In chapter 5 of America, a Concise History, the British Victory in The War for Empire gives rise to changes in the British government and its policies both at home and abroad. These changes will create an environment from which the colonists will eventually strike out for independence. During the war it becomes apparent to both colonists and British officials that their philosophies no longer match up as conflicts arise in the decision making processes. After the discovery during the war, that local governments have become powerful and influential in the colonies, the British Government feels the need to strengthen its position of power over the colonies by a more strict enforcement of the Navigation Acts and by deploying troops in the colonies. A national debt caused by the war also causes Britain to tax the colonies, further straining relations between the two.
It is interesting that after fighting so hard for "Empire", every action of the British government seems only to undermine the British supremacy in the colonies. After the proposal of the stamp act, Benjamin Franklin responds with a request for American representation in Parliament. Clearly the American people feel that they are British subjects as they are talking about representation at this point. It seems that they would have been willing to pay the taxes if they had a voice in the creation of legislation. It is the defiance of these wishes intended to hold supremacy over the colonies by the British that actually caused them to break away and rebel. Had Britain given them representation in the Parliament when it was proposed by Ben Franklin, would colonists have decided to start the battle for independence? Do you think the revolution was inevitable and that giving them representation would have only prolonged the process? Perhaps even with representation in the government, the unreasonable taxation, trade regulation and military presence would have caused the rebellion. Was there a specific turning point in the rebellion such as the stamp act or was this an inevitable out come of the growing maturity of a young society?
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I doubt the colonies would have been granted a big enough "voice" in Parliament to change much of anything. Even with representation, I think the rebellion would have occurred.
As is described in the books, it seems like the entire war could have been avoided if some key influential people did not exacerbate the situation so greatly. Hardliners like Townshend had their views set on how they believed the colonies should be run and set out action against them accordingly. In Townshends case, with intense taxes. As we talked about in class, it seems like even if they did get a say in Parliment, that one voice would never have swayed any decisions, thus making it almost more difficult.
It was unfair for Parliment to create acts that would require America to pay off the British debt. Britian citizens got a break of paying some taxes. If both places had to pay (Britian a little more then America) then the colonists probably wouldn't have been so upset.
I believe that rebellion was inevitable regardless of the American's representation in Parliament. Even if the Americans were represented, their votes wouldn't have changed anything. The Colonists would have found another issue or excuse for war because they wouldn't have been any happier or better off with representation.
I agree that the would have been much more likely to approve of being taxed if they could get some say in what they decide to tax. Also the colonist want to feel like "British American's," with all the taxes that are mostly only benefiting British citizens, the American colonist feel like they are getting treated as second class citizens. With all of this said I think that these things would help delay Americans from protesting for their independence, eventually Americans would demand independence either way. These are citizens that are not used to being taxed and would not approve.
I believe the war with England could have been avoided. If the hard liner leaders in England would have handled the situation differently, I believe the colonists would have been fine with the way things were.
I think that Britain could've given them representation if they did realize that their relations with America were terribly strained, and at that point they would've simply dwarfed that representation in council, and then America would've protested even worse and probably divided more fiercely. By denying representation, Britain might have actually helped rebel cause solidify by being the bad guy. Although I realize that giving America representation would be a bad political move and perhaps make other colonies want representation as well.
I think the revolution would had happened eventually. The colonies were increasingly coming together and finding that there were things that they were able to do that they had previously depended on Britain for. They would have used one reason or another to eventually go against the Parliment once they were able to find that they could get along without them. I believe it happened a lot faster than what some people expected, but i do believe it was inevitable.
Even if the British had granted the colonies the right to have representation in Parliament, I do not believe that overall it would have made a difference. The colonies had already grown so far apart from Great Britain and their ideals were drifting further apart as well, that the colonies seperation from their homeland would have eventually caused a split.
Well the war was inevitable if everythink was as it was. The war could have been avoided if the relationship and control between Britain and the colonies. The tension between the two societies was sure to lead to rebellion and eventually war. The Britains put the colonies into a lower class position.
I do believe that if given a voice in parliament the revolution would have been less likely to happen. But the unfair taxes and the constant and obvious disrespect paid towards the colonies would have caused it anyway.
I also believe that the American colonies would never have established legitimate representation in Parliament and would always have been treated like second class citezns in the eyes of the British.
I think that's the underlying fact that enraged many of the leaders in the colonies, yes the taxes were outrageous in that era but if they would have been given representaion and a voice then maybe they could have come to compromise. However, I do not believe the elite in Great Britain would have granted such luxury to people they believed to be of a lesser status, therefore making the conflict inevitable.
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