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What changed the most over this 13-year period of 1763-1776, what do you think angered the colonists the most?

User Mo Nazemi
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Final answer:

The most significant change between 1763-1776 which angered the colonists was the British imposition of taxes without local consent, such as the Stamp and Sugar Acts, and the Intolerable Acts. The change from salutary neglect to British control and taxation was viewed as a violation of the colonists' rights as English subjects. The sense of injustice built over time, leading to the Continental Congresses and stirring independence sentiments.

Step-by-step explanation:

What Angered the Colonists the Most Between 1763-1776:

Between 1763 and 1776, the most significant changes in the American colonies were the shift from salutary neglect to direct British control and imposition of taxes without local consent. The regulatory measures, like the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act, were designed to raise revenues. Moreover, the Intolerable Acts significantly aimed to punish the colonies, especially Massachusetts after events like the Boston Tea Party. This created a wave of disaffection and paved the way for the First Continental Congress as a direct challenge to British authority.

These actions severely angered the colonists because they felt their rights as English subjects were being violated. A key point of contention was "virtual representation," a concept the colonists rejected, insisting that they could not be taxed by a legislature that they did not elect. The increase in internal taxes without the colonists' consent, intended to cover the costs of the colonies' maintenance, further fueled this anger.

While many colonists initially had no desire to separate from the British Empire, the political landscape was rapidly changing. Notably, the works of figures like Thomas Paine, especially his pamphlet Common Sense, and the unity shown during the Continental Congresses began to stir a spirit of independence. By the time of the outbreak of violence in places like Lexington and Concord, the gulf between the colonies and Britain was too great to bridge, culminating in the eventual Declaration of Independence and the outbreak of the American Revolution.

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