Essay plan: counter argument to political thought Flashcards
1st point-
Instead, it was the oppressive and the unjust british policies which were more important in bringing about the revolution e.g. townshend duties.
What did the TD do?
TD were external duties in 1767 on glass, wine, china, lead, paint, paper, and tea. the impact of the TD was wide ranging- such as the economic boycotts which called for non-importation, as well as the pubic demonstrations, which called for colonial merchants to stop importing british goods. by 1769, every colony except new hampshire had organisations which pledged to boycott british goods, and one of the most significant actions taken in response to the TD was the establishment of the American Board of Customs Commisssions in 1767, which were tasked with enforcing the duties, which lead to an increase in customs enforcement, and there were far too few officials to stop smuggling, and so they sought help from the royal navy. the stationing of the british troops in cities led to tensions escalating further. the increased british presence in the colonies contributed to the growing sense of colonial resentment, and so was an important factor in the breakdown of the relationship between britain and america, thus leading to the american revolution.
2nd point- against the political thought.
Boston tea party more significant as it led to the coercive acts.
Why were the coercive acts so important
the coercive acts were intended to punish boston, and closed boston off to all trade, until the tea destroyed in the boston tea party had been paid for in full. This would have angered the colonists as it was a punitive measure, enacted in response to the BTP. Stopping trade would have severely impacted the local economy and trade, and so many would have viewed these as an infringement on their rights, galvanising opposition, thus leading to the revolution. the quartering act expanded the previous act, and allowed british troops to be housed in private homes if necessary. this would have also angered the colonists as many would have viewed this as an invasion of their privacy and imposition on their rights as they were forced to accommodate troops without their consent. it may also have been a way for the british to exert control over the colonies and maintain a standing army in peacetime, which would have further fuelled resentment, leading to the american revolution.
CONCLUSION
Though it is clear that the impact of british policies such as the coercive acts and the townshend duties were essential, i believe that it is the developments in political thought that played a more foundational and long-term role in shaping the ideological drive for independence. policies such as the coercive acts acted as immediate triggers for colonial resistance, but it was the growing body of thought, influenced by ideas of the enlightenment and articulated by thinkers such as paine and dickinson that provided the intellectual basis for rejecting british rule.
