What events and/or causes ended the period of Salutary Neglect for the Colonists?
There were several events and causes that ended the period of Salutary Neglect for the colonists. Here are some of the significant ones:
1. The French and Indian War (1754-1763): This war between Great Britain and France in North America was a major factor in ending Salutary Neglect. The British government incurred significant war debts and sought to increase revenue by taxing the American colonies.
2. The Proclamation of 1763: After the French and Indian War, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763, which restricted colonial westward expansion beyond the Appalachian Mountains. This was seen as an infringement on the colonists' rights and contributed to growing frustrations.
3. The Sugar Act (1764): This act was passed by the British Parliament to raise revenue from the American colonies. It imposed new duties on products like molasses and sugar, and strengthened enforcement measures. This was one of the first acts that directly affected the colonists' pocketbooks and was widely resisted.
4. The Stamp Act (1765): This act imposed taxes on various printed materials in the colonies, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards. It required that these items carry a stamp that could only be purchased with British currency. This act led to widespread protests and resistance, with colonists arguing that they were being taxed without their consent.
5. The Sons of Liberty and other protest movements: Influential groups like the Sons of Liberty emerged to organize protests, boycotts, and acts of resistance against British taxation and infringement on colonial rights. Their actions, such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, galvanized colonial discontent.
6. The Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) (1774): After the Boston Tea Party, the British government passed the Coercive Acts as a punitive measure against Massachusetts. These acts included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for, as well as other measures designed to limit colonial self-governance. This further heightened tensions between the colonies and Britain.
These events and causes, among others, gradually eroded the period of Salutary Neglect and led the colonists to increasingly demand their rights and representation, eventually leading to the American Revolution.
The end of the period of Salutary Neglect for the colonists can be attributed to a series of events and causes. Here are the steps that led to its conclusion:
1. The French and Indian War (1754-1763): This conflict between the British and French colonies, and their respective Native American allies, resulted in a significant victory for the British. However, it also left Britain with a massive war debt.
2. Increased British Control: In order to pay off the war debt and assert more control over the colonies, the British government enacted a series of measures. These included the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765, which imposed taxes on various imported goods and legal documents in the colonies.
3. Widespread Colonial Protests: The new taxes imposed by the British government were met with widespread protests by the colonists. Organized demonstrations, boycotts, and acts of resistance, such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, increased tension between the colonies and Britain.
4. Intensifying British Crackdown: In response to the colonial protests and resistance, the British government implemented stricter policies to assert its authority. These included the passage of the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, in 1774. These acts were meant to punish Massachusetts for its resistance but were seen as a threat to all the colonies.
5. The First Continental Congress: In September 1774, delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss their grievances against the British government. This marked a significant step towards colonial unity and the eventual move towards independence.
6. Battles of Lexington and Concord: In April 1775, armed conflict erupted between British soldiers and colonial militia at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. This marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
7. Declaration of Independence: On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, officially stating the colonies' separation from Great Britain and their intention to form an independent nation.
These events and causes, including the French and Indian War, increased British control, colonial protests, British crackdown, the First Continental Congress, and the outbreak of armed conflict, collectively ended the period of Salutary Neglect for the colonists.