1.Britain’s Policy to American Colonies

In the 17th and 18th centuries，the English ruling class made huge profits out of the American colonies，and did everything they could to control the development of the colonial economy.The merchants in the colonies，for example，were not free to trade where they pleased.Buying and selling in the colonies were monopolized by the British merchants.Some branches of colonial industries were either forbidden or limited in size.Colonies were supposed to complement and not compete with English industry.Naturally the rising capitalists in America hated the English control and restrictions.Even the southern slave-owners were dissatisfied with the British.They grew tobacco and cotton on the plantations，but the prices for them were fixed by British capitalists and politicians.In spite of the restrictions，capitalism grew in the colonies，for the production of items that did not compete with English-made goods and of raw materials that were needed by the English manufacturers were generally encouraged by the British.

In the 17th and 18th centuries England fought a series of wars with France.The colonists seized the chance to develop their own industries，trade and political right.England，being at wars，could not do much to stop them.But when the English finally won the French and Indian War¹ in 1763，they turned their attention to the rebellious colonies of North America.Britain determined to find a means to extract more money from the colonies，not only to pay Britain’s debts but also to enforce the policy of mercantilism² more effectively in the colonies.Within five years after the war with France the following measures had been adopted by the British government：

1763—Royal Order，forbidding the colonists to buy any more land from the Indians in the west beyond a certain line，and vesting in the Crown the sole power to hold and dispose of such lands.

1764—Sugar Act，imposing import duties on non-English goods to the American colonies in order to raise more money for supporting British government in the colonies.

The Stamp Act of 1765

1764—Currency Act，forbidding the colonies to issue paper money.

1765—Stamp Act，taxing numerous articles and transactions in America to help pay the costs of British government in tbe colonies.

1765—Quartering Act，requiring colonists to help house and feed British regular troops stationed in the colonies.

1766—Declaratory Act，asserting the supremacy of the British Parliament in making laws for the colonies.

1767—Customs Collecting Act，establishing British commissioners in the colonies to collect customs and other duties.

1767—Revenue Act，laying taxes on lead，paint and other articles imported into the colonies.

1767—Tea Act，regulating importation of tea in British dominions in America in favor of the British East India Company.