Accusations Against King George in the Declaration of Independence Essay Example
During the 18th Century, the colonists gradually became fed up with the poor treatment that they were subject to from Britain. When the colonies finally wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776 as a method of rebellion, they put the blame for everything they had problems with on King George III. However, the “repeated injuries and usurpations” were the fault of Parliament, not King George III. Their claim that blamed him was for a large part invalid. Although the colonists were excessively taxed and had their rights infringed upon, the king was not at fault. He may have been the head of Britain, but Parliament who initiated the acts that the colonists had problems with. This can be proved through the Stamp Act, the Quartering Act, and the Declaratory Act.
Great Britain had much debt to pay after fighting in the French and Indian War. With the concept of mercantilism in mind, they figured that taxing the American colonies would be a good way to raise money for this. First, they attempted to tax them with the Sugar Act. The colonists disliked this act, but paid for it nonetheless. Since the Sugar Act was unable to raise enough money, the British passed the Stamp Act, which put a tax on just about all paper goods in the colonies. This made the colonists feel used by the British and was the cause of the extreme resent that the colonies would begin to feel towards the British. Although this act came from the British, it was ultimately the idea of Parliament and it was passed by it as well. King George III was not as involved with it as the colonists seemed to believe.
One of the next Acts to be passed by Parliament for the colonists was the Quartering Act. This act allowed British soldiers to take residence in the homes of the colonists. It also forced them to provide them with food and other necessities while they were there. This caused the colonists much anger. It made them feel as if they were there to keep watch on them, which was true
Great Britain had much debt to pay after fighting in the French and Indian War. With the concept of mercantilism in mind, they figured that taxing the American colonies would be a good way to raise money for this. First, they attempted to tax them with the Sugar Act. The colonists disliked this act, but paid for it nonetheless. Since the Sugar Act was unable to raise enough money, the British passed the Stamp Act, which put a tax on just about all paper goods in the colonies. This made the colonists feel used by the British and was the cause of the extreme resent that the colonies would begin to feel towards the British. Although this act came from the British, it was ultimately the idea of Parliament and it was passed by it as well. King George III was not as involved with it as the colonists seemed to believe.
One of the next Acts to be passed by Parliament for the colonists was the Quartering Act. This act allowed British soldiers to take residence in the homes of the colonists. It also forced them to provide them with food and other necessities while they were there. This caused the colonists much anger. It made them feel as if they were there to keep watch on them, which was true