Revolutionary Americans resented the economic restrictions, finding them exploitative. They claimed the policy restricted colonial trade and industry and raised the cost of many consumer goods. In his 1774 pamphlet, "A Summary View of the Rights of British America, " Thomas Jefferson asserted the Navigation Acts had infringed upon the colonists' freedom in preventing the "exercise of free trade with all parts of the world, possessed by the American colonists, as of natural right." Yet, as O. M. Dickerson points out, it is difficult to find opposition to the mercantile system among the colonists when the measures were purely regulatory and did not levy a tax on them. The British mercantile system did after all allow for colonial monopoly over certain markets such as tobacco, and not only encouraged, but with its 1660 regulation was instrumental in, the development of colonial shipbuilding.
Enlightenment thinkers began to revolutionize the way of thinking around the world, particularly in France and America, changing the ways people thought about life during the late eighteenth century. The American Revolution began by the reason of taxation without representation. The French aided the Americans in their war, evoking ideas that France should have equality and justice as well. On the account of the Americans did influence France, their revolutions had many comparable qualities, as well as opposing characteristics. Both regions had several things in common, such as unjust rulers and desire of equality and freedom for peasants and nobles, although they had major differences on how they went about winning their revolution and what they were fighting for.
Although British had the victorious win, fighting this war was very expensive. The British wished to cover the cost of the war. The British believed that as they had made America secure and safe, the Americans should bear some of the costs of achieving this security. As a result of this, they enforced Navigation Act and the costs associated with the two new taxes led to protests. A newly-formed Stamp Act Congress formed by delegates from nine colonies objected the British ideas based on the principle of “no taxation without representation.” This was the
The British throne, trying to pay off it's war debts and for the cost of protecting the colonists from local Native Americans, decided to impose taxes on the American colonists. There was the Revenue Act of 1764 (known to the US as the Sugar Act) that taxed sugar, silks, and wine, the Stamp Tax (imposed later because the Revenue Act did not bring in enough money) which taxed local papers and print services. The
John Hobson, an English economist, saw imperialism as inevitable, for powers of production outpace consumption resulting in more profit for the mother country (doc 2). The United States was involved in imperialism due to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which made the western hemisphere an American protectorate and their victory in the Spanish-American War making them a Pacific power. Both Europe and America believed imperialism could bring them economic power and capacity. Imperialism was not strictly confined to economics; it also included the political aims of unique states. John Hobson deemed demand for foreign markets for manufacturers and investments was responsible for the adoption of Imperialism as a political policy (doc 2).
Their main reason for that was that the creation of new states would decrease their power in congress. The Louisiana Purchase was not the only time Jefferson adopted the ideas of federalists about loose construction of the constitution. After he was reelected, war soon broke out in Europe between English and French. British needed more manpower and financial aid for the war soon began impressing American sailors and stealing their cargo. This made trade between the United States and Europe unsafe.
Paine also calls hereditary succession an abdominal practice. He criticizes the people who were in favor of British Empire saying that Britain watched America only for economic well-being. He also says that British don’t deserve American loyalty because they have been attacking American colonies. According to him, the solution to this problem is independence from the British and for that he also proposed the form of Government which had equal opportunities for all. Paine directly appealed to colonies to separate from the British Empire.
8th That the late Act of Parliament, entitled, "An Act for Granting and applying certain Stamp Duties, and other Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America &c by imposing Taxes on the Inhabitants of these Colonies, and the said Act, and several other Acts, by extending the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Admiralty, beyond its Ancient limits, have a Manifest tendency to Subvert the Rights, and liberties of the Colonists.... 11th That the Restrictions imposed by several late Acts of Parliament on the Trade of these Colonies, will render them unable to purchase the Manufactures of Great Britain. 12th That the Increase Prosperity and happiness of these Colonies, depend on the full and free Enjoyment of their Rights and Liberties, and an Intercourse with Great Britain mutually Affectionate and Advantageous. 13th That it is the Right of the British Subjects in these Colonies to Petition the King, or either House of
America’s decision to declare independence form Great Britain was both due the change of economic policies and to the development of refining life and liberty. After driving the French out, with help from the Indians and British troops, colonist began to quarrel with Parliament’s insistence of testing the limits of their power in North America. Their control was made difficult when residents decided to smuggle and boycott goods. Eventually, the colonies resistance and loss of patience would lead them directly to independence. The Proclamation of 1763 was the first to anger the colonist.
Although it is debatable which of these two influential factors was more dominant in American history, it is possible that they coincide with one another, as revealed by many documented events. Self-interest can be seen in many of the writings throughout American history. The mercantile system, as exhibited by the British on the colonies, was an extremely hedonistic approach to gaining wealth for themselves. Mercantilism, as set forth by the Navigation Acts, imposed strict and extremely descriptive laws that would limit and exploit trade in the colonies, allowing Britain to control the wealth and profit of materials and goods in America. These acts were used to keep the colonies from trading with any other countries.