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British Colonial Policy In North America

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There are two parts to the British colonial policy toward the colonies in North America. The first part is approximately from 1693 – 1760 and the second part from approximately 1760 – 1775. The development of the first part of Britain’s policy was based on the mercantilist system and ideas that were being used in Europe at the time. The bottom line in this part of the policy was that the colonies were there to serve Britain’s interests. Specifically to provide raw materials and food products that Britain would otherwise have to get from foreign countries. The British began their folly towards rebellion of the colonies in 1696 by adopting a hands off policy of the colonies, a non-enforcement of parliamentary laws in the colonies. With this …show more content…
In the early part of the eighteenth century the British began to tighten the economic policies, such as a regulation to make sure all American tobacco was exported to Britain first so that Britain could collect its taxes, storage fees and other costs even if it was due to be sent elsewhere. With these, piecemeal regulations having been added to the burden of the colonists, it also added to their economic burden. It should be noted that the colonials had originally gone to America for religious freedom and to escape persecution. This mentality/attitude had permeated for almost a century when the parliament started its attempts to control them. The second part of the colonial policy began when the Parliament in an attempt to use the colonies to pay for the wars the British had been conducting, began tightening up on policies and regulations in a drastic way. The British thought that since they were “protecting” the Americans that they should bear the cost. The Parliament passed several acts during the mid to late eighteenth century, starting with the Debt Recovery Act (1732), the Sugar Act (1764), and the Iron Act (1750) just to name a few. In October of 1765 the colonists formed the Stamp Act

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