British Colonial Policies

Defense is Futile
From the moment the colonies originated, they struggled to survive. They received very little help from Great Britain. Nonetheless, through hard work and determination, the colonists created a prosperous economy based on agriculture and trade. After the first year they set foot upon the new continent, the colonists functioned according to the English law and constitution - with legislative assemblies, a representative system of government, and recognition of the common-law guarantees of personal liberty. But, increasingly, legislation became American in point of view and ever less attention was paid to English practices and precedents. The colonies eventually began to govern themselves. Along with the French and Indian War came the loss of colonial need for British protection, but with it also came a new set of policies that eventually drove the colonies towards their separation. These policies emerged soon after the war and carried on until 1776 with the Decl...