continually elevating intolerance of British rule. Many times tax collectors were tarred and feathered or hung in effigy. The ineffectiveness of these taxes forced the British to realize that losing money wasn’t the way to pay off a debt. With much groveling and argumentation amongst parliament the taxes were repealed. The significance in America was immense. The use of a boycott and a virtual temper tantrum proved to be effective in placating the problems of the colonies. The Townshend Acts which went in effect in 1765 and 1766 were external taxes. The duties were extra payments on such goods as lead, paints, glass, paper and tea (Hafstadter 80). Townshend also extended the rights of the officials in the colonials with the Writs of Assistance, providing for search and seizure under any circumstances. He also transferred some of the cash flow to pay royal salaries, especially governors in America. The actions of Townshend angered the colonials vastly, they were completely unresponsive to the taxes. They “cheerfully ignored” the taxes as Mr. Wittig would say. The ineffectiveness of both the taxes and Townshend’s growth of excessive pride in his power led to a bad taste in the colonials’ mouths. The Townshend acts were eventually repealed, again with a reluctance on Britain’s part. The damage had been done though, with every day the British seemed to make themselves look more despicable for their actions. The same actions which in the minds of British were completely justified to help recover the magnitudinal loss from the war. While only a gray point between the French and Indian War, the repeal of taxes, and the Revolutionary War the Proclamation of 1763 had a significant effect on the attitudes of the colonials toward the British. After the French and Indian War and the treaty of Paris, the Proclamation of 1763 was one of the first documents issued to govern the colonies. This proclamation simply st...
