Final answer:
Chalmers would describe the British government's behavior towards the colonies as 'oppressive' due to the imposition of revenue-raising acts and tighter control that contradicted the earlier policy of salutary neglect and infringed upon colonists' rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the historical context provided, Chalmers would most likely describe the British government's behavior towards the colonies as oppressive. During the period leading up to the American Revolution, the British government sought to tighten its control over the American colonies by imposing a series of acts designed to raise revenues, such as through the Navigation Acts.
This was a stark shift from the previous policy of salutary neglect, and the new policies were met with strong resistance from the colonists, who felt that their rights were being infringed upon without their consent or representation. The colonists' difficulty with taxes and regulations that seemed to serve the interests of the British at their expense fueled the sentiment that would lead to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.