American Revolution

Notes

DEPARTAMENTO DE GEOGRAFÍA, HISTORIA Y ECONOMÍA PROYECTO habLE BRITISH COUNCIL AMERICAN REVOLUTION NOTES BACKGROUND: The Thirteen British Colonies in North America.  By the mid-18th century, there were 13 British colonies in North America, each with its own unique social, economic, and political characteristics. These colonies had been steadily growing in population and prosperity.  Economic Factors: The colonies were prosperous, with a diverse economy that included agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. They traded goods such as tobacco, rice, timber, and fish with Britain and other European countries.  Salutary Neglect: For much of the 17th and early 18th centuries, the British government followed a policy of "salutary neglect," allowing the colonies a degree of self-governance and economic freedom. This fostered a sense of local autonomy.  No Representation: A key point of contention was the lack of colonial representation in the British Parliament. The colonists argued that they should not be taxed by a government in which they had no voice. Great Britain was a limited monarchy with a parliament, yet the American colonists were not considered citizens and therefore had no re...