How Did Britain Benefit Colonial American

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Recommended: Justification for Colonists delaring independence from great britain

Ansel Chang Ms. Saladino US History I 14 November 2017 Despite British protection and trade, its unfair treatment of colonial America with excessive taxes and selfish acts it passed justifies independence from Britain. Throughout the 18th century, the motive of Britain’s actions that superficially appear to benefit colonial America is only to aid Britain, which later shows more obviously when Britain starts to disregard more of colonial America’s opinions and rights. When explaining in Common Sense the reason for Britain’s protection, Thomas Paine states, “we have boasted the protection of Great Britain, without considering, that her motive was interest not attachment; that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, …show more content…

For example, Britain sends troops to protect the colonies in the French and Indian War and fight France and their colonists only to secure America (as opposed to France) and to benefit Britain’s trade and economy, like the rich fur trade. If Britain only did this to protect the colonies, they would not heavily tax the colonists with the tea and stamp taxes afterward. So, Britain’s underlying motive reveals that, since it has only wanted to use colonial America for its benefit, Britain does not truly care about colonial America. These injustices can be further elaborated in the list of grievances of the Declaration of Independence, which states how Britain “[cuts] off our trade with all parts of the world”, and “[imposes] taxes on us without our consent” (Declaration of Independence). The two important grievances allow the readers to understand Britain’s disregard of colonial America. After passing the Navigational Acts, Britain had fully known that cutting off trade would hurt colonial America, but the law was still passed to boost their own economy. Also, English law surprisingly states that, if someone does not have a voice in government, he or she cannot be taxed, which essentially coincides with the

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