36.3k views
2 votes
The British government passed many new laws that increased taxes for the colonists.

a) True
b) False

User Frade
by
7.3k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

It is true that the British government imposed new tax laws on the American colonists. These taxes led to major discontent as they symbolized taxation without representation and included direct taxes on individuals, which the colonists vehemently opposed. The series of tax laws, alongside other grievances, played a significant role in the eventual American Declaration of Independence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the British government passed many new laws that increased taxes for the colonists is true. During the period leading up to the American Revolution, the British government sought to pay off debt accrued during the French and Indian War and to cover the expenses of maintaining troops in the colonies. This financial pressure led to a series of acts imposing new taxes, such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which placed direct taxes on the colonists and became a major source of contention. These taxes were one of the factors that spurred the colonists' demand for representation and ultimately contributed to the American push for independence.

The colonists, while not wholly against the concept of taxation, strongly objected to taxes that were imposed without their consent, which they saw as a violation of their rights as Englishmen. The distinction they made was between internal and external taxation, and between taxes to regulate trade versus those designed to raise revenue without their actual representation in Parliament.

To address their concerns, the colonists put forward various measures, such as the Conciliatory Proposition; however, this effort did not result in major concessions from the British. The sentiment of resentment towards British rule was aggravated by actions such as the decision regarding the Ohio Valley and the extension of religious toleration in Quebec, which alienated many Protestant colonists and further fueled the growing desire for self-governance and independence.

User Miljen Mikic
by
7.8k points