According to the economic system of mercantilism, colonies provide wealth for the mother country. In this case, colonies must improve well-being of England. The colonies were supposed to supply raw materials to England and buy English goods, all so that England would benefit from the colonies. However, because of the salutary neglect where England leaves the colonies alone and for the diffent reasons Englishmen came here to settle the American colonies, they did not understand how mercantilism worked or appreciated someone ruling over them. As soon as England started to enforce mercantilism on the colonies, they began to rebel. Starting with the 4 Navigation Acts passed in 1650, 1663, 1673, and 1686 which makes colonies trade only with England, the colonies began to violate these laws by smuggling because they would lose their profits from trade. England just ignores this for two reasons. The American colonies were not the most imp

The British allowed the colonies to live in salutary neglect for the first 50 years of their existence. This may have caused the colonies unappreciating of British help or control. Now the British want to ease the debts and establish order in the colonies. The first attempt to establish order is the Currency Act of 1764 which states that the colonies cannot print their own money. The problem was that the coonies had no currency so they would use all sorts things as money. On account of this, Virginia starts printing their own money which is pretty much worthless, and Virginians try to use this money to pay off their debts to the British. The British do not accept this junk so the law is passed. The colonists object saying that they have a right to print their own money. This law stays as does the next law, the Quartering Law of 1765. Here, the colonies must provide housing for the British soldiers which softens the expense of keeping soldiers overseas. However, the colonists oppose this law and the New York legislature even rejects this law. The British led by Charles Townshend now resolve the legislature for rejecting. Thus, the colonists now see this as an attack on self-government which forces the British to restore the legislature. A 3rd attempt to establish order while also taking away the power of the legislature comes with the passing of the Townshend Act of 1767. This law puts a tax on 4 key items: paper, paint, glass, and tea which are all also imported from England. The taxes from this would pay for the royal governor’s salary which as recalled was payed by the legislature. The colonists argue that this law reduces power of legislature, is again unconstitutional even though it was agreed upon during the Stamp Act Congress that external taxes are okay, and the 3rd which is irrelevant because colonists say Britain broke promise of never taxing the colonies again when the Declaratory Act was passed. Colonies once more decide to establish a boycott and in 3 years England backs down. The last laws passed before the American Revolution occurred and which may have directly led to it are the Intolerable Acts 1774.

The British still under the notion that the colonies should provide protection for themselves, now begin to tax the colonies starting with the Sugar Act of 1764. This law cuts the tax on molasses in half, but the colonists are still mad about it. The colonists argue that the law cuts profits, the purpose of law is unreasonable since there is no major threat anymore, and that it is unconstitutional. The smuggling still occurs, though, and with no money made from this law, Parliament lowers the tax to the lowest possible. The Stamp Act of 1765 has the same purpose. This puts a tax on everyday items such as newspapers but it affects more people because prices are now raised to sustain profits from the tax. The colonists again object that the purpose is not necessary and that “taxation without representation”, which in fact the colonies did not want because they would be outnumbered, is unconstitutional. The colonies now send delegates to meet at the Stamp Act Congresss and they all agree that the Stamp act is an internal, unconstitutional law. The delegates all consent to place a boycott on the taxed goods and also employ the Sons of Liberty, a group of thugs who would enforce the boycott by beating up people who buy the goods. Consequently, British merchants protest because they aren’t getting any money. The British give in and repeal the act. However, the colonies now think that whenever there is a law which they don’t like, they can throw fits and whine to make it go away. Colonies did not realize that the British passed the Declaratory Act right after repealing which states that the British can tax the colonies whenever they want. Th

Some topics in this essay:
Navigation Acts, Boston Massacre, War Indian, John Adams, East Indies, Pontiac Indian, Townshend Act, Boston Tea, George III, West Indies, stamp act, french indian war, indian war, french indian, colonies provide, england colonies, customs agents, stop smuggling, tax colonies, boston tea, intolerable acts, war indian policy, british policies maintain, policies maintain colonial, economic system mercantilism,