficial policy known as “salutary neglect,” which relaxed enforcement of regulations and trade law in the American colonies. Salutary neglect enabled the American colonies to prosper by trading with non-British entities, and then to spend that wealth on British-made goods, while at the same time providing Britain with raw materials for manufacture.[2] This gave the colonists independence while still under British control, so when the British tried to enforce new stipulations on the colonies the people of America revolted in response. Salutary neglect was beneficial for England because it gave them an opportunity to focus on European and domestic affairs while still benefitting from American trade. The
Cited: 5 Dr. Francis D Cogliano, February 17, 2011; http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/american_revolution_01.shtml. 9 Locke, John. A Letter Concerning Toleration Routledge, New York, 1991. p. 5 10 Locke, John (1690) [3] Fred Anderson, Crucible of War: The Seven Years’ War and the fate of Empire in British North America 1754-1766,(New York: Alfred A. Knopf, February 11, 2000; London: Faber and Faber, 2000). [5] Dr. Francis D Cogliano, February 17, 2011; http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/american_revolution_01.shtml. [6] Dr. Francis D Cogliano. February 17, 2011. [9] Locke, John. A Letter Concerning Toleration Routledge, New York, 1991. p. 5 [10] Locke, John (1690)