Choose 3 different actions by the British government on the colonists and explain why colonists were opposed to them even though they were British subjects.
1. Imposition of Taxes: One of the significant actions that enraged the colonists was the imposition of various taxes by the British government. The colonists strongly opposed taxes such as the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts, as they did not have any representation in the British Parliament, where these acts were enacted. Taxation without representation was seen as a violation of their rights as British subjects. The colonists believed that they should have a say in how they were taxed and that only their own colonial legislatures, which they did have representation in, held that right. Hence, they argued for "no taxation without representation."
2. Intolerable Acts: The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were a series of punitive measures implemented by the British government as a response to the Boston Tea Party. These acts were intended to punish the people of Massachusetts and bring them under greater control. They included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for, and the Massachusetts Government Act, which significantly curtailed colonial self-governance. The colonists perceived these acts as a direct attack on their rights and liberties, as they undermined the autonomy of the colonial governments and restricted their ability to govern themselves.
3. Quartering Act: The Quartering Act, passed in 1765, required colonists to provide food, lodging, and other provisions to British soldiers stationed in the colonies. Colonists vehemently opposed this act as it violated their rights to privacy, property, and freedom from compelled service. They resented the presence of a standing army being imposed upon them during peacetime, viewing it as a threat to their liberty. Moreover, the act also raised concerns about the abuse of power and forced contributions to support troops they did not directly control or have any influence over.
In summary, the colonists opposed these actions by the British government despite being British subjects because they believed that their rights as Englishmen were being violated. They rejected the idea of being subject to laws created without their representation, resented the erosion of self-governance, and strongly objected to measures that infringed upon their individual liberties. These actions ultimately fueled discord and led to a growing sense of colonial identity separate from that of Britain, culminating in the American Revolution.