American History - Assignment Example

Townshend Acts were pursuing the goal to tighten British control over the colonies’ trade. It specifically imposed some restrictions on the imported goods such as: tea, paper, glass, etc. In order to keep judges and governors independent from the colonial rule the Parliament decided to pay their salaries from the tax revenues obtained with the help of the Townshend Acts. In this case Britain tried to create an effective enforcement mechanism and keep controlling colonial trade and seas. At the same time Stamp Act failure proved that the British Parliament could not impose its decisions on the internal regulations in the colonies.

It was difficult to resist this act since colonies heavily relied on trade relationships with Britain, and in this case Britain had an advantage and could dictate their rules. At the same time the colonial resistance was disorganized, there was no single political leader. 3. Why did colonists dump tea in Boston Harbor? What particular aspect of the Tea Act was most objectionable? After the Townshend Acts were approved the conflict between the colonies and British government escalated. The Tea Act of 1773 favored monopolization of the tea market; only the East India Company was entitled to carry tea from auctions in London and distribute it in the colonies.

Clearly this decision was not welcomed in the colonies. Since tea was the subject of taxation under the Act, every ship had to pay this tax for the British government when arrived to the American port. Americans disagreed and claimed that only the legitimately elected colonial representative could impose taxation on them. The protest movement was able to prevent ships with tea from three main harbors. However in Boston the situation escalated: the Royal Governor allowed the tea cargo in the port and refused to return it to the British.

In this situation protesters preferred to destroy the tea by throwing it into the water rather than complying with the British rules and pay taxes for it. Boston Tea Party became a symbol of the resistance movement in the US. 4. How did the French effect the outcome of the American Revolution? France played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War from Britain, the old French enemy. French society perceived this war as a war against the British oppression. France was able to support Americans by providing them with arms and troops even though it was not their initial goal.

After the war period France was able to reinforce its image of the strong country, even thought French economy was affected by the military expenses. Hopes of the French government to become the main trade partner for the US fell short of expectations. 5. What became of the Indian nations east of the Mississippi River after the Revolution? How were they treated by the new American Government? After the Revolution a newly created American government followed the British example by controlling the Indians east of the Mississippi River.

However the British tried to maintain peace and create special areas for Indians, the new government was interested in extensive colonization of the lands that belonged to Native Americans. Native American communities were disintegrated and their opinions split over which side they should stand for. The United States tried to assimilate Native Americans into their society. However Indians were hugely discriminated and later on the new government initiated relocation of Indians into the lands east of Mississippi River in 1830.

By doing so they cleared the